AP Microeconomics is a course based on the content established and copyrighted by the College Board. The course is not intended to be used as a dual credit course. AP Microeconomics is an introductory college-level course that focuses on the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers. The course also develops students ’familiarity with the operation of product and factor markets, distributions of income, market failure, and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy.

Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts. Topics include: Basic Economic Concepts; Nature and Functions of Product Markets; Factor Markets; and Market Failure and the Role of Government.

• Recommended Grade: 11, 12
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none. Students should be able to read a college level textbook and write grammatically correct, complete sentences.
• Credits: 1 to 2 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Counts as an elective for all diplomas
• Fulfills the economics requirement for all diplomas
• Qualifies as a quantitative reasoning course

AP World History Modern students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in historical periods from approximately 1200 CE to the present. Students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change over time.

The course provides six themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation.

• Recommended Grade: none
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none
• Students should be able to read and comprehend college-level texts and apply the conventions of Standard Written English in their writing.
• Credits: 2 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Fulfills the geography history of the world/world history and civilization graduation requirement for the Core 40, Core 40 with Academic Honors and Core 40 with Technical Honors diplomas

Ethnic Studies provides opportunities to broaden students ’perspectives concerning the lifestyles and cultural patterns of ethnic groups in the United States. This course will either focus on a particular ethnic group or groups, or use a comparative approach to the study of patterns of cultural development, immigration, and assimilation, as well as the contributions of specific diversity in the United States.

• Recommended Grade: none
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none
• Credits: 1 semester course, 1 credit
• Counts as an elective for all diplomas
• Must be offered at least once per school year

Geography and History of the World is designed to enable students to use geographical tools, skills and historical concepts to deepen their understanding of major global themes, including the origin and spread of world religions; exploration; conquest, and imperialism; urbanization; and innovations and revolutions.

Geographical and historical skills include forming research questions, acquiring information by investigating a variety of primary and secondary sources, organizing information by creating graphic representations, analyzing information to determine and explain patterns and trends, planning for the future, and documenting and presenting findings orally or in writing.

The historical geography concepts used to explore global themes include change over time, origin, diffusion, physical systems, cultural landscapes, and spatial distribution/patterns and interaction/relationships. Students use the knowledge, tools, and skills obtained from this course in order to analyze, evaluate, and make predictions about major global developments.

This course is designed to nurture perceptive and responsible citizenship, to encourage and support the development of critical thinking skills and lifelong learning, and to help prepare Indiana students for the 21st Century.

• Recommended Grade: none
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none
• Credits: 2 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Counts as a Social Studies requirement for the General Diploma
• Counts as an elective for all diplomas •Fulfills the Geography History of the World/World History and Civilization graduation requirement for the Core 40, Core 40 with Academic Honors and Core 40 with Technical Honors diplomas

Indiana Studies is an integrated course that compares and contrasts state and national developments in the areas of politics, economics, history, and culture. The course uses Indiana history as a basis for understanding current policies, practices, and state legislative procedures. It also includes the study of state and national constitutions from a historical perspective and as a current foundation of government. Examination of individual leaders and their roles in a democratic society will be included, and students will examine the participation of citizens in the political process. Selections from Indiana arts and literature may also be analyzed for insights into historical events and cultural expressions.

• Recommended Grade: none
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none
• Credits: 1 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Counts as an elective for all diplomas
• Fulfills course requirement for General Diploma
• Must be offered at least once per school year

Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. The course is divided into eight content areas: History and Scientific Method, Biological Basis for Behavior, Development, Cognition, Personality and Assessment, Abnormal Psychology, Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Behavior, and Psychological Thinking. History and Scientific Method explores the history of psychology, the research methods used, and the ethical considerations that must be utilized.

Biological Basis for Behavior focuses on the way the brain and nervous system function, including sensation, perception, motivation and emotion. Development analyzes the changes throughout one’s life, including physical, cognitive, emotional, social and moral development. Cognition focuses on learning, memory, information processing, and language development. Personality and Assessment explains the approaches used to explain one’s personality and the assessment tools used.

Abnormal Psychology explores psychological disorders and the various treatments used for them. Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Behavior covers topics such as conformity, obedience, perceptions, attitudes and influence of the group on the individual. Psychological Thinking explores how to think like a psychologist and expand critical thinking skills needed in the day-to-day life of a psychologist.

• Recommended Grade: none
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none
• Credits: 1 to 2 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Counts as an elective for all diplomas
• Fulfills course requirement for General Diploma

Sociology allows students to study human social behavior from a group perspective. The sociological perspective is a method of studying recurring patterns in people’s attitudes and actions and how these patterns vary across time, cultures, and in social settings and groups. Students describe the development of sociology as a social science and identify methods of research. Through research methods such as scientific inquiry, students examine society, group behavior, and social structures.

The influence of culture on group behavior is addressed through institutions such as the family, religion, education, economics, community organizations, government, and political and social groups. The impact of social groups and institutions on group and individual behavior and the changing nature of society will be examined. Influences on group behavior and social problems are included in the course. Students also analyze the role of individuals in the community and social problems in today’s world.

• Recommended Grade: 11, 12
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none
• Credits: 1 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Counts as an elective for all diplomas
• Fulfills course requirement for General Diploma

United States Government provides a framework for understanding the purposes, principles, and practices of constitutional representative democracy in the United States. Responsible and effective participation of citizens is stressed. Students understand the nature of citizenship, politics, and governments and understand the rights and responsibilities of citizens and how these are part of local, state, and national government. Students examine how the United States Constitution protects rights and provides the structure and functions of various levels of government.

Analysis of how the United States interacts with other nations and the government’s role in world affairs is included in this course. Using primary and secondary resources, students will articulate, evaluate, and defend positions on political issues. As a result, they will be able to explain the role of individuals and groups in government, politics, and civic activities and the need for civic and political engagement of citizens in the United States.

• Recommended Grade: 11, 12
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none
• Credits: 1 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Fulfills Government requirements for all diplomas
• Students are required to take the naturalization test for citizenship per SEA 132 (New 2019- 2020).
• SEA 398 (Spring 2020) states that schools will be required to issue the naturalization test, report results, and post test data results starting in November 2022.

Political Science provides for a study of the processes and goals of politics; processes of government; methods by which decisions are made; and the basis of decision making. The course goes beyond the study of governmental structure and functions to include and analysis of topics such as: (1) the nature of the American party system, (2) interest groups, (3) public opinion, (4) laws which affect students, (5) reasons laws are changed, (6) due process of law, (7) legal rights, and (8) legal responsibilities. Comparative studies of governmental systems in nations other than the United States may also be included.

• Recommended Grade: 11,12
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: United States Government or teacher recommendation
• Credits: 1 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Counts as an elective for all diplomas
• Fulfills course requirement for General Diploma

United States History is a two-semester course that builds upon concepts developed in previous studies of U.S. History and emphasizes national development from the late nineteenth century into the twenty-first century. After reviewing fundamental themes in the early development of the nation, students are expected to identify and review significant events, persons, and movements in the early development of the nation.

The course then gives major emphasis to the interaction of key events, people, and political, economic, social, and cultural influences in national developments from the late nineteenth century through the present as they relate to life in Indiana and the United States.

Students are expected to trace and analyze chronological periods and examine the significant themes and concepts in U.S. History. Students develop historical thinking and research skills and use primary and secondary sources to explore topical issues and to understand the causes of changes in the nation over time.

• Recommended Grade: none
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none
• Credits: 2 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Fulfills the US History requirement for all diplomas

AP United States History is a course based on the content established and copyrighted by the College Board. The course is not intended to be used as a dual credit course. AP United States History focuses on developing students ’abilities to think conceptually about U.S. history from approximately 1491 to the present and apply historical thinking skills as they learn about the past.

Seven themes of equal importance — identity; peopling; politics and power; work, exchange, and technology; America in the world; environment and geography; and ideas, beliefs, and culture — provide areas of historical inquiry for investigation throughout the course. These require students to reason historically about continuity and change over time and make comparisons among various historical developments in different times and places.

• Recommended Grade: 11, 12
• Required Prerequisites: none
• Recommended Prerequisites: none
• Students should be able to read and comprehend college-level texts and apply the conventions of Standard Written English in their writing.
• Credits: 2 semester course, 1 credit per semester
• Fulfills the US history requirement for all diplomas