Social Studies

Through feedback-rich instruction, all classes in the department focus on critical reading, research, and argumentation. It is the goal of the department to create aware and active citizens who are capable of analyzing the world through a critical lens with CSJ values.

Throughout the four years at Carondelet, students will encounter project-based learning in the Social Studies Department. Students complete an interdisciplinary research project in their freshman year and participate in National History Day during their junior year. Both projects involve student-selected topics, intensive research, teamwork, and oral presentation of their research findings. It is our firm belief when students are fully engaged in the process of inquiry, learning becomes more meaningful, and important skills are developed.

In addition, we offer Model United Nations and Mock Trial as extracurricular activities along with a variety of other electives.

Courses

• AP African American Studies

  Course Level(s): 11th & 12th grades
  Credits: 10
  Campus: De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  B in English; B in World History and/or US History

  AP African American Studies is an interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with varied sources. Students explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment. Given the interdisciplinary character of African
  American Studies, students in the course will develop skills across multiple fields, with an emphasis on developing historical, literary, visual, and data analysis skills. This course foregrounds a study of the diversity of Black communities in the United States within the broader context of Africa and the African diaspora.

• AP European History

  Course Level(s): 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
  Credits: 10
  Campus: Carondelet/De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  Teacher recommendation and:

  A grade of B- or higher in Honors English and Honors History;

  A grade of A- or higher in both English & History.  

  AP European History is an introductory college-level European history course. Students cultivate their understanding of European history through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like interaction of Europe and the world; economic and commercial developments; cultural and intellectual developments; states and other institutions of power; social organization and development; national and European identity; and technological and scientific innovation.

• AP Human Geography

  Course Level(s): 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
  Credits: 10
  Campus: Carondelet
  Prerequisites: 

  Teacher recommendation and: A grade of “B” or higher in Honors English & Honors History; or A grade of “A-” or higher in both English & History. Experience with AP Level coursework preferable.

  AP Human Geography is an introductory college-level human geography course. Students cultivate their understanding of human geography through data and geographic analyses as they explore topics like patterns and spatial organization, human impacts and interactions with their environment, and spatial processes and societal changes.

  The class requires a keen understanding of history or an appetite to prioritize building a strong foundation in history. Students will be expected to stay abreast of current events and be able to speak about what is happening in the world.

  Note: there is summer homework connected to this class that includes learning to place countries on a world map and summer reading.

• AP Macroeconomics

  Course Level(s): 12th grade
  Credits: 5 (Spring Semester Course)
  Campus: De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  Completed AP application, completion of US History with an A- or better each semester or completion of AP US History with a B- or better each semester, and department chair approval.

  AP Macroeconomics is designed to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to an economic system as a whole. The course places particular emphasis on the study of national income and price determination, and also promotes an understanding of economic performance measures, economic growth, and international economics.

• AP Psychology

  Course Level(s): 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
  Credits: 10
  Campus: Carondelet/De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  Completion of Social Studies and English classes with an A- or AP/Honors Social Studies and English classes with a B and department approval.

  This course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals within a context. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the methods psychologists use in their science and practice. Students and parents should be aware of the additional workload that accompanies this class. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement examination.

  Note: summer reading requirement for this course will be announced in the spring via the Carondelet/De La Salle websites.

• AP U.S. Government and Politics

  Course Level(s): 12th grade
  Credits: 10
  Campus: Carondelet/De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  Completed AP application, completion of US History with an A- or better each semester or completion of AP US History with a B- or better each semester, and department chair approval.

  AP U.S. Government and Politics provides a college-level, nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behaviors. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, they will complete a political science research or applied civics project. Students and parents should be aware of the additional workload that accompanies this course. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement Examination at the conclusion of this course.

  Note: summer reading requirement for this course will be announced in the spring via the Carondelet/De La Salle websites.

• AP U.S. History

  Course Level(s): 11th grade
  Credits: 10
  Campus: Carondelet/De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  Completion of World Civilizations or Big History courses with an A-; or completion of World Civilizations Honors or Big History Honors with a B-; Completion of all regular English courses with an A- or completion of all Honors English courses with a B-; and department chair and academic advisor approval.

  This course is a general survey of United States History. According to the College Board: The Advanced Placement Program in United States History is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States History. The program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses. The materials, the pace of the course, and the teaching methodologies are designed to resemble as closely as possible a freshman history course offered at the college level. Students and parents should be aware of the additional workload that accompanies this class. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement examination.

  Note: summer reading requirement for this course will be announced in the spring via the Carondelet/De La Salle website.

• Civics

  Course Level(s): 12th grade
  Credits: 5
  Campus: Carondelet/De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  None

  This course introduces students to American government and politics through examination of the nature of the American political system, its historical development, and its contemporary practice. The course examines the processes and institutions through which the political system functions and the public policies that these institutions initiate and develop.

• Criminal and Civil Justice

  Course Level(s): 11th & 12th grades
  Credits: 5
  Campus: De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  None

  This one-semester course introduces students to the criminal and civil justice systems in the United States. The teacher is an experienced trial lawyer.

  Subject matter includes: Introduction to the Law and the Legal System (including how to be a lawyer, how disputes are settled, and the court system), Criminal Law and Procedure (including serious crimes and their defenses, and the criminal justice process– investigation, trial, sentencing, and corrections), and Civil Tort Law and Procedure (including responsibility for personal injuries and property damage from wrongful acts such as car accidents and defective products). The final examination is a Mock Trial which is a jury trial that will be conducted to test each student’s skill and knowledge of the law and the legal system. In the Mock Trial, students will act either as a witness, a lawyer, a member of the jury, the court clerk, or the bailiff, with the teacher serving as the judge.

• Economics

  Course Level(s): 12th grade
  Credits: 5
  Campus: Carondelet/De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  None

  This course introduces students to the vocabulary, concepts, and problems of the United States economy. The course emphasizes not only a basic competence in the vocabulary and an understanding of supply and demand and international trade, but also an understanding of U.S. economic policies in relation to the global economy.

• Engineering for Social Good

  Course Level(s): 11th & 12th grades
  Credits: 10 or 5
  Campus: Carondelet
  Prerequisites: 

  Successful completion of Conceptual Physics and Frosh Creation. Completion of Geometry (or concurrent enrollment).

  Engineering for Social Good provides students with an introduction to core concepts in design and engineering through hands-on projects that build real-world solutions to improve the lives of people in our community. The course emphasizes human-centered design to directly address current issues in our world related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

  Engineering for Social Good is a project-based course that applies STEM knowledge and skills to improve our greater community. Students may take the course as a semester class or a full-year class. 
  

  As a project-based class delivering a real-world product for the community, students will be expected to engage in a high degree of collaboration, perseverance, and flexibility to meet time-sensitive deadlines. Although the class will meet during regular class periods, students need to be willing to meet occasionally outside the normal class periods to ensure the project stays on track.

  Note: Fall semester and year-long options are available. Students new to the course (who wish to take it for a semester) should enroll for the fall semester. Students who have previously taken the semester course may enroll for the spring semester. Students who have taken the year-long course may repeat the course if desired.

• History of the 60s & 70s: You Say You Want a Revolution

  Course Level(s): 12th grade
  Credits: 5
  Campus: De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  None

  This course offers an in-depth exploration of the transformative years of the 1960s and 1970s, examining the profound political, social, and cultural shifts that defined this era in American history. Through a thematic approach, students will engage with key issues, including the Civil Rights Movement, student and minority activism, the Vietnam War, the counterculture, significant Supreme Court cases, popular politics, and the evolution of American popular culture. Primary source materials—such as speeches, music, visual art, legal decisions, and personal narratives—will anchor our class discussions, providing firsthand perspectives and fueling critical and analytical discussions.

  Emphasizing both personal reflection and rigorous analysis, each student will complete a research project that dives deeply into selected topics, allowing for a comprehensive study of a specific aspect of this pivotal time. By the end of the semester, students will develop a nuanced understanding of how the 1960s and 1970s shaped America’s identity and contributed to its ongoing social and political evolution.

• Human Geography

  Course Level(s): 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
  Credits: 5
  Campus: Carondelet
  Prerequisites: 

  none

  The course is organized by world region; exploring location, environment, and culture. This semester-long course constructs a foundation for social science curricula through the study of culture in a geographical context.

  Cultural studies focus on understanding concepts that describe political, economic, religious, and social systems. Students will also learn about present-day ways of life around the world and their historical backgrounds. Students will compare and contrast diverse major cultures that arose in the world due to specific geographical forces, and also seek to discover the common elements found in all cultures, thereby developing a multicultural perspective. In addition, students will engage with map work, globes, graphs, the internet, library resources, and class discussions to foster a deeper understanding of the world around them. The course culminates in a final project in which students analyze a current event through a historical-geographic lens of one of the regions studied in class.

• Psychology

  Course Level(s): 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
  Credits: 5
  Campus: De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  None

  This introductory course acquaints students with the discipline of Psychology by emphasizing the various theoretical approaches that underlie explanations of behavior and thought processes. Subject matter includes the history of Psychology as a science, the biology of behavior, an examination of dreams and consciousness, human development, personality analysis, and social psychology.

• U.S. History (De La Salle)

  Course Level(s): 11th grade
  Credits: 10
  Campus: Carondelet/De La Salle
  Prerequisites: 

  None

  U.S. History: 1800s to present (offered at De la Salle)

  U.S. History covers events from the early 1800s to the present, with an emphasis on the twentieth century. The use of primary and secondary sources help students to learn about the political, social, and economic developments and themes that have shaped the United States, such as immigration, civil rights, and the United States’ role on the world stage. Skills such as critical thinking, discussion, essay writing, and collaborative activities are emphasized.

• US History (Carondelet)

  Course Level(s): 11th grade
  Credits: 10
  Campus: Carondelet
  Prerequisites: 

  n/a

  U.S. History: Civil War to Present (offered at Carondelet)

  This survey course in U.S. History is presented in chronological order with an emphasis on historical themes. Varying methods of presenting historical material include lectures, discussions, films, reading, homework, and tests. Group activities such as debates, oral presentations, projects, and simulations allow students to work with important ideas in U.S. History. Skills such as critical thinking, discussion, essay writing, and collaborative activities are emphasized, including a culminating year-long research project.

• World History

  Course Level(s): 9th grade
  Credits: 10
  Campus: Carondelet
  Prerequisites: 

  none

  Modern World History is a year-long course designed to encourage discussion about how our world has been shaped socially, politically, religiously, and culturally. This course begins in the 1600s and will explore the major turning points that shaped the modern world including the Enlightenment, Industrialization, Imperialism, Nationalism, the World Wars, the Cold War, decolonization, and globalization. Students will investigate the foundational ideas that shaped the modern world in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and then explore the economic, political, and social revolutions that have transformed human history.

  This course will explore themes that allow students to draw connections between the past and the present, across cultures, and among multiple perspectives. Through critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their capacity to conduct research, analyze sources, make arguments, and take informed action in order to be critical thinkers in the world.