Social Studies - Dual Enrollment

This course teaches an in depth understanding of the American political system. Topics include the founding principles of the United States, democracy and republican principles of government, the Constitution, federalism, political behavior, civil liberties, the three branches of government in the U.S. and Virginia, domestic and foreign policy, civil rights, and the role of the U.S. in global affairs. Students will use social science skills to gain a deeper understanding of the function of federal, state and local government, and the responsibilities and duties of citizenship.

The study of the nation's history provides the intellectual foundations for responsible citizenship. The origins of American ideals and institutions are examined. A study of major events, issues, and personalities of the past provides a perspective for understanding contemporary issues and problems. The role of Virginia in the development of the United States is included with special emphases on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Mason. Topics included for study: Exploration and Colonization, European Economic Influences and Slavery in the Americas, the American Revolution, the Constitution and Early National Period, sectional tensions, Civil War and Reconstruction, the Progressive Era, U.S. as Emerging World Power, the Great War, World War 2, the Cold War, Civil Rights Movements and the Contemporary U.S. As a result of this course students will have a better understanding the history of the United States and Virginia. Also, as the course focuses on critical, creative and collaborative thinking skills students will be better prepared for the rigors of collegiate study and/or the workforce. Historical thinking skills will be practiced and assessed include synthesizing evidence from artifacts and primary and secondary sources, judging the reliability of sources based on evidence through using sourcing, contextualization, corroborating and close reading skills, an understanding of historiography, constructing arguments using evidence from multiple sources, comparing and contrasting historical, cultural, economic, and political perspectives, using geographic information to determine patterns and trends in Virginia and United States history analyzing multiple connections across time and place, using a decision-making model to analyze and explain the incentives for and consequences of a specific choice made in a historical context, constructing historical arguments based on evidence and evaluated in the proper context of time and place, and investigating and researching to develop products orally and in writing. This course will offer an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills from all their previous course work in history and social science. 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.