Social Studies

Our Program

The three year core program of Social Studies courses are designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for effective citizenship. Three credits of Social Studies are required for graduation:

• 9th Grade: Citizenship and World History A and B
•  10th Grade:
  • Semester 1: United States History Honors A, United States History A or American Experience A
  • Semester 2: United States History Honors B, United States History B, American Experience  B, or American Studies
• 11th Grade:
  • Semester 1 or 2: American Government and and Politics Honors, American Government and Politics, or Civics and Government
  • Semester 1 or 2: Geography and Geopolitics Honors, Global Studies or Economics 

Many students also choose to take a Social Studies elective during their 10th, 11th, and 12th grade year.

 Although the sequence in which students fulfill the Social Studies requirements are intentionally designed for students to develop the content knowledge and skills for each successive class, there is some flexibility in meeting those requirements after 9th grade.  For example, 10th and 11th grade students may defer the course normally taken in those years by one year if they need to adjust their schedule. Tenth, 11th, and 12th graders may choose to take the required course of study, as well as a Social Studies elective. Twelfth graders who have completed all their required Social Studies courses may choose to take two electives each semester. Students may also choose to take Dartmouth courses if they meet the following prerequisites: they have taken all Social Studies Department courses related to the requested Dartmouth course, there is space available in the Dartmouth course at the time of registration, and have maintained an A average in their three previous years of Social Studies.

The Social Studies electives rotation is the following:

Odd Years ('27, '29, '31, etc)
Fall Semester	Spring Semester
Constitutional Law The Ancient World B International Relations	Psychology Ethics Media and Democracy
Even Years ('26, '28, '30, etc)
Fall Semester	Spring Semester
Comparative Government Street Law The Ancient World A Entrepreneurship	Sociology Black Women in American History World Religions

Students who wish to consider the Advanced Placement options should refer to the Advanced Placement Section of this handbook.