NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES
(NCSS) defines social studies as:
…the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. Within the school program, social studies provides coordinated, systematic study drawing upon such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology, as well as appropriate content from the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences. The primary purpose of social studies is to help young people make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.
At Piscataway High School, some Social Studies courses are sequential and have a prerequisite policy.
Students must take and pass U.S. History 1 before U.S. History 2.
The requirements for graduation include three years of Social Studies: one year of World Cultures and two years of U. S. History.
Each student must have 15 credits in Social Studies in order to graduate.
(5 credits each in World Cultures, U.S. History 1, and U.S. History 2.)
All new ninth grade students take Honors World Cultures.
Here is a chart for all courses offered:
|
SUBJECT
|
GRADE
|
CREDITS
|
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
|
Honors World Cultures
|
X
|
|
|
|
5 .0
|
|
World Cultures*
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
Honors U.S. History 1
|
|
X
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
U.S. History 1
|
|
X
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
U. S. 1 Survey/Law
|
|
X
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
Honors U.S. History 2
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
U.S. History 2
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
U.S. History 2 Survey/Economics
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
U.S. History 2 Survey/International Relations
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
U.S. History 2 Survey/Law/Mock Trial
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
Advanced Placement: US History**
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
AP United States Government and Politics
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
Advanced Placement European History
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
Advanced Placement World History
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
The History of Psychology
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
Advanced Placement: Psychology
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
The African American Experience
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
5.0
|
|
Sociology+
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
2.5
|
|
Facing History and Ourselves+
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
2.5
|
*credit recovery via approved online programs
** 11th Grade – may fulfill US History 2 requirement
+ possible companion class for Personal Financial Literacy
5.0 Credits -Full Year