Course Catalog

US Government is a one-semester course that is designed to promote the acquisition, mastery, and processing of information related to US government and political culture. Students will learn about the foundations of US government, the US Constitution's roots in Greek and English law, and the various institutions that affect American politics. They will also examine the structure and function of US government and develop an understanding of the political culture that shapes it. In addition, the course covers the relationship between the Constitution and the broader political and cultural framework that defines US democratic governance. There are no required materials for this course. This course features career exploration powered by Roadtrip Nation.

In US Government and Politics, students examine the history, principles, and function of the political system established by the US Constitution. Starting with a basic introduction to the role of government in society and the philosophies at the heart of American democracy, this course provides students with the knowledge needed to be informed and empowered participants in the US political system. Through critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their ability to conduct research, analyze sources, make arguments, and take informed action. In written assignments, students address critical questions about US politics and the roles of individual Americans in politics and political organizations. In discussion activities, students respond to political opinions, take a position, and defend their own claims. Formative and summative assessments provide students — and teachers — with ample opportunities to check in, review, and evaluate students’ progress in the course. For Honors students, the course culminates with a multipart independent research project focused on a topic of their choice. This course is built to state standards and informed by the College, Career, and Civil Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards and the National Standard for Civics and Government. This updated course was originally created for Apex Courses and is now available in Courseware.

US History is a two-semester course aligned to the principles of the C3 Framework. The course promotes the examination, analysis, and evaluation of important people and events in the history of the United States of America. The course also uses investigative questions to guide the examination and analysis of events. The course content promotes understanding of the impacts that historical events have had on the diverse groups that make up the United States. Clarifying Big Ideas Lessons appear throughout the course to model critical thinking skills and strategies. These skills and strategies are woven throughout the lessons to allow students to practice them in context. Activities further promote critical thinking about historical figures and encourage learners to analyze factors that impacted the decisions these figures made to shape the growth and development of the United States. The activities have learners analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources and form opinions, using evidence to support them. This course features career exploration powered by Roadtrip Nation.

US History traces the nation's history from the pre-colonial period to the present. Students learn about the Native American, European, and African people who lived in America before it became the United States. They examine the beliefs and philosophies that informed the American Revolution and the subsequent formation of the government and political system. Students investigate the economic, cultural, and social motives for the nation's expansion, as well as the conflicting notions of liberty that eventually resulted in civil war. The course describes the emergence of the United States as an industrial nation and then focuses on its role in modern world affairs. Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, students probe the economic and diplomatic interactions between the United States and other world players while investigating how the world wars, the Cold War, and the “information revolution” affected the lives of ordinary Americans. Woven through this chronological sequence is a strong focus on the changing conditions of women, African Americans, and other minority groups. The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships. These skills are applied to text interpretation and in written assignments that guide learners step-by-step through problem-solving activities. This course is built to state standards and informed by the National Council for History Education, the National Center for History in the Schools, and the National Council for the Social Studies. This updated course was originally created for Apex Courses and is now available in Courseware.

US History Since the Civil War traces the nation's history from the end of the Civil War to the present. It describes the emergence of the United States as an industrial nation, highlighting social policy as well as its role in modern world affairs. Students evaluate the attempts to bind the nation together during Reconstruction while also exploring the growth of an industrial economy. Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, students probe the economic and diplomatic interactions between the United States and other world players while investigating how the world wars, the Cold War, and the "information revolution" affected the lives of ordinary Americans. Woven through this chronological sequence is a strong focus on the changing conditions of women, African Americans, and other minority groups. The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships. These skills are applied to text interpretation and in written assignments that guide students step-by-step through problem-solving activities. Honors students perfect their ability to use logic and evidence to create persuasive written arguments in five-paragraph essays, two independent research projects, and shorter exercises such as document-based questions and analytical discussions. The course is built to state standards and standards from the National Council for History Education, the National Center for History in the Schools, and the National Council for the Social Studies. This updated course was originally created for Apex Courses and is now available in Courseware.

In an increasingly interconnected world, equipping students with a better understanding of our global neighbors is critical to ensuring they are college- and career-ready. These semester-long courses empower students to deepen their understanding of the world they live in and how its diverse geographies shape the international community. Semester A units begin with an overview of the physical world and the tools necessary to explore it effectively. Subsequent units survey each continent and its physical characteristics, engage students, and encourage them to develop a global perspective. This course features career exploration powered by Roadtrip Nation.

In World History, learners will explore historical world events with the help of innovative videos, timelines, and interactive maps and images. Learners will develop historical thinking skills and apply them to their study of European exploration, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and major world revolutions. They will also study World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and the benefits and challenges of living in the modern world. This course features career exploration powered by Roadtrip Nation.

In World History, students learn to see the world today as the product of a process that began thousands of years ago when humans became a speaking, traveling, and trading species. Through historical analysis grounded in primary sources, case studies, and research, students investigate the continuity and evolution of human culture, governments, economic systems, and social structures. Students build and practice historical thinking skills, learning to connect specific people, places, events, and ideas to the larger trends of world history. In critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their ability to reason chronologically, interpret and synthesize sources, identify connections between ideas, and develop well-supported historical arguments. Students write throughout the course, responding to primary sources and historical narratives through journal entries, essays, and visual presentations of social studies content. In discussion activities, students respond to the positions of others while staking and defending their own claims. The course's rigorous instruction is supported with relevant materials and active learning opportunities to ensure students at all levels can master the key historical thinking skills. This course is built to state standards. This updated course was originally created for Apex Courses and is now available in Courseware.

In World History Survey, learners will study major historical events from early human societies through to the present day. Multimedia tools including custom videos as well as videos from the BBC, custom maps, and interactive timelines will help engage learners as they complete this year-long course. Topics of study include early civilizations, world religions, the Renaissance, the World Wars, and the globalized world of today. This course features career exploration powered by Roadtrip Nation.

World History to the Renaissance is a two-semester course informed by standards from the National Council for History Education, the National Center for History in the Schools, and the National Council for Social Studies. The course traces the development of civilizations around the world from prehistory to the Renaissance. The course covers major themes in world history, including the development and influence of human-geographic relationships, political and social structures, economic systems, major religions and belief systems, science and technology, and the arts. Topics covered in this course include the birth of civilizations; the classical civilizations of India, China, Greece, and Rome; the rise of new empires such as the Byzantine; and an examination of civilizations in Africa and North and South America. From there, students journey to the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. There are no required materials for this course. This course was originally created for Apex Courses and is now available in Courseware.