Warsaw Community High School

World History and Civilization

This full year class focuses on aspects of the past that impacted and influenced different people and places. Students will be expected to compare and contrast these events and developments from across the world while examining how people and cultures have changed from the past to the present. They will also practice skills involving historical, critical thinking, research, and the application of content knowledge and processes.

AP World History

This Advanced Placement course, created by the College Board, is similar to a two-semester college world history course. This curriculum will allow students to “investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in historical periods from approximately 1200 CE to the present.” Students will continue to develop skills and practices that historians use by working with primary and secondary sources and comparing and contrasting information and events. They will also move through context, cause and effect, and continuity and change over time. All of this, and so much more, will give students a solid foundation in world history. Students enrolled in this course are required to participate and take the exam in May. There are fees for this course, but financial assistance may be available for students who qualify.

US History

This full year class takes students through what has gone on in the United States from the late 19th through the 21st centuries. After a bit of review, students will explore significant events, people, and movements as the nation developed. This study will then lead to emphasis on the interaction of these aspects with political, economic, social, and cultural influences. These national developments, and how they relate to Indiana, are critical topics. Analysis, historical thinking, and research skills with focus on primary and secondary sources are all skills the students will use to understand national changes over time.

AP US History

This is a course established by the College Board. AP United States History focuses on developing students’ abilities to think conceptually and apply historical thinking skills as they learn from the past. U.S. history from around the 1940s through present day is explored through specific themes: identity, people, politics and power, work, exchange, and technology; America in the world; environment and geography; and ideas, beliefs, and culture. These themes will provide areas of inquiry and investigation throughout the course. Students enrolled in this course are required to participate in the AP program and take the AP exam in May. There are fees associated with this course but financial assistance may be available.

American History I DC

This full year, college-level course offered through IUSB, is an advanced study of US history. Students will explore significant events, people, and movements as the nation developed. This study will then lead to emphasis on the interaction of these aspects with political, economic, social, and cultural influences. These national developments, and how they relate to Indiana, are critical topics. Analysis, historical thinking, and research skills with focus on primary and secondary sources are all skills the students will use to understand national changes over time.

U.S. Government

In this required one-semester class, with a focus on the responsible participation of citizens, the framework for understanding the practices of constitutional representative democracy in our country is stressed. Students will work with citizenship, politics, and the rights of citizens and how those fit into local, state, and federal government. They will also deep dive into how the United States Constitution protects rights and provides structure to the various levels of government. Primary and secondary sources are emphasized in the study of the U.S. but also in how this country interacts with other nations. Students will also practice evaluating and defending positions on political issues. 

AP U.S. Government

This is a course created by the College Board. It follows much of the content in WCHS’s government class, but focuses on the following topics: constitutional underpinnings; political beliefs and behaviors; political parties; interest groups, and mass media; institutions of national government; public policy; and civil rights and liberties. In the study of these topics, students will apply disciplinary reasoning, assess causes and consequences of political events, and interpret data to develop evidence based arguments.

Intro to American Politics DC3 POLS Y103 IUSB

This is a college level course that covers advanced social sciences. It provides a framework for understanding the purposes, principles, and practices of constitutional representative democracy in the U.S. Responsible and effective participation of citizens is stressed, particularly in how this participation is a part of local, state, and national government.

Economics

This is a one-semester course that studies resources and their uses for human needs and wants. Students will take a look at the behavior of consumers, producers, investors, workers, voters, institutions, governments, and societies. Because resources for societies are limited, it is important to understand the importance of choice especially as it relates to supply and demand. The market economy also plays a big role in this course and a good deal of focus will be on scarcity, supply and demand, financial institutions, economic trade, etc. Economics is a required course for seniors.  

Economics DCS E200 

This is a dual credit version of this class offered through PFW. The content is relatively similar  but with deeper study, college-level expectations, and higher-level assignments. In order to take this course, students must apply and be accepted at PFW and pay the tuition or receive a tuition waiver. Students are also expected to purchase their own textbook for this course.

Sociology 

This one-semester course introduces students to social behavior from a group perspective. They will study patterns in the attitudes and actions of people and how these patterns vary across time and culture. Students will then conduct research and examine different structures of this behavior and the influence of family, religion, education, economics, community organizations, government, politics, and social groups. This examination will result in analysis of how this can affect individual and social problems. 

Psychology

Psychology is a one-semester course that introduces students to the study of mental processes and behavior. Students will investigate multiple areas of content: the history of psychology, research methods and ethical considerations, the biological aspect of behavior, development, cognition, personality and assessment, socio-cultural dimensions or behavior, and psychological thinking. These areas focus on the brain and the nervous system and how they’re impacted by both biology and the environment. Experiments, research, and what a practicing psychologist’s day might look like, as well as many other topics, are covered.