Social Studies

According to state law, all students must pass a Civics Test to graduate high school.  All students will have the opportunity to study for and take the Civics Test in their required Social Studies courses.

This year-long course is required of all freshmen. Students will study early Native American cultures, European exploration and colonization, the development of the American Revolution, the US Constitution, US westward expansion, the institution of slavery throughout US history and the significance of the US Civil War. This course fosters the development of skills needed for future social studies courses.  Theres study skills include note taking, conducting historical research, and analytical writing.

U.S. History II covers American history from 1900 to the present, arguably one of the most dynamic and exciting times of our past. During this course, students will examine how the United States has continually adjusted the ideas present in the Constitution as we have faced the Great Depression, two World Wars, and global conflicts including the Cold War and the War on Terror. Focus will be given to social movements and changes of the time period, including civil rights, women’s rights, and environmentalism.  Students will evaluate how effectively the nation has dealt with a series of crisis over the last fifty years and ask how prepared we are to deal with the challenges of the future.

Advanced Placement U.S. History is a course designed to offer students the opportunity to critically evaluate our history while developing higher level historical thinking skills.  The goal of this college-level course is to prepare sophomore students for the AP exam offered in the spring.  Passing the exam offers students the opportunity to earn college credit.  This course will take the place of U.S. History II which is the required course for sophomores.  AP U.S. History is divided into nine periods where students will examine history from the pre-Columbian period to modern United States events.  Students’ experience in U.S. History I will serve as a foundation for this course and will establish a recommendation for AP U.S. History.  This class will demand self-study, commitment to reading and writing.  A genuine interest in history will benefit students greatly in this higher-level course.

Note: U.S. History I instructor signature required to take this course.

This year-long course is required of all juniors.  World History provides a panoramic view of our world through the ages.  The course is a balance between European, Asiatic, Latin American, and African history.  Each unit focuses on the development and significance of the history and culture of the time period studied.  The major objective of the course is to provide an understanding of today's world by viewing selected areas of the world, such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, China, South Asia and Europe.  Francois Rabelais once wrote:  "Then I began to think, that it is very true which is commonly said, that the one-half of the world knoweth not how the other half liveth."  Upon completion of this course, the student will have explored "how the other half liveth".

Imagine this: you’re hanging out with your friends, it’s starting to get late, and you decide it’s time to go home.  How did you make that decision?  What factors did you consider?  Economics is the study of the choices we make every day.  In Economics, a one-semester course, we will investigate how we make decisions about how we use our resources.  If you’ve ever wondered what caused the 2008 financial crisis or why the mall keeps losing stores, Economics is the class for you.  We will look into the basics of understanding economics and economy, how producers and consumers decide the appropriate prices for goods, the stock market, different market structures like monopolies, how the government gets involved in the economy for better or worse, personal financial literacy, and much more.  Economics is strongly recommended, but not required, for AP Microeconomics and/or AP Macroeconomics.

Note: This course meets Financial Literacy requirements as set forth by Wausau School District.

Note: Students must declare Social Studies elective or Financial Literacy credit at the time of registration.

Government is a semester long course open to grades 10 – 12.  What is government? How do communities, states, and countries keep in order? How do things get done? How do decisions get made? These are just some of the questions we will look at in Government. Over the course of the semester, the course will introduce how America works by looking at how and why governments are created, your liberties and rights within the government, as well as the political institutions within government. Also, you will look at developing your own political beliefs as we discuss and debate current news events, political issues, and social problems as a basis for understanding what it means to be an American today. Finally, after looking at the structure of our government, we will apply what we have learned to the understanding of key American issues and policies through a congressional simulation lasting the second half of the course.

Psychology is everywhere! Understanding how and why we think, feel, and act like we do are insights that anyone can use in everyday life. This semester-long course is designed to introduce students to the field of Psychology and its practical applications. This survey course will include: introduction/research, sensation & perception, learning, development, personality, and Social Psychology. Come see what Psychology is all about!

Sociology is a semester long course that investigates the study of human behaviors.  This course also examines the interactions between groups and institutions within our society.  If you are interested in understanding the patterns of human interdependence that shape your daily life, then Sociology is a course for you.  Sociology will help develop understandings and skills needed to work with others to solve problems and analyze information.  These skills are recognized by employers as being important in the work setting and will serve you well in the career path of your choice.

Who are we, and why do we do the things we do? There are so many facets to human behavior. The brain, genetics, childhood, learning, thinking intelligence, motivation, emotion, personality, culture, gender and society are all factors in who we are, and who we will become. This course covers all these topics in addition to research methods, sensation and perception, stress and states of consciousness and abnormal psychology. This is a college-level course designed to help you understand both how Psychology is studied, as well as what the field has uncovered regarding human and animal behavior. Further, you will apply what you have learned to major issues in society today. This course is designed to earn you credit on the AP exam and to give you experiences that will help prepare you for your post-secondary life. Most importantly, it will get you to think about yourself and others around you in meaningful ways.

Jealous kings, calculating queens, and scheming dukes. Heresies and witchcraft. Collapsing dynasties and rising nations. Pandemics, disease, and pestilence. Colonization, conquest, genocide, and world wars. AP European History will examine how Europe was shaped by disasters and conflict, but also how democracy, science, enlightened thought, and reform movements helped events in Europe shape the world today. This is a class that will appeal to fans of history and tricorn hats. College credit is possible by taking the optional AP exam at the end of the school year.

AP Microeconomics is a one-semester curse offered during the first semester. It may be taken prior to AO Macroeconomics or as a stand-alone AP class. The course focuses on a college level study of Microeconomic concepts, including marginal cost/benefits, supply and demand, elasticity, structure of markets, welfare analysis, consumer and producer surplus, externalities and the role of government, total cost, output, revenue, and game theory. Students will have the opportunity to obtain 3-5 college credits for Microeconomics by passing the AP test.

AP Macroeconomics is a one-semester course offered during the 2^nd semester.  It may be taken after AP Microeconomics or as a stand-alone AP class.  The course focuses on a college level study of Macroeconomic concepts, including international trade, currency exchange, production possibilities and trade-offs, supply and demand, measures of economic performance, the circular flow of goods and services, fiscal and monetary policy, money and banking, productivity and unemployment, budget deficits and inflation, and supply/demand side economic policies.  Students will have the opportunity to obtain 3-5 college credits for Macroeconomics by passing the AP test.

This year-long course parallels a college level Introduction to the U.S. Government course.  Students may earn college credit upon successful completion of the AP Exam in May.  AP U.S. Government introduces students the philosophical foundations for government, interactions within and between key institutions, policies, interactions, roles and behaviors that characterize the political culture of the United States.  Students will learn how to assess causes and consequences of political events and interpret data to develop evidence-based arguments.  Throughout the year, you will develop your own political beliefs as we discuss current events, political issues, and social issues as a basis for understanding how our governmental system works today.