The Social Studies Department offers a variety of courses to meet the 3.5 semester credits necessary for graduation. We also offer electives to pique your interest in many topics and issues that are relevant to the world today. Courses include human geography, U.S. civics, economics, U.S. history, world history, European history, politics, psychology and sociology. Choose from a variety of levels and formats, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Spanish Immersion, Chinese Immersion, VANTAGE, and online. Learn about and understand the world around you with courses that prepare you for critical thinking, discussion, and analysis skills necessary for post-secondary education and beyond.
Course: #1022 - English, S1
Course: #1024 - English, S2
Course: #2008 - Social Studies, S1
Course: #2010 - Social Studies, S2
*Students must register for all four courses.
Grade(s) offered: Grade 10
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Any English 9 Course Concurrent enrollment in Social Studies 2012 & 2013
This honors-level interdisciplinary course meets across two class periods and fulfills the requirements for both 10th grade social studies and English.
Course: #AP216
Online Option: T2108, Tonka Online
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None
This college-level course analyzes the political systems of the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Mexico, Nigeria and Iran. By examining these six countries, students will develop an understanding of political concepts and themes.
Course: #AP208, S1
Course: #AP210, S2
Online Option: #T2112F, Tonka Online
Online Option: #T2114W, Tonka Online
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
*Online, complete part 1 before part 2.
Prerequisites: Contemporary U.S. History; AP U.S. History; American Studies 10 Honors (B or better)
This class will survey the major trends and events in European history from the Renaissance (1350) to present day.
Course: #AP200, S1
Course: #AP202, S2
Grade: Grade 9
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: B+ or better in 8th grade English and Social Studies
Human Geography is the study of humans and their interaction with their surroundings. An emphasis on spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences are the guiding ideas behind this course.
Course: #AP218
Online Option: #T2106W, Tonka Online
*Select term S=Summer, W=winter
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None
Students will study economic growth, inflation, unemployment, foreign trade, monetary, and fiscal policies at a college freshman level.
Course: #V102
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11 or Grade 12
Credits: 1.0 social studies credit
This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE Global Business track. For details about taking AP Microeconomics through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.
Course: #V200
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11 or Grade 12
Credits 1.0 social studies credit
This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE Health Sciences track. For details about taking AP Psychology through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.
Course: #AP220
Online Option: #T2100, Tonka Online
This course may also be taken as part of VANTAGE #V200
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None
Psychology is the study of behavior and mental process. This AP class is an introduction to college-level Psychology using a college text, “collegiate-style” pace and classroom climate, and college-level exams.
Course: #AP204, S1
Course: #AP206, S2
Grade(s) offered: Grade 10
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: Civics and Human Geography; AP Human Geography
Students complete advanced level reading, writing, and analysis on topics in the history of the U.S. Reading assignments come from a college-level text, and students work with others to become more skilled at writing historical essays.
Course: #AP214
Online Option: #T2110, Tonka Online
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None
Through readings, research, discussions, field experiences, and media presentations, students will study political ideologies, parties, campaigns, elections, interest groups, bureaucracy, civil liberties, role of the media, the judicial, legislative and executive processes, and the creation of public policy.
Course: #AP224, S1
Course: #AP225, S2
Online Option:#T2102F, part 1, Tonka Online
Online Option:#T2104W, part 2, Tonka Online
Grades Offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: Contemporary U.S. History; AP U.S. History; American Studies 10 Honors (grade B or better)
Students complete advanced level reading, writing, and analysis on topics in World History.
Course: #V700
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11 or Grade 12
Credits: 1.0 social studies credit
College Credits: 4.0 (University of Minnesota credits)
This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE Public Policy track. For details about taking CIS American Democracy in a Changing World through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.
Course: #2000, S1
Course: #2002, S2
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: None
This course includes the foundation and principles of U.S. government and citizenship.
Course: #IM108, S1 Chinese
Course: #IM110, S2 Chinese
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: K-8 enrollment in Chinese Immersion
Conducted in Chinese, this two-semester course includes the study of the foundation and principles of United States government and citizenship.
Course: #IM208, S1 Spanish
Course: #IM210, S2 Spanish
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: K-8 enrollment in Spanish Immersion
Taught in Spanish, this two-semester course includes the study of the foundation and principles of United States government and citizenship.
Course: #2004, S1
Course: #2006, S2
Online Option: #T2004*, Tonka Online
*Select term S=summer, F=fall
Online Option: #T2006*, Tonka Online
*Select term S=summer, W=winter
Grade(s) offered: Grade 10
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: Human Geography and Civics; AP Human Geography
This two-semester course will provide a thematic study of persons, events and national developments in U.S. History with a focus on the 20th Century to the present. This course will prepare students for an understanding of the role of the U.S. in the world after WWI.
Course: #2022
Grade(s) Offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None
*This course does not fulfill your 3.5 credits in Social Studies but may be taken as an elective in addition to your required coursework.
In this class, students will explore how disability, through the lens of neurodiversity, can enrich the world. The course will serve as a multidisciplinary, multisensory and accessible analysis of disability in American culture.
Course: #M7100
Grade(s) offered:
Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits:
2.0 (year-long course, two hours)
Course Description:
Explore the connection of world history and aviation in "Aviation Through Time." From ancient civilizations to modern flight simulations, unravel historical threads, pilot virtual aircraft, and witness the dynamic interplay that has shaped societies and skies alike. Engage in a transformative interdisciplinary adventure.
Course: #2016
Online Option: T2016
Grade(s) offered: 11-12
Credits: .5 (semester course)
This course may also be taken as part of VANTAGE #V300 (choose one).
Prerequisites: None
This introductory economics course integrates macroeconomic and microeconomic concepts into the complexities of our evolving global landscape.
Course: #V300
Grades Offered: Grade 11 or Grade 12
Credits: 1.0 social studies credit
This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE Global Sustainability track. For details about taking Global Studies and Economics through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.
Course: #IB212, S1
Course: #IB214, S2
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: None
This one-year course covers macroeconomics and microeconomics as well as development and international economics.
Course: #IM264, S1
Course: #IM265, S2
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: K-10/11 enrollment in Spanish Immersion
*This is a year-long social studies elective course which can be applied to the 12th grade required social studies credit.
**Students who have already completed IB Global Politics through the Vantage International Relations strand are NOT eligible for this course.
This course aims to develop international mindedness and an awareness of multiple perspectives while studying contemporary political issues around the world.
Course: #V800
Grade offered: Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 1.0 (year-long course)
*This is a year-long social studies elective course which can be applied to the 12th grade required social studies credit*
*Students who have already completed IB Global Politics in Spanish are NOT eligible for this strand.
This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE International Relations track. For details about taking IB Global Politics SL through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.
Course: #IB200, Year 1, S1
Course: #IB202, Year 1, S2
Course: #IB204, Year 2, S1
Course: #IB206, Year 2, S2
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, two-year course)
Prerequisites: AP U.S. History, Contemporary U.S. History, American Studies 10 Honors
This course is a two-year introduction to contemporary world history. The first year of the course begins with units that include the Industrial Revolution in Britain, Europe, and Japan as well as a study of Imperial Russia, revolutions and the emergence of the Soviet State.
Course: #IB220 S1
Course: #IB221 S2
Grade(s) offered:
Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits:
0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites:
None
IB Philosophy is a college-level introduction to systematic critical inquiry into profound, fascinating and challenging questions such as: What is it to be human? Do we have free will? What do we mean when we say something is right or wrong? These abstract questions arise out of our everyday experiences, and philosophical tools provide the means of addressing such questions. The IB Philosophy class explores concepts such as identity, freedom, and human nature, and whether animals or machines could be considered persons. The course emphasizes ways in which we can apply philosophical knowledge and skills to real-life situations. IB Philosophy will also explore how non-philosophical material can be treated in a philosophical way. The course is reading and writing-intensive, with an emphasis on discussion and inquiry. At the conclusion of this course, it is expected that students will take the IB Exam, for which there is a fee.
Course: #IB208, S1
Course: #IB210, S2
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: None
IB psychology examines the interaction of biological, cognitive and sociocultural influences on human behavior.
Course: T2099*, Tonka Online (W=winter, S=summer)
Grade(s) offered: grade 10, grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: This course can be requested by contacting your student's counselor. Students are not able to request the course in Skyward.
This online course is designed to meet the needs of students seeking credit for the completion of U.S. government and politics standards that are required for graduation.
Course: #2018
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None
*This course does not fulfill your 3.5 credits in Social Studies but may be taken as an elective in addition to your required coursework.
Psychology is the study of behavior and mental process. Topics include the brain’s influence/control of everyday activity, sleep and dreams, human development, learning and thinking, psychological disorders, relationships, and the influence of social settings on behavior.
Course: #2020
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: 0.5 (single semester course)
Prerequisites: None
*This course does not fulfill your 3.5 credits in Social Studies but may be taken as an elective in addition to your required coursework.
Sociology is the study of humans and their behavior in groups. Through readings, individual research, speakers, discussions, and audiovisual presentations, students will study culture, change, relationships, socialization, and social organization.
Course: M6499
Course: M2016
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: .5 Social Studies, .5 Elective
Students will be registered for both Automotive Career Investigation (technology education course) and Global Studies and Economics (social studies course) as part of Transportation Careers and Global Commerce.
Prerequisites: None
This co-taught strand of two courses covers the global economic impact of transportation with a particular emphasis on the automobile.
Course: #2012, S1
Course: #2014, S2
Online Option: T2012F, part 1, Tonka Online
Online Option:T2014W, part 2, Tonka Online
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11
Credits: 0.5 (per semester, full-year course)
Prerequisites: Contemporary U.S. History; AP U.S. History; American Studies 10 Honors
This course concentrates on the historical and geographic themes of the world from Early Civilizations through the Modern World.
Minnetonka Public Schools adheres to academic standards developed by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).
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