History & Social Studies

Grade Level: 10-12

(Offered at FHS)

This geography course will emphasize the increasing interconnectedness of Earth’s people due to globalization, as well as how and why things differ from place to place both physically and culturally on the earth’s surface. Globalization is the ongoing process of increasing interconnectedness and interdependence among humankind. While its origins are debatable, this process has been significantly amplified with the onset of new communication technologies that have improved economic, political, social, cultural, historic, and geographic connections among individuals, groups, and nations. The mounting flow of goods, services, finances, ideas, and people across national and international borders has created a world ever more devoid of physical and political boundaries and dependent upon empathy and collaboration. Since the consequences of the process are not predetermined, an awareness of the positive or negative possibilities of these connections is paramount to individual improvement and the advancement of humanity.

Grade Level: 10

This course will explore the overarching themes, trends, and concepts of our nation’s history, including the development and evolution of the American system of government, the patterns and impact of migration and immigration, cultural development through the arts and technological innovations, relationships with foreign nations, and the role of both the individual and diverse groups in building the American story. The American History course will begin with the end of the French and Indian War (1763) and end through the latest Presidential Election (i.e. 2020, 2024, etc.).

Grade Level: 10

American History Honors follows the same course of study as the corresponding standard course; however, the material is taught with greater complexity, acceleration, and reflects a differentiated curriculum. This course is designed to provide the student with an in-depth overview of the overarching themes, trends, and concepts of our nation’s history, including the development and evolution of the American system of government, the patterns and impact of migration and immigration, cultural development through the arts and technological innovations, relationships with foreign nations, and the role of both the individual and diverse groups in building the American story. The American History course will begin with the end of the French and Indian War (1763) and end through the latest Presidential Election (i.e. 2020, 2024, etc.).

Grade Level: 10-11

(Offered at BHS & FHS)

Yearlong Course/2 Semesters

Continued study of the principles and concepts in the honors curriculum, continuing as a comprehensive in-depth study of American History. This course prepares students for the AP exam. Survey course from European discovery through the present with emphasis on the political, economic, military, and social aspects of the nation’s history. This is a yearlong course.  Students will take American History Honors in the Fall semester and AP US History in the Spring semester.

Grade Level: 10-12

Recommended Prerequisites: American History, or U.S. History AP and Civics Literacy

This course is a college level course and is offered for students who will take the AP exam. The purpose of the AP Human Geography course is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students learn to employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications.

Grade Level: 10-12

Recommended prerequisite: Founding Principles of the USA and NC:Civic Literacy

(Offered at FHS)

Continued study of the principles and concepts in the honors curriculum, continuing as a comprehensive in-depth study of civics. This course prepares students for the AP exam. Special emphasis on how the main components of government, interest groups, judiciary, and the constitution are related.

Grade Level: 9

Prerequisite: World History Honors

(Offered at FHS & LMHS)

This is a college level course and is offered for students who will take the AP exam.  The course is yearlong with Honors World History taken by students in the Fall semester and AP World History Modern in the Spring semester.  The purpose of the AP World History course is to develop greater understandings of the evolution of global processes and contacts in different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The course highlights the nature of changes in global frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparison among major societies. It emphasizes relevant factual knowledge, leading interpretive issues, and skills in analyzing types of historical evidence. Periodization, explicitly discussed, forms an organizing principle to address change and continuity throughout the course. Specific themes provide further organization to the course, along with consistency attention to contacts among societies that form the core of world history as a field of study.

Grade Level: 12

The Economics and Personal Finance (EPF) course is intended to be a study of economics, personal finance, income and education, money management, critical consumerism, and financial planning. This course expects students to enter possessing a fundamental knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of economics and money management. When opportunities can be provided, this course can be augmented by related learning experiences, both in and out of school, that enable students to apply their knowledge and understanding of how to participate in their own financial literacy. Mastery of the standards and objectives of this course will inform and nurture responsible, participatory citizens who are competent and committed to responsible money management and financial literacy.

Grade Level: 12

Economics & Personal Finance Honors follows the same course of study as the corresponding standard course; however, the material is taught with greater complexity, acceleration, and reflects a differentiated curriculum. This course is designed to provide the student with an in-depth overview study of economics, personal finance, income and education, money management, critical consumerism, and financial planning. This course expects students to enter possessing a fundamental knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of economics and money management.

Grade Level: 11

This course provides students the opportunity for a deeper study of the governmental and political systems of the N.C. and the U.S. and will build upon the application of the Founding Principles. This course will allow students to examine the ways in which power and responsibility are both shared and limited by the U.S. Constitution and how the judicial, legal, and political systems of North Carolina and the United States embody the founding principles of government. Students in this course will analyze and evaluate the extent to which the American system of government guarantees, protects, and upholds the rights of citizens as well as how it has evolved over time.

Grade Level: 11

Civic Literacy Honors follows the same course of study as the corresponding standard course; however, the material is taught with greater complexity, acceleration, and reflects a differentiated curriculum. This course is designed to provide the student with an in-depth overview of the political, legal, and economic system of the United States. Concentrated areas include the U.S. Constitution, the organization and operation of the federal, state, and local levels of government.

(Offered at BHS)

Psychology is designed to engage students in the understanding, articulation, and dissemination of psychology as a science. Students are introduced to psychology with a focus on the scientific study of human development, learning, cognition, biology, society, and culture. The course emphasizes the empirical examination of behavior and cognitive processes and offers perspectives that foster students' growth, development, and understanding of cultural diversity. Students of psychology acquire information from a variety of sources, use information as they make decisions and evaluations, solve problems, and relate psychology to their personal lives. 

Honors Psychology covers the material in greater complexity, novelty, and pacing. Honors Psychology is distinguished by a difference in the quality of the work expected, not merely an increase in quantity.

Grade Level: 9

This is a survey course that gives students the opportunity to explore recurring themes of human experience common to civilizations around the globe from ancient to contemporary times. An historical approach will be at the center of the course. The application of the themes of geography and an analysis of the cultural traits of civilizations will help students understand how people shape their world and how their world shapes them. Students broaden their historical perspectives as they explore ways societies have dealt with continuity and change, exemplified by issues such as war and peace, internal stability and strife, and the development of institutions.

Grade Level: 9

Honors World History follows the same course of study as the corresponding standard World History course; however, the material is taught with greater complexity, acceleration, and reflects a differentiated curriculum. Honors World History provides the opportunity for advanced work, rigorous academic study, and the practical application of the major ideas and concepts. The course is challenging and requires students to take greater responsibility for their learning by participating in problem-seeking and problem-solving, scholarly and creative processes, critical analysis and application, reflective thinking, and the expression and defense of ideas generated through the study of the content.

North Carolina Virtual Public School is an initiative by the State of North Carolina through which certified teachers provide online instruction in courses that meet the objectives of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. NCVPS course availability is based upon funding that high schools receive each school year for online courses and the number of course sections offered by NCVPS, so students need to plan their course of studies carefully with the assistance of their school counselor.  FCS high schools may restrict enrollment in online classes to courses not already being provided face-to-face.  Details about NCVPS are found at www.ncvps.org.

Prerequisite: 3.0 GPA Recommended

Note: Students should see their school counselor for online course availability and enrollment deadlines.

Grade Level: 10-12

Course Descriptions for NCVPS Online History & Social Studies Courses

These are online History electives that are not available face-to-face at some FCS high schools.

• African-American Studies
• History of the Holocaust
• Leadership
• Medieval Studies
• Psychology
• Psychology Honors
• AP Psychology (Yearlong and Block - 1 credit)
• AP European History (Yearlong - 1 credit)
• AP Government and Politics US (Yearlong & Block- 1 credit)
• AP Human Geography (Yearlong - 1 credit)
• AP World History Modern (Yearlong- 1 credit)