HISTORY OF WORLD ClVILIZATION 1 HONORS, REGULAR, SKILLS

This course, taken by all Waukegan High School freshmen, is a graduation requirement. World Civ. 1 focuses on a regional approach to the study of the past and present. Following an introductory study of geography concepts and skills, and a study of the emergence of man and early civilizations, each unit of study focuses on different world regions. Each area will be studied with an emphasis on geography, major historical events and the development of economic political and social systems. Students enrolling in the honors level of this course should be prepared for an accelerated level of instruction in the areas of reading, writing and oral presentation. The skills level of the course is designed for those students in need of intensive development in reading, writing and general study skills.

HISTORY OF WORLD CIVILIZATION 2. WESTERN OR NON-WEESTERN

Each full year course is open to all WHS students who have successfully completed World Civ. 1. World Civ. 2 provides an extensive and in depth systematic and chronological study of the rise and development of the western or non-western world. As a culminating activity each student will be required to present a multi-media project, designed in consultation with the teacher, on an area of special interest.

URBAN STUDIES 3078

Urban Studies is a semester long elective offering for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The course is intended to familiarize students with issues facing urban settings in contemporary America. Included will be the coverage of topics such as urban demographics, city government and politics, urban immigration, crime and justice, urban economies, urban sprawl and urban renewal. The course will feature community resource people as speakers and mentors.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES 3079

Contemporary Issues is a semester long elective course open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The course content will encompass the study of local, national and world contemporary social and political issues. While the content of the course will be flexible to deal with emerging issues, much attention will be given to the historical context in which current situations have developed. Among the materials used in this class will be news magazines, newspapers, history textbooks and a variety of source readings, as well as extensive use of the internet. If you are interested in expressing your views about issues effecting our society today, this class is for you.

ECONOMICS 3081

This single semester elective course is open to all Upper Grade Center students. This traditional study of economics will cover such subjects as the market, general economic laws, business organizations, money, the banking system and federal reserve, and current global economic issues.

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY/ECONOMICS: One of the major aims of the Political Geography course will be for the students to develop an awareness and knowledge of geography in order to compete in America's mostly international economy.  It will focus not only on names and places but also on geographical features, which influence the development of population centers and political boundaries.

WORLD GEOGRAPHY 3077

World Geography is a semester long elective course open to all students at the Upper Grade Center. The course examines the earth through the five basic themes of geography; location, place, human-environment interaction, movement and regions. Additionally, the course is intended to amplify and build upon concepts on the role that geography plays in regional culture as first explored in World Civilizations and Cultures.

LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES 3076

This single semester elective course is open to all upper grade center students. The course is designed to encompass Latin American historical and cultural development from the year 1000 to the present. A significant focus of the class will be the study of the Latino experience in the United States.

UNITED STATES HISTORY HONORS 3031. REGULAR 3032. SKILLS 3033

This full year course is required of all Waukegan High School juniors. Both semesters of this class as well as the U.S. Constitution test must be successfully completed to meet State of Illinois and District 60 graduation requirements. U.S. History offers a topical and chronological study of this nations history to the present time. The focus of the first semester, in addition to the study of the Constitution, is a survey of the social, political, economic and foreign affairs history of the U.S. to 1900. The second semester deals with events of the 20th Century in the same social, political, economic and foreign affairs context. In addition, considerable attention is paid throughout the course to the development of issues likely to impact students' adult lives.

Students enrolling in the honors level of this course should be prepared to deal with an accelerated level of reading, writing and oral presentation. The skills level of the course is intended for those students who would benefit from extensive developmental work in reading, writing and study skills.

SOCIOLOGY

Sociology is a full year course designed for junior and senior students. The course focuses on the study of society and social behavior. Units of study include: culture, society, socialization, social-class, race, gender roles, deviance poverty, drug abuse and social institutions. much of the classroom work emphasizes large and small group discussions. Students are also encouraged to apply sociological principles to real world situations by volunteering to work in the community.

YOU AND THE LAW 

You And The Law is an elective course open to all junior and senior students. This course is intended to introduce and develop concepts pertaining to legal systems in the U.S. and abroad. Among the topics covered are criminal law, consumer law, family law, constitutional law and legal concepts related to emerging technologies. In addition to general concepts, emphasis will be placed upon everyday application of legal principles. Community resource speakers and student participation in mock elections are also a part of the course.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES 3614/3014

This course will trace the issues involved in changing the status of the African descendents from "chattel" to "citizen", while relating how the remnants of slavery have lingered in our society. Students should be able to disseminate the outcomes of the civil rights movement, while identifying the current challenges and achievements of the African-Americans.

Students will be required to utilize the internet and other sources for research. Students will also participate in mock trials, along with regular classroom assignments.

PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR 3082

This one year course examines such problems as adapting to the environment, the development of human behavior, human interaction, emotional understanding, individual differences, reaction to stress, the foundations of psychology, the development of defense mechanisms, and the development of values.  Much of the classwork emphasizes large and small group discussions.