High School Social Studies

Oklahoma History

In Oklahoma History and Government, students will examine the people and events that have formed and transformed the landscape and cultures of the places and peoples that have become Oklahoma. The student will analyze the important political and ideological movements and economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of state, national, and world significance. Learning Oklahoma history and government should lead students to link Oklahoma's history to local, national, and global contexts.

Civics

Beginning with the country's founding, students in this course will learn the roots of our government, its functions, and the protections it extends to their rights. They will also learn about modern politics and how to evaluate media for political bias. Students will learn to apply their research and knowledge in respectful civic discourse and political participation. Starting with the Class of 2025, high school students must pass the U.S. Citizenship Exam as part of their state high school graduation requirement.

World History

Prerequisite:The successful completion of Oklahoma History

World History surveys the history of the modern world, beginning with an overview of world religions and philosophies and continuing with an extensive study of historical eras from the Renaissance to the 21st century. Scholars explore the past's political, social, cultural, and economic developments to help them understand today's world. There is an engaged and frequent interpretation of historical documents and analysis of primary sources through writing. Scholars participate in developing history projects with a specific annual theme that applies reading and interpretation of documents and historical thinking.

Psychology

Psychology is an entry-level course designed to introduce scholars to the practical application of modern psychology. Scholars will learn about: history and approaches, social psychology, personality, neurobiology, sensation, and perception. Scholars will explore states of consciousness (including sleep and dreams), developmental psychology, learning, thinking, and memory. Scholars will read about and discuss motivation, emotion, stress and health, testing, intelligence, clinical psychology, treatment, and research.

U.S. History

Prerequisite: The successful completion of Oklahoma History

U.S. History is a high school-level survey course covering United States history from the end of the Civil War period to the 21st century (1865-2001). Using chronological and thematic approaches to the material, the course exposes students to extensive primary and secondary sources to analyze the story of all perspectives of groups and individuals important to the development of the United States. This is a required and tested course for the Oklahoma College & Career Readiness Assessment (CCRA). There are extensive writing and reading assignments, discussions, inquiry-based projects and hands-on activities, and analyses of text, images, graphs, and charts.

Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. History

Prerequisite: The successful completion of Oklahoma History, teacher recommendation, and a signed and returned Advanced Placement (AP) contract.

AP U.S. History is a college-level survey course covering American history from the Pre-Columbian period to the 21st century (1491-2001). As a college course, there are extensive writing and reading assignments. Therefore, readings and other assignments are often expected to be completed outside class to ensure scholar success in the classroom and on the AP Exam. The course is taught by the College Board AP U.S. History curriculum framework. It is designed to prepare students for the optional AP U.S. History Exam in May with the opportunity to earn college credit. Eleventh-grade students are required to take the Oklahoma College & Career Readiness Exam for United States History as a graduation requirement.

American Government/Personal Finance

Prerequisite: The successful completion of United States History

American Government is taught in conjunction with Personal Finance as a year-long course that offers an overview of the American political system. Scholars examine the constitutional foundation of our government system and its development over time. Scholars analyze the increasingly important role of campaigns and elections in contemporary American politics and how civil society and non-governmental entities, such as political parties, interest groups, and the media, influence policy-making. Scholars study how the institutions of the federal government---the Congress, the presidency, and the courts---operate, both in theory and in practice and how these three branches interact. Scholars also learn about personal finance. Personal Finance aims to learn the ideas, concepts, knowledge, and skills that enable scholars to implement personal financial decision-making skills. Scholars study how to become successful and knowledgeable consumers, savers, investors, credit users, money managers, participating workforce, and society members. Some specific topics include: earning an income, state and federal taxes, banking and financial services, balancing a checkbook, saving and investing, retirement planning, rights and responsibilities of buying or renting a home, and insurance and charitable giving.