Social Studies Curriculum

Social Studies Electives

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Adopted January 1999

High School Geography/Area Studies (Category A) Course Titles and Descriptions

In Geography/Area Studies (Category A) courses, students will explore the physical and cultural geography of selected regions in the world.  Through in-depth studies or by comparative analysis, students will investigate the interaction of social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental factors that define the region.  The Area Studies courses develop skills and concepts that allow the student to understand and appreciate the web of relationships existing between people, places, and the environment.  In the process, students will use maps, globes, and other geographic tools to successfully acquire and process geographic information.  Area studies enables the student to understand the area's past, interpret the present and plan for the future.  The following courses will meet the area studies requirement:

The following are the courses that will meet the graduation requirement for Geography/Area Studies (Category A) and the course titles and descriptions:

Africa Studies

African Studies will focus on the physical geography and the diverse cultural forces that affect contemporary Africa.  In this course, students will discuss early civilizations, imperialism, colonialism, the rise of nationalism, and the emergence of independent African nations.  The changing role of African nations in the modern world will be examined.

Alaska Studies

Alaska Studies is an in-depth exploration of the rich geographic and cultural background of the State and its people from the early Native peoples to the Russian era through Statehood to the present.  This course will include examination of the physical geography, Native cultures, the political spectrum, and economic forces that have shaped contemporary Alaska.  Alaska's role in the modern world and Pacific Rim will be examined.

Asia Studies

Asia Studies will focus on the physical geography and cultural factors that characterize this huge region.  Students will examine the diverse social, political, cultural, and economic forces that affect regions of the world's most populated continent.  Students will discuss early civilizations, dynasties, religions, beliefs, environmental issues, sub-regions, changing history, and the region's contributions to the world.  Issues facing contemporary Asia will also be explored.

Contemporary Issues and Current Events

Contemporary Issues and Current Events will focus on the social, political, cultural, and geographic forces that have created contemporary world "hot spots."  Students will discuss the evolution of these issues on the world stage and the implications of their resolution or non-resolution.

Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies emphasizes how the diverse peoples and cultures of the world affect the land on which they live.  Students will examine the historical context of how local geography influenced the decisions that a people made.  Then, as industrialization became widespread, how those decisions affected the world's geography and environment.  The interrelationships existing between economic development and the environment will also be explored.

ESL Area Studies

ESL Area Studies is designed for the student who is learning English as a second language and has been identified and assessed as bilingual.  The physical and cultural geography of selected regions will be investigated.  The area studied may include Alaska, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Pacific Rim, the Middle East, or another region/area of the world. 

European Studies

European studies will examine the physical geography, cultures, history, economies, and diversity of the people in this region.  The course will focus upon an in-depth study of a selected sub-region or provide a comparative study of several European nations.  Contemporary issues and problems will be examined as well as the region's impact upon the world.

Global Geography

Global Geography is an ideal course for those curious about our world.  The course concentrates on developing geographic skills and concepts so that students can ask questions about the world and then gather, organize, analyze and apply the geographic information.  For example, students will study world population growth and distribution, patterns of migration, how climate affects human habitation and distribution, and how people use resources. 

International Relations

International Relations is the study of political geography among nations in the modern world.  Emphasis is placed upon the history of United States foreign policy and how it is determined and implemented.  Contemporary, topical issues will be studied in the context of their effect on the interests of the United States.

Latin America Studies

Latin America Studies will focus on the physical geography and cultural factors that characterize this region.  Latin America includes Mexico, Caribbean nations, and the nations of Central and South America.   Students will study the characteristics which make the region unique and develop a knowledge of the contemporary issues.  Current issues may include the development of democracy, economic development, population, and environmental issues and challenges.

Middle East Studies

Middle East Studies will focus upon the physical and cultural geography of this important region.  The course will examine the important role of the region in the global community.  Students will investigate the relationships existing between the people and nations within the region.   Key themes will address how the region's religion, terrorism and oil influences the world.

North America Studies

North American Studies will focus upon the physical and cultural geography of this region or selected sub-regions.  An analysis of the relationships among North American nations and cultures may be conducted to examine the impact of the region on the world today.  Within the geographic context, the course will focus upon the cultural and physical forces that affect contemporary North America.

Pacific Rim Studies

Pacific Rim Studies will focus on the physical geography and diverse cultural elements found within the Pacific Rim Region.  Major countries surrounding and within the Pacific Region will be the focus of study in this course.  An analysis of the relationships among Pacific Rim cultures and nations will also be conducted to examine the impact of the region on the world today. 

United Nations

United Nations is the study of the physical and cultural geography of selected member states in the organization and their relationship to key issues being examined by the organization.  Students will also examine the functions and roles of the United Nations in the contemporary world.  Emphasis is placed upon the process and issues of policy making.  Students may participate in a Model United Nations as representatives of a member state.  This participation may require a commitment of time beyond the regular class schedule.

U.S. Regional Studies

U.S. Regional Studies will focus on the physical geography and cultural factors that characterize sub-regions in the United States.  In this course, students will examine the geographic, political, cultural and economic diversity of the United States.  Each region (e.g. Northwest, Southwest) will be examined for its uniqueness and its influence over other parts of the country.  Students will analyze the evolution of American culture from an agrarian society to a technological-industrial society and investigate how this evolution has developed regional characteristics in areas such as foods, clothing, traditions, festivals, vocabulary, and dialects.

 

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