LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT ELECTIVES

Full Year Electives AP Comparative Government and Politics AP Human Geography AP US Government and Politics AP World History AP Seminar: Liberal and Fine Arts (interdisciplinary course) AP Research: Liberal and Fine Arts (interdisciplinary course)

AP Comparative Government and Politics Students must complete an online application to be considered for this course. Please see the Social Studies Department website for additional information AP Comparative Government and Politics introduces students to the rich diversity of political life outside the United States. The course uses a comparative approach to examine the political structures; policies; and the political, economic, and social challenges among six selected countries: Great Britain, Mexico, Russia, Iran, China, and Nigeria. This course is designed to introduce students to fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the governments and politics. It is expected that all students take AP Comparative Politics exam in May. A summer assignment is required for this course. FULL-YEAR COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS Online Application Required

AP Human Geography FULL-YEAR COURSE – Students must complete an online application to be considered for this course. Please see the Social Studies Department website for additional information Following the national College Board Advanced Placement curricula, this course is designed to give students a strong analytical experience which examines the six themes of Geography. Through these themes students will investigate the intricate and complicated interactions between human beings and their environment. At the conclusion of this course, students will be prepared to take the AP test for Human Geography. A summer assignment is required for this course. FULL-YEAR COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS Online Application Required

AP US GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS Students must complete an online application to be considered for this course. Please see the Social Studies Department website for additional information AP United States Government and Politics 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 It is expected that all students take both the AP US Government and Politics exam in May. A summer assignment is required for this course. FULL-YEAR COURSE – OPEN TO JUNIORS & SENIORS Online Application Required

AP World History FULL-YEAR COURSE – Students must complete an online application to be considered for this course. Please see the Social Studies Department website for additional information. Following the national College Board Advanced Placement curricula, this course is designed to develop students’ abilities to think conceptually about world history from approximately 8000 BCE to the present. Students will apply historical thinking skills as they explore five themes of human development. AP World History encompasses the history of the five major geographical regions of the globe: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, with special focus on historical developments and processes that cross multiple regions A summer assignment is required for this course. FULL-YEAR COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS Online Application Required

AP Seminar: Liberal and Fine Arts Students must complete an online application to be selected for this course. The AP Capstone is a new college preparatory program designed to develop research, collaboration, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. The AP Capstone Program consists of two new AP courses, AP Seminar and AP Research. In this first year, a student will develop and strengthen his or her analytic and inquiry skills, exploring deeply topics and issues collaboratively chosen by the students and/or the teacher. A student will learn to consider an issue from multiple perspectives, evaluate the strength of an argument, and make logical, fact-based decisions. For example, the class may explore the question of whether national security is more important than a citizen’s right to privacy, or whether genetic engineering is beneficial to society. Over the year, a student will be expected to complete a team project, an individual paper and presentation, and take a written end-of-course exam. At the end of the AP Seminar experience, a student will select his or her topic for the AP Research course. A summer assignment is required for this course. FULL-YEAR COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS Online Application Required

AP Research: Liberal and Fine Arts Students must complete AP Seminar to be selected for this course. The AP Capstone is a new college preparatory program designed to develop research, collaboration, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. The AP Capstone Program consists of two new AP courses, AP Seminar and AP Research. In this second year of the program, a student will delve into a personal selected academic topic, problem, or issue of interest. Students will apply their AP Seminar training by applying systematic research methods and practices to evaluate, analyze and synthesize information. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words and a presentation with an oral defense during which you will answer questions about your academic paper. A summer assignment is required for this course. FULL-YEAR COURSE – OPEN TO JUNIORS and SENIORS AP Seminar is a prerequisite

SEMESTER COURSES African-American Studies Classical Foundations of Western Civilization Community Leadership Contemporary American History Gender Studies Middle Eastern Studies Psychology Sociology

AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES This semester course is open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. This course combines history and literature to survey African-American history and culture from the emergence of slavery in the American colonies to the present-day. Students will study the historical movements that have helped to define the African-American experience; from the forced migration of the slave trade to the cultural contributions of the Harlem Renaissance to the struggle for Civil Rights. SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS

Classical Foundations This semester course is open to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. This semester course will give students an intensive examination of Ancient Greece and Rome. Students will connect these ancient models with its continuing influence on Western culture, traditions and institutions. Students will begin by investigating Greece during its Bronze Age in the second millennium B.C.E. and conclude with the fall of Rome in the fifth century C.E. Classical Foundations SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS

SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS Community Leadership This semester course is open to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. This semester elective is designed to empower students to take a more active role in their community through hands-on experiences in service-learning. This course will begin with an exploration of the historic origins of active citizenship and community involvement in America. Students will learn how to identify, create, and implement a service-learning project using a six-step framework of effective community engagement. Various case studies depicting effective community leadership will be studied and used as guides for student projects. SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS

SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO JUNIORS and SENIORS Contemporary American History This semester course is open to Juniors and Seniors. This course is designed to more deeply investigate historical events of the recent past. Starting with the election of Ronald Reagan and the re-emergence of a conservative political movement, students will utilize a thematic approach to understand historical trends through the 21st century. These themes will include economic developments, domestic and foreign policy influences, social pressures and political divisions. By the end of this course, students will have a stronger contextual understanding of the history of their own lifetimes. SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO JUNIORS and SENIORS

OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS GENDER STUDIES This semester course is open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. Gender Studies is a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the experiences, historical conditions, and concerns involving the social construction of “gender”. Students will identify and think critically about issues of gender, and develop an awareness of it impact on status, rights and opportunities in societies around the world. SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS

MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES This semester course is open to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. This course is designed to encourage a sophisticated understanding of the conflicts and challenges that have defined the Middle East for the last fifty years. Students will utilize an interdisciplinary perspective, including the region’s history, geography, politics, economy, religions, and many cultures to understand of the dynamics in this volatile region. By the end of this course, students will be able to identify and critically evaluate the challenges facing the nations of the Middle East, and assess the local and international strategies employed to address these challenges. SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS & SENIORS

SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO JUNIORS & SENIORS PSYCHOLOGY This semester course is open to Juniors and Seniors. Psychology is a fascinating field of study of behavior and mental processes. This course will offer a close-up look into what defines the individual through the study of development, personality, states of consciousness, and psychological disorders. Students will enjoy a hands-on experience in psychology including opportunities for role-playing, simulations, case-study diagnoses and other performance assessments. This course helps students become better critical thinkers, especially in terms of psychology's most important theme: "Nature (biology) versus Nurture (experience)". SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO JUNIORS & SENIORS

SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO JUNIORS & SENIORS This semester course is open to Juniors and Seniors The primary goal of this course is to develop a greater understanding of social relations, group interactions, the impact of the social environment on each of us, and the social issues facing us today. This will be accomplished through sociological research, oral presentations, group discussions, and other projects related to topics including culture, socialization, gender roles, stratification, and deviant behavior. SOCIOLOGY SEMESTER COURSE – OPEN TO JUNIORS & SENIORS