Civics
SWLi (1 semester, .50 credit, prerequisite none)
Civics will introduce students to our democratic system of government and the ideals upon which it was founded. Students will gain an understanding of what it means to live in a democracy and what rights and responsibilities go along with this form of government. Students will study the United States Constitution as well as the three main branches of government. In addition, students will learn about state and local governments as well as juvenile and adult court systems.
Kansas History
SWLi (1 semester, .5 credit, prerequisite none)
In this two-unit course about the history of Kansas, students will learn about the geography of the state, the culture of Native Americans who have inhabited the land, and early settlements. Important aspects of the state’s history will be covered, including the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The early government of Kansas will also be discussed, in addition to the Progressive Movement and the state’s history during World War I and World War II. Students will learn about the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, and the significance of the Court’s decision on racial segregation in public schools. The course ends with a look at the state of Kansas today.
Psychology
SWAp (1 semester, .5 credit, prerequisite none)
Psychology provides a solid overview of the field's major domains: methods, biopsychology, cognitive and developmental psychology, and variations in individual and group behavior. By focusing on significant scientific research and on the questions that are most important to psychologists, students see psychology as an evolving science. Each topic clusters around challenge questions, such as “What is happiness?” Students answer these questions before, during, and after they interact with direct instruction.