Social Studies
Port Angeles School District Curriculum
Port Angeles High School Course Descriptions
The Port Angeles School District requires 3.0 credits in social science for graduation. Some colleges require additional credits for entrance.
Native American Studies with Emphasis on Northwest Indians, Grades 9, 10, 11, 12; 1 semester
This course is designed to increase the student's general knowledge of the Native American people, especially in the Northwest, and to help the Indian and nonIndian better understand them and each other. The course will increase the student's awareness and appreciation of the Indian heritage. Students should gain a greater understanding of the nature of man, of Indians, and in doing so, of themselves. This course satisfies the state requirement for Washington State History.
American Studies – History 11, 2 semesters
American Studies is a year-long class that combines American literature and history. This class requires two periods from a team of an English teacher and a history teacher. Students may not change teachers at the semester. American Studies takes a thematic approach focusing on ideas important in American history, literature, and culture.
Advanced Placement U.S. History, Grade 11, 2 semesters
This is a year long A.P. course designed to provide top students with analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in American history. The program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those of a full-year introductory college course. Students will learn to assess historical materials, their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability and their importance, and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. This course should develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format. Space is limited. Students in this class will be enrolled in Honors American Studies – English 11 concurrently. Prerequisite: teacher and counselor permission.
World History, Grades 10, 11, 12, 2 semesters
In the first semester we will discover the principles of culture, civilization, and the rise of the archaeologist and anthropologist. We will cover the ancient civilizations of the Middle
East, the earliest Far East and Indian civilizations, Egypt and Greece, and conclude with Roman and Byzantine civilizations. Geography of each area will be emphasized along with modern-day events which may be impacting an area of study. The second semester will continue on toward modern man and the Twentieth Century. We will spread on into Asia and Europe as we continue through time.
Contemporary Issues – National, Grade 12, 1 semester
This is a senior social science course that is required for graduation. This semester focuses on U.S. policy and issues, including a look at the political spectrum, U.S. Constitution and the American Political and Judicial system. These issues are looked at in a practical and theoretical manner, along with solutions to current issues facing the American people, both locally and nationally.
Contemporary Issues – International, Grade 12, 1 semester
This is a senior social science class that is required for graduation. The course involves comparing and contrasting various cultures, world religions, and political systems. The overall focus is a study of current international issues and the American response to these.
Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics, Grade 12, 1 semester
This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the operation of American national government. Subjects to be covered include Constitutional Law, policymaking through the Legislative and Executive Branches, bureaucracy, the courts, the role of public opinion and the media, voting behaviors, special interest groups, civil liberties and rights, and budget making. The end goal for the course is the successful completion of the Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics exam. Course is offered first semester only in preparation for the May exam.
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