Social Studies Courses

Course: World History
Prerequisite: None
1 Credit

Students will explore the major civilizations of the past which have laid the foundations for modern society. Students will have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills as they confront various historical interpretations and discover causes of present issues.

Course: Honors World History
Prerequisite: Student, Parent, Teacher Recommendation
1 Credit

This course is intended as a precursor to Advanced Placement European History taught in the sophomore year and Advanced Placement U.S. History, taught in the junior year. It requires good writing and reading comprehension skills. It will include the study of ancient cultures and civilizations in Europe, Africa, and Asia, with a special emphasis on ancient Greece, Rome, and the Middle Ages in Europe.

Course: AP European History
Prerequisite: Student, Parent, Teacher recommendation (English or Social Studies)
Additional Course Fee: $96 AP exam fee
1 Credit

This course is designed for the above average student. The course will investigate the social, cultural, political, economic, and intellectual life of Europe from 1450 to the present as well as become familiar with great works of European literature. Students will learn to utilize primary source material, the text, and other assigned readings to organize and analyze information in order to determine cause and effect as well as to explain general outcomes of major events and trends during the time period. This course is taught according to the AP European History guidelines provided by the College Board. An appropriate score on the Advanced Placement Exam will give college credit for the European History course at many colleges. he course requires outside reading, research, and writing. Students must have above-average skills in reading and writing. Students who are eligible for fee waivers with the school system may be eligible for a fee waiver on the AP exam through the AP Program.

Course: SDC: American History
Prerequisite: None
1 Credit
Statewide Dual Credit (SDC) US History covers events and trends in United States History from the era of Reconstruction to the Post-9/11 world in which we live. In doing so, students will study the causes and consequences of important social, cultural, economic, and political changes that have shaped modern-day America. The reading of primary source documents and emphasis on writing are key features of SDC United States History standards. Finally, a state-mandated ‘Challenge Exam’ is required for course credit in addition to a regular final exam given at the end of the semester. It should be additionally noted that the TN D.O.E. has made it clear that the primary purpose of the SDC program is to prepare students for the rigorous expectations found in the transition to postsecondary education.

Course: AP United States History
Prerequisites: Student, Parent, Teacher recommendation (English or Social Studies)
Additional Course Fee: $96 AP exam fee
1 Credit
Advanced Placement U.S. History is a college-level introductory course which examines the nations' political, diplomatic, intellectual, cultural, social, and economic history from the Pre-Columbian Period (1490s) to the present. The course is taught in accordance with the AP U.S. History curriculum framework, and is designed to prepare students for the AP U.S. History Exam in May.
AP U.S. History is a rigorous, fast paced and arduous course designed to be the equivalent of a full-year college U.S. History course. Students must also be willing to devote substantial time to study and the completion of class assignments outside of the classroom.  Emphasis is placed on class discussion, the use of primary and secondary sources, critical reading, and analytical thinking and writing.  Success on the exam is largely determined by student completion of reading and other assignments outside of class and the development of analytical skills.  Students should learn to assess historical materials their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance and to weight the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship.
The College Board also ties the AP U.S. History exam to the development of historical thinking skills that reflect the tasks of professional historians.  These skills will be practiced throughout the course and  include  Chronological Reasoning (Historical Causation, Patterns of Continuity and Change Over Time, Periodization), Comparison and Contextualization, Crafting Historical Arguments from Historical Evidence (Appropriate Use of Historical Evidence), and Historical Interpretation and Synthesis. Students who are eligible for fee waivers with the school system may be eligible for a fee waiver on the AP exam through the AP Program.  

Course: Economics
Prerequisites: None
.5 Credit
This is a semester course which is paired with US Government, and is a requirement for graduation. As students compare and contrast various economic systems, they prepare themselves to function as consumers in the American free-enterprise system, and they have the opportunity to apply the specific method of forming and testing hypotheses to find answers to economic problems.

Course: United States Government and Civics
Prerequisite: None
.5 Credit

This is a semester course which is paired with Economics, and is a requirement for graduation. It offers students the opportunity to understand the institutions that affect our daily lives. Students will study the political and legal processes of American government and become better prepared to assume the responsibilities that come with living in a democratic society.

Course: AP Government
Prerequisite: None
1 credit

This is an introductory college-level course. Students will study the key concepts and institutions of the political system and culture of the United States. You'll read, analyze, and discuss the U.S. Constitution and other documents as well as complete a research or applied civics project. This class will satisfy the graduation requirement for government. Students who are eligible for fee waivers with the school system may be eligible for a fee waiver on the AP exam through the AP Program. 

Course: AP Microeconomics
Prerequisites: None
1 credit

This is an introductory college-level course. Study the principles of economics that apply to the behavior of individuals within an economic system. You’ll use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts. Students who are eligible for fee waivers with the school system may be eligible for a fee waiver on the AP exam through the AP Program. 

Course: African American History
Prerequisite: None
1 Credit

Students will examine the life and contributions of African Americans from the early 1600’s through modern America. Students will explore the influence of geography on slavery and the growth of slavery on the American continent. Students will consider urban and rural African American communities and institutions in the North and South leading up to and during the Civil War. Students will investigate the rise and effects of Jim Crow and trace the impact of African American migration through the early twentieth century. Students will explore the impact of the Harlem Renaissance and the conditions and contributions of African Americans during the Great Depression and World War II. Students will examine the successes and failures of the Civil Rights Movement and consider the contemporary issues confronting African Americans. The course will  address the introduction of Africans to the Americas, enslavement, emancipation, and the social and political challenges and triumphs that followed. In addition, the course will highlight the social, cultural and political contributions of African Americans to American society.  The focal point of the class will be to develop a student’s understanding and appreciation of African American history. In addition to the history standard, coursework will also focus on geography, economics, political science, and increasing student understanding of the people of the world and nations.
Course: SDC: Sociology Prerequisites: None 1 Credit Statewide Dual Credit Sociology is a semester-long course that explores the intricacies of human interaction. This course covers topics such as the theoretical foundations and methods of sociology, the impact and meaning of culture within various people groups, roles and relationships, the lifelong process of socialization, functions of major social institutions as well as social deviance within them, and the problems and issues that confront society as a whole. The mastery of basic sociological theory and application of theoretical concepts to real world individuals and institutions are the keys to successful study within the course. The SDC Sociology Course will culminate with the Tennessee State Dual Credit Challenge Exam.
Course: Contemporary Issues Prerequisite: None 1 Credit A full credit Social Studies Elective.  Contemporary Issues examines current events and the role the mass media plays in how we understand major events around the world and the United States.
Course: Leadership Prerequisite: Application process 1 Credit Students must complete an application process in order to enroll in leadership. This course is designed for rising juniors and seniors who have demonstrated positive leadership skills at OHS and are interested in organizing and developing school and community service projects. Traditionally, student council officers and class presidents are asked to apply for this class as well as those students interested in displaying their leadership skills. Students must be willing to participate in activities held before and after school hours. Students who apply for this course in the spring must have a  GPA of 3.0 or higher, a good attendance record, and no disciplinary actions against them throughout all of their time in high school. Applications are screened by a panel of teachers.

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