Social Studies - Advanced Placement

This college-level political science course includes topics such as: introduction to comparative politics; sovereignty, authority, and power; political institutions; citizens, society, and the State; political and economic change; and public policy. Case studies in the governments of Great Britain, China, Iran, Mexico, Russia, and Nigeria provide context for exploring the topics of the course. Analytical writing will be required, both in essays developed within the framework of the class and in papers developed as a result of research assignments. In May, the students will take an Advanced Placement Government Examination to qualify for Advanced standing and/or credit in college.

This college-level course in U.S. political science includes topics such as: Constitutional underpinnings of U.S. government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, interest groups, and mass media, institutions of national government, public policy, and civil rights and liberties. Analytical writing will be required, both in essays developed within the framework of the class and in papers developed as a result of research assignments. In May, the students will take an Advanced Placement Government Examination to qualify for Advanced standing and/or credit in college.

This introductory college course in human geography introduces students to the systematic study of patterns, and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth's surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice, including Geographic Information Systems. In May, the students will take an AP Human Geography Examination to qualify for Advanced standing and/or credit in college. This course has an associated Standards of Learning (SOL) test. Students will participate in these tests only when they have not yet earned sufficient credit for graduation and/or satisfied federal testing requirements.

AP U.S. History is a course designed for the student who accepts the challenge of an Advanced class in American History. Students will be expected to master all of the SOL objectives for Virginia and U.S. History. In addition, analytical writing will be required, both in essays developed within the framework of the class and in papers developed as a result of research assignments. In May, the students will take an Advanced Placement U.S. History Examination to qualify for Advanced standing and/or credit in college. This course has an associated Standards of Learning (SOL) test. Students will participate in these tests only when they have not yet earned sufficient credit for graduation and/or satisfied federal testing requirements.

This college-level course uses the College Board's AP syllabus to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts in different types of human societies. The course highlights the nature of changes in global frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. It emphasizes relevant factual knowledge, leading interpretive issues, and skills in analyzing types of historical evidence. The course is organized around five time periods. The first two are explored in detail in the Advanced World History and Geography to 1500 course and reviewed briefly in the beginning of this course. The last 500 years are the primary focus of this second year of the study. Specific themes provide further organization to the course, along with consistent attention to contacts among societies that form the core of world history as a field of study. In May, the students will take an AP World History Examination to qualify for Advanced standing and/or credit in college. This course has an associated Standards of Learning (SOL) test. Students will participate in these tests only when they have not yet earned sufficient credit for graduation and/or satisfied federal testing requirements.