1. Notes to the Teacher:
Everyone does not need to use the exact same tools for course recs.
The idea is to give teachers a common message to share with kids and to promote our department!! (REMEMBER: Social Studies enrollment was down last year!)
Also, the purpose of giving your students a half sheet to fill out is 2-fold:
We want the students to be a participant in the course rec process. Even if you disagree and do not rec them for their choice, it will initiate a conversation.
If they write it down and you agree, they have had a voice and you do not need to talk 1 on 1 to that kid
You can have the students fill this out any day PRIOR to the 6th or 7th on a day/lesson that is convenient for your schedule.
Then you would just need to enter the Course Recs into eSchool on the 6th or 7th

2. Social Studies Course Offerings
Plainfield South High School
Course Recommendations

3. What do I need to take??
The 2 Social Studies credits you NEED to graduate are….
US History (Full Year)
Government (1 Semester / .5 credit)
Economics (1 Semester / .5 credit)
All 3 could be AP or regular
BUT Most universities EXPECT students to have at least 3 full years of Social Studies on their transcripts. (3 Social Studies Credits)
Intro to Business could fill Econ credit, but need to take another SS credit to fulfill the 2 years of SS.

4. What is an AP Class?
AP = Advanced Placement through College Board (College Level Course)
There WILL BE MORE CHALLENGE / WORK involved in an AP class!!
You need to have good study habits and be willing to work hard to be successful in these courses.
At the end of the year, in May take a cumulative exam over the content covered. If you pass the exam you can earn college credit.  
End of the year exam costs approx. $94, vs $1000s on the equivalent course in college

5. If you are a freshman.. (both full Year) MUST TAKE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING (usually as sophomore)…
US History
AP US History (APUSH)
Semester
Progressive Era, Imperialism, WWI, 1920s, Great Depression, WWII
Semester Present
Cold War, Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, 70s, 80s, 90s, today
Covers the ENTIRE history of the United States (not JUST after 1900)
American Revolution, Civil War, etc.
Emphasizes interpretation of history in a critical manner.
Includes writing and analysis
Why did these events happen when they did?
AP Exam in May

6. If you are a sophomore / Junior..
Mostly Junior Classes
Government (1 Semester)
Economics (1 Semester)
AP Government (1 Semester)
AP Economics (1 Semester)
** Both Government & Economics are
Graduation REQUIREMENTS.**
It’s just a matter of if you will take them as a junior or senior and if you will take regular or AP
Mostly Senior Classes 
Psychology (1 Semester)
Sociology (1 Semester)
Street Law (1 Semester)
AP Psychology (Full Year)
AP Euro (Full Year)
Graduation REQUIREMENTS **
if you have not taken these as a junior you HAVE TO take them as a senior.
Could also take Human Geography or AP Human Geography (Full Year) but MOSTLY Freshman take this.

7. Junior / Senior REQUIREMENTS
AP / Regular Economics
AP / Regular Government

8. Economics Vs. AP Economics – 1 semester
What is Economics?: the branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.
Junior / Senior Courses ( usually majority junior )
Economics
AP Economics
Basic economic concepts
Demand
Supply
Equilibrium
Types of economies
Market Structures
Business Organization
Labor and Wages
Banking and investing.
Everything in Economics plus..
The Theory of the Firm
Government Intervention
Market Failures
Market for the Factors of Production.
AP Exam in May

9. Government Vs. AP Government- 1 semester
Junior / Senior Courses ( usually majority junior )
Government
AP Government
Separation of powers
Three Branches
U.S. Constitution
Historical Foundations
Covers: Everything regular covers +
Institutions of the US Government
Media
Lobbyists and Interest Groups
Civil Liberties
Civil Rights Court Cases
College Level Writing
AP Exam in May

10. Junior / Senior Electives
AP / Psych
AP Euro
AP Human Geo
Sociology
Street Law

11. Psychology vs. AP Psychology
What is Psychology: The study of mental processes and behavior
Junior / Senior ELECTIVE ( usually majority senior )
Psychology
AP Psychology
1 semester
Covers:
History, research, learning, sleep, consciousness, intelligence, personality, mental illness, social psych
Full year
Covers: Everything Psychology covers +..
Brain, sensation, perception, development, memory, cognition, treatment, motivation, emotion, stress,
Additional out of class assignments
AP Exam in May

12. Other 1 semester Social Studies Electives
Junior / Senior Courses ( usually majority senior )
Sociology
Street Law
What is sociology? Study of group interaction and behavior
What is covered?
Perspectives, culture, socialization (cults), group dynamics, deviant behavior (serial killers), social inequality
What is street law?
Introduction to practical everyday legal matters
The legal system in your daily life
What is covered?
 legal disputes, current topics in the law, gang awareness, substance abuse, public policy, criminal law, family law and civil law are discussed.  

13. Other full year AP Social Studies Electives:
AP European History
AP Human Geography
What? Present Political, Economic, Social, Intellectual, & Cultural History
Topics like: Renaissance, Absolute Monarchs, French Revolution, WWI/II, Cold War
Where?
Countries such as: England, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and many more!
Why?
Learn to think like a Historian , Discover the story of European History, Practice writing and studying skills for college
Primarily SENIORS
AP Exam in May
What is human geography?
Where things are found on Earth’s surface and why they are there. (systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, activity upon, and alteration of Earth)
Covers:
Population and migration, culture, religion, language, ethnicity, ethnic tension, state creation, government, agriculture, , industrialization, urbanization
Primarily Freshman
AP Exam in May