American History: The Founding Principles, Civics and Economics H
This course teaches the skills and knowledge necessary to become responsible and effective citizens in an interdependent world. It provides a framework for understanding the basic tenets of American democracy, practices of American government as established by the United States Constitution, basic concepts of American politics and citizenship, and
concepts in macro and micro economics and personal finance. The course is organized under three strands – Civics and Government, Personal Financial Literacy and Economics. Students will gain a practical understanding of legal, political, and economic systems that affect their lives as consumers and citizens.

Economics and Personal Finance H
Students will understand economic decisions, use money wisely, understand education an career choices, and understand how to be financially responsible citizens. EPF is intended to be a study of economics, personal finance, income and education, money management, critical consumerism, and financial planning. 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.

World History H
This course will address six (6) periods in the study of World History, with a key focus of study from the mid-15th century to the present. The progression is grouped around a basic core of chronologically-organized periods and events in history; students will study major turning points that shaped the modern world. As students examine the historical roots of significant events, ideas, movements, and phenomena, they encounter the contributions and patterns of civilizations of the past and societies around the world. They broaden their historical perspectives as they explore ways societies have dealt with continuity and change, exemplified by concepts such as civilization, revolution, government, economics, war, stability, movement, and technology.

HIS131 American History I
This course is a survey of American history from pre-history through the Civil War era. Topics include the migrations to the Americas, the colonial and revolutionary periods, the development of the Republic, and the Civil War. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in early American history. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

HIS132 American History II
This course is a survey of American history from the Civil War era to the present. Topics include industrialization, immigration, the Great Depression, the major wars, the Cold War, and social conflict. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in American history since the Civil War. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences.

US History H

Providing a foundation to understand our nation’s past and present, the American History course begins with the end of the French and Indian War in 1763 and continues through the most recent presidential election. This course will explore the overarching themes, trends, and concepts of our nation’s history. Rooted in inquiry-based skills, students will trace American development while learning to craft compelling questions, synthesize and evaluate evidence, develop claims, communicate ideas, and take informed action. Students in this survey course will be asked to investigate major turning points in American History to develop an understanding of multiple causation, to determine patterns of change and continuity, and to be able to compare multiple perspectives of the past.

AP US History

This course meets state standards for US History as well as the College Board’s standards for AP US History. It emphasizes using analytical skills and factual knowledge to think critically about the issues and events central to U.S. history. Students will read a variety of historical documents and interpretations of U.S. history, write essay responses to document based questions, and prepare to take the AP Exam.

AP Government and Politics

AP U.S. Government and Politics provides a college-level, nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behaviors. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, they will complete a political science research or applied civics project. College Course Equivalent AP U.S. Government and Politics is equivalent to a one-semester introductory college course in U.S. government. This class satisfies the North Carolina Civic Literacy social studies graduation requirement.

AP Human Geography

There are no prerequisites for AP Human Geography; however, students who have had experience with world geography, world history, or earth science may more easily address the objectives of this course. Experience with reading and interpreting data in various forms (e.g., graphs and maps) would also be beneficial. Students may have been effectively introduced to geographic terminology and concepts as early as at the elementary school level. The AP Human Geography course introduces 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.

Martin L. Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Social Studies

Course Descriptions