The study of history must emphasize the historical thinking skills required for geographic analysis, economic decision making, and responsible citizenship. Students will apply these skills as they extend their understanding of the essential knowledge defined by all of the standards for history and social science.

Grade 6: USI (US History to 1865)(04102)

Students will use skills for historical and geographical analysis to explore the early history of the United States and understand ideas and events that strengthened the union. The standards for this course relate to the history of the United States from pre-Columbian times until 1865. Students will continue to learn fundamental concepts in civics, economics, and geography as they study United States history in chronological sequence and learn about change and continuity in our history. They also will study documents and speeches that laid the foundation for American ideals and institutions and will examine the everyday life of people at different times in the country’s history through the use of primary and secondary sources.

Grade 7: USII (US History 1865 to Present)(04103)

Students will continue to use skills for historical and geographical analysis as they examine American history since 1865. The standards for this course relate to the history of the United States from the Reconstruction era to the present. Students should continue to develop and build upon the fundamental concepts and skills in civics, economics, and geography within the context of United States history. Students will use investigation as a foundation to delve into the political, economic, and social challenges facing the nation once reunited after the Civil War. This foundation provides a pathway to develop an understanding of how the American experience shaped the world’s political and economic landscapes.

Grade 8: Civics & Economics (04161)

Standards for Civics and Economics examine the roles citizens play in the political, governmental, and economic systems in the United States. Students will examine the foundational documents and principles with which the constitutions of Virginia and the United States were established, identify the rights, duties, and responsibilities of citizens, and describe the structure and operation of government at the local, state, and national levels. Through the economics standards, students will compare the United States economy to other types of economies and consider the government’s role in the United States economy. Students will investigate the process by which decisions are made in the American market economy and explain the government’s role in the United States economy. The standards identify personal character traits, such as patriotism, respect for the law, willingness to perform public service, and a sense of civic duty, that facilitate thoughtful and effective active participation in the civic life of an increasingly diverse democratic society.

World History and Geography to 1500 A. D. (C.E.) (04052)
Credit: 1
Verified Credit: 1

This course explores the historical development of people, places, and patterns of life from ancient times until 1500 A. D.(C.E.), in terms of the impact on Western civilization. All high school students are required to take this course, which focuses on historical understanding, engaging students in historical comprehension, analysis, and interpretation. Continual review of content will prepare students for the end-of- course SOL test. Students must pass both the course and SOL test to earn a verified credit.

World History and Geography: 1500 A. D. (C.E.) to the Present (04052)
Credit: 1
Verified Credit: 1

This course explores history and geography from 1500 A. D.(C.E.) to the present, with emphasis on Western Europe. Geographic influences on history continue to be explored, but increasing attention is given to political boundaries that developed with the evolution of nations. Significant attention will be given to the ways in which scientific and technological revolutions created new economic conditions that in turn produced social and political changes. Noteworthy people and events of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries will be emphasized for their strong connections to contemporary issues. This course is not required for graduation but will help to satisfy a history requirement for an advanced diploma. Continual review of content will prepare students for the end-of-course SOL test. Students must pass both the course and SOL test to earn a verified credit.

Pre-AP World History (04052H)
Credit 1 (weighted)
Verified Credit: 1

Pre-AP World History and Geography to 1500 A.D. (C.E.) is an advanced course in world history from pre- history to 1500 A.D. (C.E.) Students will explore the historical development of people, places, and patterns of life from ancient times until 1500 A.D. (C.E.) in terms of the impact on Western Civilization. Students will review and strengthen map and globe skills, strengthen skills in interpreting and using information, and strengthen historical thinking skills. This class will delve deeper into content, introduce AP World History themes, introduce comparative essay writing, and develop document-based essays reflecting multiple points of view. Techniques for technical essay writing and use of document-based questions are a focus in this challenging course. The intent is to introduce prerequisite skills necessary to be successful in an AP World History course. Continual review of content will prepare students for the end-of-course SOL test. Students must pass both the course and SOL test to earn a verified credit.

AP World History (04067)
Credit: 1 (weighted)
Verified Credit: 1

The purpose of the AP World History course is to develop a greater understanding 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 comparisons 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 consistent attention to contacts among societies that form the core of world history as a field of study. An integral part of this course is the preparation for the Advanced Placement test given at the end of the second semester. The students can opt to take the SOL test in World History Part II or can use the score on the AP exam to earn a verified credit.

Virginia and United States History (04101)
Credit: 1
Verified Credit: 1

This high school credit course traces the historical development of American ideas and institutions from the Age of Exploration to the present. While focusing on the political and economic history, the course provides students with a basic knowledge of American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people, and events in United States and Virginia history. Students will use historical and geographical analysis skills to explore in depth the events, people, and ideas that fostered our national identity and led to our country’s prominence in world affairs. All high school students are required to earn credit for Virginia and United States History, or an equivalent course such as Advanced Placement United States History, to graduate. Continual review of content will prepare students for the end-of-course SOL test. Students must pass both the course and SOL test to earn a verified credit.

AP United States History (04104)
Credit: 1 (weighted)
Verified Credit: 1

The AP U.S. History course focuses on developing students’ understanding of American history from approximately 1491 to the present. The course has students investigate the content of U.S. history for significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods, and develop and use the same thinking skills and methods (analyzing primary and secondary sources, making historical comparisons, chronological reasoning, and argumentation) employed by historians when they study the past. The course also provides seven themes (American and national identity; migration and settlement; politics and power; work, exchange, and technology; America in the world; geography and the environment; and culture and society) that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places. An integral part of this course is the preparation for the Advanced Placement test given at the end of second semester. The students can opt to take the SOL test in U.S. History or can use their score on the AP exam to earn a verified credit.

Virginia and United States Government (04154)
Credit: 1

This course defines the knowledge that enables citizens to participate effectively in civic life. Students examine fundamental constitutional principles, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, the political culture, the policy-making process at each level of government, and the operation of the United States market economy, and personal finance. Personal character traits are identified that facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in the civic life of an increasingly diverse democratic society. All high school students are required to pass this course, or an equivalent course, such as Advanced Placement Government, to graduate. There is no SOL test for this course.

AP Comparative Government and Politics (04158)
Credit: 1 (weighted)

AP Government / AP Comparative Government is a two-semester course designed to provide advanced social studies students an opportunity to earn college credit. The first semester provides an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. political reality. The second semester provides students with the conceptual tools necessary to develop an understanding of some of the world’s diverse political structures and practices. The course encompasses the study of both specific countries and their governments and general concepts used to interpret the political relationships and institutions found in virtually all national politics. An integral part of this course is the preparation for the Advanced Placement test given at the end of the semester.