 Social StudiesDept. Chair : Rita Guritz Phone: (630) 942-6615 |
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About Our Department |
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The mission of the social studies department at Glenbard South High School is to deliver daily course instruction and develop social studies literacy in the secondary classroom. Our curricular program is dedicated to three distinct areas of classroom teaching: incorporating themes, using variating instructional techniques and teaching styles, and improving student skills. The vision of our mission is to be an agent for engaging students in problem solving situations that will allow students to effectively participate in and understand the world around them. |
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Department Members |
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Course Descriptions |
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WORLD HISTORY Fr., So. 1 year 1 credit The study of World History includes the following chronological time periods: Ancient Civilizations 4000- 100 B.C., Classical World 100 B.C.-300 A.D., Middle Ages 300-1500 A.D., Rise of Western Civilization 1500-1900 A.D., and Modern Times 1900 - present. The course centers on major civilizations, their contributions and characteristics especially in the following areas: Politics (how people govern themselves), Economics (how people produce, distribute, and consume goods and services),
Society (how people deal with each other, individually and in groups), and Culture (how people express their thoughts, feelings, ideas in literature, philosophy, and art). WORLD HISTORY HONORS Fr., So. 1 year 1 credit Prerequisite: Recommendation of the Department Chairperson or Instructor World History Honors is a survey course of the history of humankind from the earliest civilizations to the nationalism of the present age. The content is structured chronologically with an emphasis on political, economic, social and cultural achievements in
the main geographical areas of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. Emphasis will be placed on the examination of primary and secondary sources presenting various historical viewpoints. The Social Studies skills to be practiced are critical writing and creative thinking, research, problem solving and decision making. Students are expected to demonstrate above-average skills in reading and a willingness to develop new skills of analysis, interpretation and expression. CONTEMPORARY WORLD HISTORY So., Sr. 1 semester, 1/2 credit Prerequisite: World History This course is recommended for sophomore or senior students who have taken World History or World Geography. Students will investigate the major themes, concepts, and events that led to the development of the world today. The first semester will deal with the rise of European power and
influence including the major units of industrialization, imperialism, WWI, rise of dictatorships, WWII and the Cold War. Students in the second semester will investigate the independence and development movements in the Nonwestern world including the rise of modern India, Japan, China, the Middle East and Africa. Students in the second semester will also follow the main news stories and issues regarding a region of the world. This class is recommended for students with average to above average academic skills that are willing to utilize their skills at research, presentation, discussion, debate and reading analysis in order to understand the modern world. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT So. 1/2 year 1/2 credit This course will analyze the structure of American government and politics. Each student will study contemporary political problems ranging from national issues surrounding the Chief Executive, Congress, and the Judiciary, to practical politics including voting behavior and election campaigning in state and federal elections. There is an emphasis on current issues and events. UNITED STATES HISTORY Jr. 1 year 1 credit The course deals with the development of the American nation through the following stages: Exploration, Colonial, Revolutionary, Constitutional, Nationalism, the Civil War and Reconstruction. The second semester covers the American national development through the following stages: Industrial Development, U.S. as a Developing World Power, World War I, the Depression era, World War II, and problems and responsibilities of a world power in the modern world. AP UNITED STATES HISTORY Jr. 1 year 1 credit Prerequisite: Consent of department chairperson or world history instructor. This course is designed for the student of history. This course offers an advanced approach to the study of the development of the American nation through the eras of exploration, colonialism, revolution, nationalism, civil disruption, reconstruction,
industrialization, the development of a world power, the war years, and the modern day period. Major emphasis will be on written and oral interpretations of various historical viewpoints. Recommended for the skilled reader and learner. Semester I and II Study Guide purchase required. HUMANITIES HONORS Jr., Sr. 1 year 1 credit Prerequisite: World History; teacher or Department Chairperson recommendation. This introductory course in the humanities explores the historical and philosophical foundations of each major epoch of Western civilizations, from fifth century B.C. Greece to twentieth century America; studies major works of art, music, literature,
dance, and drama which were the expressions of their times; traces the progress of ideas through changing political and religious eras; tries to better understand present American culture as a product of the past. This course aims to develop critical thinking skills through oral and written expression. Students will evaluate primary sources; experience works of art, music, dance, and drama; gain confidence in making and supporting independent judgments about important events in the history of ideas through journals and written assignments as well as discussion. SOCIOLOGY Jr., Sr. 1/2 year 1/2 credit Prerequisite: Department Chairperson or teacher recommendation. The individual becomes acquainted with how various social groups interact with one another, within our modern society, and how factors of culture, geography, population, and biology influence society. It is both a theoretical and practical approach to the study of society.
An emphasis is placed upon understanding the reciprocal relationship between the individual and the group. Recommended for college bound students, with strong reading and reasoning skills. ECONOMICS Jr., Sr. 1/2 year 1/2 credit Prerequisite: Department Chairperson or teacher recommendation. This course is designed to provide an introduction to the fundamental concepts and principles basic to the American economic system. The student will study a combined approach of economic theory, which will include both micro and macroeconomics. In addition, emphasis will
be placed upon application and problem solving situations relevant to our economy from the past through the present. Recommended for the college bound student. MODERN ISSUES 1 Jr., Sr. 1/2 year 1/2 credit The first semester emphasizes interpersonal relationships and Law. The skills of Critical Thinking, Media and Propaganda, Relationship, Marriage and Family are covered. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills in critical thinking and writing. Magazine subscription required. MODERN ISSUES 2 Jr., Sr. 1/2 year 1/2 credit The second semester emphasizes the effects of the Legal System on Contemporary Society and how the legal system functions in Illinois and DuPage County. The specific units are an Introduction to the Law and Legal System, Criminal and Civil Law, Criminal Procedure, Juvenile Law, and the Courts and Corrections. At the end of the semester (time permitting) a current and topical issue is individually researched and reported on by students. A field trip fee is required. PSYCHOLOGY Jr., Sr. 1/2 year 1/2 credit Prerequisite: Department Chairperson or teacher recommendation. This course is designed to give the student insight into the study of behavior and mental processes. Topics studied include: learning process, emotional development, the physiology of brain and body development, learning and memory motivation, emotion, personality,
sensation, perception, abnormal psychology, attitudes, and other factors which affect individual human development. Recommended for college bound students with strong reading skills. AP PSYCHOLOGY Jr., Sr. 1 year, 1 credit Prerequisite: Department Chairperson or teacher recommendation. Students will be introduced to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental process of human beings and other animals. In addition, the course will examine psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within
psychology. The methods psychologists use in their science and practice is also examined. The aim of the course is to provide the student with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory psychology courses. Students will have an opportunity to earn additional AP college credit after completing their full year course. CONTEMPORARY U.S. HISTORY (1945 - PRESENT) Jr., Sr. 1/2 year 1/2 credit Prerequisite: World History and/or U.S. History; teacher recommendation or Department Chairperson approval. This course will focus on the role of the United States in domestic and foreign situations since World War II. Major issues ranging from the Cold War, Vietnam, the Mideast, the fall of the Berlin
Wall, Gulf War, Kosovo, the war in Iraq, and domestic issues such as civil rights, social, political, and economic trends, assassinations, the CIA, Watergate, Reagonomics, the boom economy of the 90's and the Clinton presidency, and the Bush administration. The course approach will include research of newspaper and magazine articles of the times and class discussions of important issues as they relate to the United States and its growth since World War II including the influence of entertainment and sports upon the American people. AP EUROPEAN HISTORY So. 1 year 1 credit Prerequisite: World History Honors or World History Regular with a subsequent course(s) in the Social Studies Honors sequence plus the Recommendation of the Social Studies Department Chair. This study of European history since 1450 will introduce students to the social, economic, political, intellectual and cultural developments that have helped to shape the world today. In addition to telling the story of how the modern western world came to be, the AP program in European history will help students to better understand the ideas at the very foundation of our own world view and improve in the skills of interpretation, discussion, analysis and evaluation necessary for both academic and professional success. This course will prepare students for the Advanced Placement examination in European History. Students who take this course are expected to take the AP exam in May. |