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System Beliefs About Social Studies
- Social studies helps students to develop the ability to make informed decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society.
- Social studies is an evolving and dynamic process that requires the acquisition, interpretation, and application of content knowledge from the past to understand real world issues of the present.
- Social studies enables students to critically examine human interactions as they occur over time.
- Social studies instructs students in the use of investigating multiple sources of information including primary and secondary source materials, oral histories, and technology.
Graduation Requirements
Allegany County Public School students must earn three credits in high school social studies to receive a diploma. The three required courses are Government, World Cultures, and United States History. In addition to passing the three required courses, students must take the end-of-course Maryland High School Assessment for Government.
Advanced Placement (AP) Course Offerings
Social studies students may enroll in Advanced Placement United States History, Advanced Placement Psychology, Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics, and/or Advanced Placement Human Geography courses. All courses have been approved by the College Board following an audit of syllabi. The College Board is a nationally recognized program that provides a standardized measure of what students have accomplished in an academic year. Many colleges and universities grant credit for qualifying AP examinations grades of 3, 4, or 5.
Methods of Instruction
Social studies students conduct primary and secondary research by analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating historical documents. These inquiries are accomplished in cooperative classroom settings and computer labs. Teachers also use additional secondary resources, including textbooks, to provide instruction. The recent additions of Safari Montage resources and LCD projectors have enabled teachers to provide for a variety of instructional strategies within the classroom.
Recommended Course Sequence
The social studies high school sequence for required courses is: Government, World Cultures, and United States History. Those courses may be modified to include Honors credits.
Students planning to attend college may choose to enroll in Honors Government, Honors World Cultures, Advance Placement United States History, Advanced Placement Psychology, and/or Advanced Placement Human Geography. There are a variety of elective courses to be selected at the junior and senior levels including Contemporary Issues, Criminal Justice, Historical Research Methods, Social Studies Seminar, and Economics.
Social Studies Courses
| Local, State, and Federal Government |
Social Studies Seminar * |
| HSA Government Prep ** |
Economics * |
| World Cultures |
Contemporary World Issues |
| United States History |
Criminal Justice |
| Historical Research Methods I and II |
Psychology |
| AP Human Geography |
AP United States History |
| AP Psychology |
AP United States Government and Politics |
* 1/2 Credit ** No Credit
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