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If you can't find an
individual course webpage, look under the personal webpage of the
instructor. The list is available here. |
Social
Science Offerings:
| Economics |
| This introductory course includes
sections on microeconomics, macroeconomics, and current topics. A Junior Achievement program offers students the opportunity
to organize and operate a small company.
Periodic guest speakers enrich the curriculum.
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| Geography,
Economics, Government |
This three-trimester course, which
covers economics, American government and world geography, may be
taken in its entirety or as separate segments.
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Law and Justice |
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The
American Criminal Justice System is a response to a problem that has
required the attention of all societies since the beginning of time -
crime. The course examines both the nature of
criminal behavior and the functioning of the justice system itself.
The reality of of crime and justice involves much more than "cops and
robbers", the details of legal codes and the penalties for breaking
the law. From defining what behavior counts as criminal, to deciding
the fate of offenders who are caught, the process of criminal justice
is a social process that is subject to many influences other than the
written codes of law. Throughout the course we
will seek to find the correlation between the theory of law and the
concept of justice in our modern world.
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| The
Modern World |
| Students
will integrate fundamental concepts of human geography into the
chronological study of world history from 1750 to the present.
They will study the logical sequence of human activities in
time to better understand the logical arrangement of human
activities in space.
Students will employ historic and geographic concepts to
examine human social, political, economic, and cultural
organization.
Students will use original documents, maps, and other
relevant information to gain a better understanding of the world
around them.
They will also employ their skills in writing descriptive,
comparative, and analytical essays.
WEBPAGE |
| The
Modern World Honors |
| Students
are introduced to the study of human geography through the
conceptual study of world history from 1750 to the present.
Comparisons are made across space and time through the main
themes of population, culture, political systems, rural and urban
societies, economic and industrial development, and environmental
issues. Students consider specific geographic and historic issues,
and use their critical thinking skills in analyzing original
documents, maps, geographic information systems, and other relevant
available information pertaining to the themes under consideration.
All students are expected to master the skill of writing
comparative and analytical essays, and will be introduced to
document-based essays.
Students are encouraged to take the advanced placement
examination in Human Geography.
WEBPAGE |
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| Psychology |
| This course presents the history of
psychology, research methods, perception, learning theories, and
human cognition and motivation.
The second half of the course investigates personality
theories and maladjusted patterns of behavior.
Students gain a greater understanding of their own capacity
of growth. Psychology
may be used to satisfy a social science or humanities requirement.
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| Twentieth
Century America |
| The period from Teddy Roosevelt and
late 19th century imperialism to the present day is the
focus of this course. History
comes alive through the use of films, radio recordings, and
television footage. Students conduct newspaper and magazine research for use in
group reports, dramatizations, and debates.
WEBPAGE |
| United
States History |
| This course covers the broad sweep of
events from the arrival of Columbus to the emergence of the United
States as a super power. There
is a heavy focus on the founding of the United States and its
Constitution, the evolving branches of government through the early
1800s, the Civil War, the two World Wars, and national economic
development.
WEBPAGE |
| United
States History Honors |
| Students study the dominant patterns
of American thought from colonial times to the present.
They consider specific historical problems and use their
critical thinking skills in analyzing original documents, maps, and
other relevant available information pertaining to the time periods
under consideration.
WEBPAGE |
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Social
Science Advanced Placement Offerings:
| Comparative
Government AP |
| This course introduces students to the world’s
diverse political structures and practices.
Five key countries form the core of the study: Great Britain,
Frnace, the former Soviet Union, China, and a developing nation.
The addition of a developing nation allows for the
examination of the influence of economic development on the politics
and government of the country.
WEBPAGE |
| European
History AP |
| This course examines the period from the Renaissance,
Protestant Reformation, and age of exploration to the collapse of
the Soviet Empire. During
their examination of major historical concepts and their supporting
data, students gain an understanding of the rise and decline of
Europe and the impact of Europeans in the contemporary world.
They are challenged to understand political, economic, and
social change to better comprehend the world in which they live.
Students take the advanced placement examination in European
History.
WEBPAGE |
| Human
Geography AP |
| This course provides students with
a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college
introductory human geography courses. Students
study the patterns and processes that have shaped human
understanding, as well as the use and alteration of Earth’s
surface. They employ
spatial concepts and landscape analysis to analyze human social
organization and its environmental consequences. Students take the advanced placement examination in
Geography.
WEBPAGE |
| Microeconomics
AP |
| Microeconomics provides students with a thorough
understanding of the principals of economics that apply to the
decisions of individual – both consumers and producers – within
the larger economic system. It
places primary emphasis on the nature and functions of product
markets, and includes the study of factor markets and the role of
government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the
economy. Students take
the advanced placement examination in Microeconomics.
WEBPAGE |
| Macroeconomics
AP |
| Macroeconomics uses the basic principals of economics
to explain the economic system as a whole.
The course focuses on comparative economic systems, nation
income accounting, economic growth, international trade, and the
role of government in regulating and directing that national
economy. Students learn to apply quantitative and mathematical skills
to the discipline of economics, test economic propositions
empirically, and improve their decision-making skills.
They apply economic logic to a wide variety of real world and
hypothetical situations. Students
take the advanced placement examination in Macroeconomics.
WEBPAGE |
| Psychology
AP |
| The Advanced Psychology course is
designed for upper level (11 or 12th grade) students with
well-developed study skills. The course is an overview of the
field of psychology and is equivalent to an introduction to psychology
at the college level. Students will be introduced to the
systematic, academic, and scientific study of behavior and mental
processes of humans and other animals. The students are
exposed to psychological studies, principles, and theories upon
which the course is based. Psychology is divided into several sub fields.
Students are exposed to these sub fields
and the related relevant studies. In addition, students learn
about the ethics of research and the science and practice of
psychology.
WEBPAGE |
| U.S.
Government and Politics AP |
| This course is for students who are ready to meet the
demands of college level work.
Topics covered include the constitutional foundation of
American democracy, political parties and interest groups, civil
liberties and civil rights, the governmental branches and
bureaucracy. Students
take the advanced placement examination in American Government and
Politics.
WEBPAGE |
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| United
States History AP |
| This offering is for qualified students, who are
ready to meet the demands of college-level work.
The course emphasizes post 1750 history, the U.S.
Constitution, and the American political system.
Considerable emphasis is placed on analytical history essay
writing skills. Students
take the advanced placement examination in U.S. History.
WEBPAGE |
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Additional Courses
| Institute
for Civic Involvement Internship Program |
| The ICI internship program is designed to allow
social science oriented students the opportunity to earn academic
credit while working in government or politics in the local area.
Students will meet with their supervising teacher once each
week and will be required to complete a minimum of 45 contact hours
a trimester at their intern site plus additional readings.
A log of all work completed and community contact hours must
be maintained. THIS
PROGRAM MAY (at the discretion of the Upper School Office) COUNT AS
AN ACADEMIC COURSE but will be completed on the student’s own
time. |
Pine Crest School
Social Science Department & the Institute for Civic Involvement
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