The faculty of the Vestavia Hills High School Social Studies Department is extraordinarily diverse in experience.  The department is made up of professionals who hold masters, specialists and doctorate degrees.  Additionally, a number of teachers are Nationally Board Certified, and two are nationally recognized James Madison Scholars.   We also afford students the opportunity to join the national Social Studies honorary society, Rho Kappa.  Our department coaches or sponsors a number of academic activites including the nationally recognized We The People, Mock Trial, and Model United Nations teams. The 23 teachers in the department work to ensure that students at all levels learn the skills necessary to become informed and engaged citizens, and also have an understanding of past and current events.  We believe every student must recognize themselves in the study of history, culture, and society.  Our goal is to ensure students have the ability to pull together all curriculum areas to make the informed decisions to build a successful life. 

The Social Studies Department currently teaches 22 different courses, including the most Advanced Placement courses of any department at Vestavia Hills High School.  Courses currently offered are:

• United States History (10)
• Honors American History (10)
• AP United States History (x2)
• United States History (11)
• Honors American History (11)

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• Government (12)
• AP Government
• Economics (12)
• AP Micro Economics
• AP Macro Economics
• Psychology AP Psychology
• Sociology

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• AP European History
• AP Human Geography
• AP Comparative Government