High School - Grades 10-12
Our High School Program continues the interdisciplinary study of History and the Social Sciences. Students complete a full-credit Social Studies course in each year of their high school experience.
Students complete the History portion of our scope and sequence in Tenth Grade with a Modern World History course. There, students examine the story of peoples in the Western and non-Western world from approximately 1450 to the present, studying geopolitics, political systems, social and cultural change, and economic trends. Eleventh Grade students engage in learning about the social sciences in American Government and Economic Systems. AGES puts students on a path toward becoming informed, effective decision makers as well as active participants in American civic life. The course acquaints them with founding principles, processes, and policymaking in civics and economics. Twelfth Grade students explore the world in which we live in Global Relations, a course studying how countries relate to one another, how they work together, and how they sometimes conflict in our world today. A major focus of the course is the impact of international issues on the formulation of American foreign policy. Each of these courses are offered at the Academic and Honors levels.
Certain Advanced Placement courses may satisfy students' grade-level credit requirements in Social Studies. AP European History, AP United States History, and AP Psychology enable in-depth college-level courses for our sophomore, junior, and senior students, respectively. AP Comparative Government and two AP Economics courses (Macroeconomics and Microeconomics) are available to our eleventh and twelfth graders. Consult the CBSD Program of Studies to see which courses satisfy grade-level graduation credits.
| Grade | Required Course (Core Course) | AP Course Satisfying Grade-Level Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Modern World History | AP European History |
| 11 | American Government and Economics Systems |
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| 12 | Global Relations |
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Social Studies Electives offer our students additional opportunities to explore fields in the Social Sciences in greater depth than our required sequence may allow. Each elective is a 9-week, 0.5-credit course open to all high school students.
Geography - Gain a broad understanding of physical, human, and cultural geography. Study the earth’s features, tools of geographers, and the ways humans interact with their environment. Use case studies and projects to explore how geography shapes societies and connects or divides regions. Develop skills to analyze global issues and understand your place in the world.
Introduction to the Law – Investigate your legal rights and responsibilities as a citizen, juvenile, and adult in the United States. Study the structures and procedures that govern and protect individuals in society. Examine political and legal ideals through real-world scenarios and case studies. This course builds your understanding of the American legal system and its impact on daily life.
Introduction to Psychology – Discover the factors that shape human behavior by exploring major psychological theories and concepts. Examine topics such as development, learning, perception, and personality through readings, discussions, and hands-on activities. Analyze real-world examples and participate in experiments to better understand yourself and others.
Sociology – Explore how social groups influence individuals and society as a whole. Analyze key topics like socialization, social stratification, deviance, institutions, and cultural change using a variety of sociological perspectives. Engage in projects and discussions that help you make sense of social behavior and current issues.
The required and elective courses in our high school offer our students an education in Social Studies that is both well-rounded and deep. We are proud of the opportunity we have to equip our graduates with the tools to meaningfully engage in civic life.