Voorhees Social Studies Department

Junior / Senior Electives:

The goal of the AP Macroeconomics one semester course is to give students a thorough understanding of the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole. Emphasis will be placed on the study of national income, the financial sector, economic performance measures, and international economics. The Human Geography segment of the course will infuse a spiraling approach with the macroeconomics aspect of the curriculum. Human Geography is the systematic study of geographic patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alterations of the earth’s surface. Landscape analysis and spatial concepts are used to evaluate human social organizations. Economic development and its environmental consequences will also be evaluated. The students should possess a strong foundation in reading, writing and critical thinking skills since the workload will be very extensive and demanding. Students should be mature enough to handle extensive reading lists, discussions and frequent evaluations. Students will also be encouraged to take the Advanced Placement Tests offered in the spring for possible college credit. Students have the opportunity to take one or both of the AP Exams offered by the College Board. Note: this is a full year course and students cannot sign up for just one of the segments.

This one-semester course is designed to introduce students to the study of economics in order for them to gain an understanding of the American economic system. This course will provide students with a dynamic, application-rich approach to learning economics. In today’s interconnected world, it is imperative that students gain an understanding and appreciation of the importance of economics and how it relates to their everyday lives. The course will provide students with specific instruction regarding the complexities of the corporate world, supply and demand, free enterprise, the Federal budget, taxes, unemployment, GDP, American and international economic institutions, and trade with other nations. Students will explore the costs and benefits of proposed solutions to our nation’s economic challenges. Economics Today is designed to prepare students for entry level college courses or for students who might be interested in taking AP Microeconomics/Human Geography.

A vigorous examination of American History will be undertaken in this AP course.  Although the subject matter is factual, emphasis will be placed on the critical evaluation of issues and on the analysis of primary source documents.  The students should possess a strong foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking skills since the workload will be very extensive and demanding.  Students should be mature enough to handle voluminous notes, long reading lists, and frequent papers and tests.  Students will also be encouraged to take the Advanced Placement Test offered in the spring for possible college credit.

This full year course traces the development of psychological theory and practice.  Scientific and social science methods will be emphasized and the student is expected to prepare extensively for this advanced course.  All students are encouraged to take the Advanced Placement Test in this area in the spring for possible college credit.

College Prep Psychology is an introductory course to the field of psychology with an emphasis on understanding human behavior from various perspectives. Topics covered are: history of psychology, research methods, learning and memory, human growth and development, social behavior and normal and abnormal behavior. Students will also get a chance to understand how their own personality has developed and through studying familial patterns and birth order. Open to juniors and seniors only.

With an emphasis on disciplines such as Sociology and Psychology, this introductory course will provide students with a general background of important social science areas.  Emphasis will be on both the theoretical and practical considerations in each area, as students will understand important concepts and skills in key social science disciplines.  The course will also focus on current problems as they apply to specific areas of the social sciences.

This course examines all aspects of crime and justice in America.  It surveys the causes of crime, crime statistics, and controversial areas such as the death penalty.  Special emphasis is placed on the Constitutional amendments that relate to criminal law and the student has the opportunity to participate in mock trials to gain a better understanding of the legal process. The student also has an opportunity to participate in a field trip to a prison.  

This course is a study of the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the classical periods of Greece, and Rome, including the findings of archaeological expeditions.

This half year course, Roots of Intolerance, will explore the historical, psychological, socio-economic, and political forces that have bred intolerance towards groups of people based on their race, religion, and ethnicity. Particular emphasis will be placed on outcomes of such intolerance that led to genocide. Case studies will include, but not be limited to: Native Americans, the Irish, the Armenians, the Holocaust, Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, Communist purges, and Rwanda. A variety of teaching methods will be employed. Students will be expected to analyze primary sources, including first hand accounts, photographs, documents, and artifacts. Students will utilize research and presentation skills in this interactive course. Highlights of the course will include guest speakers, an assessment of Hollywood treatments of genocide, and class trips to sites such as the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC.

This half year course is designed to have students analyze and assess international issues and events that are up to date and are of significance to the world in which we live. To an extent course materials and content will be drawn from the front page of daily papers, from weekly newspapers, from weekly news magazines, and network news programming. Thematic units will include a variety of topics such as: environment and human ecology, the global economy, political shifts in the post Cold War era, terrorism, AIDS, human rights, international institutions, world cultures and geography, conflict and conflict resolution. Students who take this course should have a keen interest in current events and world affairs. The course will provide students with an opportunity to become more aware of the challenges that the world community faces in an ever changing, global environment.

This course encourages a rigorous examination of how our American culture gives rise to certain forms of media and how media shapes our society. Through an inquiry approach including frequent analytical writing and discussion, students will consider questions such as: How do the mediums of print, television, film, music, and the internet impact communication in the democratic process? To what extent does advertising affect our cultural values? Does the media fairly represent social diversity? Is news constructed to reveal truth and foster community? By posing and addressing these and other fundamental questions, students will develop a process for analyzing media content.

Note: rerequisites for Honors/AP courses and honor courses will include the following minimums:

1.                  At least a B average in previous social studies courses.

2.                  Completion of an application form, which shall include the following:

a.                  Recommendation of social studies teacher. An English

             teacher’s recommendation may also be required for some

             courses.

b.                  Approval signature of department chair.

c.                   Signature of student and parent.

3.            A copy of this application form, which will also include a sample of the student’s writing, must be filed with Guidance and the Social Studies department chair before the end of the school year.

4.            Other requirements, such as ­formal interviews with members of the social studies staff, may be required for specific ­Honors/AP courses. Students are to check with Guidance for ­any additional requirements.  

 

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Voorhees High School Social Studies Department  ♦ 256 County Road 513 Glen Gardner, NJ 08826 ♦ (908)-638-6116