Gifted Civics is an in-depth look at governmental structure with emphasis on the Constitution, three branches of the federal government, political parties, and foreign relations. Current events will be a key element of the course. Emphasis will be placed on critical and creative thinking, problem solving, research, and communication skills, with some attention to the roles that gifted citizens play in modern society. Social studies content will form the basis of a vocabulary/reading program to prepare students for the PSAT. Participation in History Day, the Social Science Fair, or other social studies related competitions might be required. Prerequisite: Placement in the gifted program

World History is a course that requires research and outside readings. World History is a general chronological survey of the interaction of people and cultures spanning prehistoric to modern times. This course is also taught at CEC.

U.S. History is a study of America’s basic precepts and ideologies through a chronological survey of America’s political, military, economic, and social developments. This course is designed and recommended for the average student who is involved in the general curriculum for graduation. Limited research and intense study of the Constitution will be included. This course is also taught at CEC.

This course is designed for students who wish to gain college credit while in high school. The major emphasis of this course is to prepare students to perform well on the AP examination in history. The course is open-ended, discussion oriented and covers many of the basic questions and problems of the development of American History, socially, economically, and diplomatically. The class will emphasize essay construction, conceptual analysis and evaluation of student-prepared, notated bibliographies, and research examinations. Extensive outside reading and individual research is required. Teacher recommendation is required. Must take both terms.

Economics is the study of the nation’s economic system with comparison to other economic systems. Emphasis will be placed on Gross National Product (GNP), supply and demand, monetary policy, scarcity, and market structure. This course may require students to enter the History Day Contest. Economics will be taught to seniors for a full term and will allow for more instruction in the concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics as well as some instruction in personal finance. This course is required for graduation. It is also taught at CEC.

This course includes constitutional underpinnings of democracy, political parties and interest groups, the Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy and the federal courts, institutions and policy processes, and civil liberties and civil rights. Major emphasis is placed on the ability to understand, analyze, and interpret primary sources, other key documents, periodical reviews, the sources of public authority and political power, society and politics, citizen and state, and political change. Five countries form the core of the class: France, Great Britain, China, Russia/the former Soviet Union, and one of the following: India, Mexico, or Nigeria. Senior elective following successful completion of U.S. History