World Geography

 The focus of this course is the study of the world’s peoples, places and environments with an emphasis on world regions. The knowledge, skills, and perspectives of the course are centered on the world’s peoples and their cultural characteristics, landforms and climates, economic development and migration, and settlement patterns. Spatial concepts of geography will be used as a framework for studying interactions between humans and their environments. Using geographic resources, students will employ inquiry, research, and technology skills to ask and answer geographic questions. Particular emphasis will be placed on students understanding and applying geographic concepts and skills to their daily lives. An SOL end-of-course test will be given. This course meets the graduation requirement for World Studies credit.

World History I

This course will enable students to explore the historical development of people, places, and patterns of life from ancient times until 1500 A.D. (C.E.) in terms of the impact on Western civilization. The study of history rests on knowledge of dates, names, places, events, and ideas. Historical understanding, however, requires students to engage in historical thinking, raise questions, and marshal evidence in support of their answers. Students engaged in historical thinking draw upon chronological thinking, historical comprehension, historical analysis and interpretation, historical research, and decision making. These skills are developed through the study of significant historical substance from the era or society being studied. An SOL end-of-course test will be given. This course meets the graduation requirement for World Studies credit.

Honors World History I

This course will enable academically talented students to explore the historical development of people, places, and patterns of life from ancient times until 1500 A.D (C.E.) in terms of the impact on Western civilization. The study of history rests on knowledge of dates, names, places, events, and ideas. Historical understanding, however, requires students to engage in historical thinking, raise questions, and marshal evidence in support of their answers. Students engaged in historical thinking draw upon chronological thinking, historical comprehension, historical analysis and interpretation, historical research, and decision making. These skills are developed through the study of significant historical substance from the era or society being studied. An SOL end-ofcourse test will be given. This course carries weighted credit and meets the graduation requirement for World Studies credit.

AP Human Geography

The AP Human Geography course is equivalent to an introductory college-level course in human geography. The course introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement exam administered in May. An SOL end-of-course test may be given. This course carries weighted credit and meets the graduation requirement for World Studies credit.

Honors VA/US History

This course expands upon the foundational knowledge and skills previously introduced to include the historical development of American ideas and institutions from the Age of Exploration to the present. While continuing to focus on political, geographic, and economic history, the standards provide students with a basic knowledge of American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people, and events in Virginia and United States history. As a foundation to develop historical thinking skills, students will apply social science skills to understand the challenges facing the development of the United States. These skills will support the investigation and evaluation of the fundamental political principles, events, people, and ideas that developed and fostered our American identity and led to our country’s prominence in world affairs. An SOL end-of-course test will be given. This course carries weighted credit and meets the graduation requirement for US/VA History credit.

VA/US History

This course expands upon the foundational knowledge and skills previously introduced to include the historical development of American ideas and institutions from the Age of Exploration to the present. While continuing to focus on political, geographic, and economic history, the standards provide students with a basic knowledge of American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people, and events in Virginia and United States history. As a foundation to develop historical thinking skills, students will apply social science skills to understand the challenges facing the development of the United States. These skills will support the investigation and evaluation of the fundamental political principles, events, people, and ideas that developed and fostered our American identity and led to our country’s prominence in world affairs. An SOL end-of-course test will be given. This course meets the graduation requirement for US/VA History credit.

AP US History

AP U.S. History is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester introductory college or university U.S. history course. The course focuses on the development of historical thinking skills (chronological reasoning, comparing and contextualizing, crafting historical arguments using historical evidence, and interpreting and synthesizing historical narrative) and an understanding of content learning objectives organized around seven themes, such as identity, peopling, and America in the world. This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement exam administered in May. This course carries weighted credit and meets the graduation requirement for US/VA History credit. An SOL end-of-course test may be given.

VA/US Government

This course addresses the knowledge that enables citizens to participate effectively in civic and economic life in an increasingly diverse democratic society. Students will apply social science skills as a foundation to examine fundamental constitutional principles, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, the political culture, the organization and policy-making process at each level of government, the development of U.S. foreign policy, and the principles and practices of the American economic system. The course also compares the evolving political and economic roles of Virginia and the United States to various types of governments and economic systems in the global community. This course meets the graduation requirement for US/VA Government credit.

AP US Government and Politics

AP United States Government and Politics is a college-level course that introduces students to key political ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the political culture of the United States. The course examines politically significant concepts and themes, through which students learn to apply disciplinary reasoning assess causes and consequences of political events, and interpret data to develop evidence-based arguments. This course prepares students to take the AP exam administered in May. This course carries weighted credit and meets the graduation requirement for US/VA Government credit.

AP Psychology

The AP Psychology course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatment of abnormal behavior, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, analyze bias, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas. This course prepares students to take the AP exam administered in May. This is a college level course and carries weighted credit.

Sociology

 In this course, man as a part of society and the elements that influence society will be investigated. Through the use of case studies depicting various aspects of American culture and comparative views of other cultures, the student will evaluate sociological data and analyze the importance of the study of sociology. The social aspects of class structure and the basic institutions of society will be discussed. An emphasis will be placed on sociological problems of America and the student's ability to project solutions for these problems considering sociological factors. 

Descriptions from the NPS Course Descriptions Guide for High School Students