Documents/Forms

 AP Macroeconomics

Advanced Placement Macroeconomics is a college-level course that covers the overall structure and functioning of the contemporary United States economy, and the basic options of government policy to moderate, regulate or stimulate that economy.  The course is fast-paced, with a strong emphasis on reading and lecture presentations.  Historical context will be provided for the key concepts, and alternative interpretations when appropriate, but the main focus will be on a technical understanding of how the interaction of the forces of supply and demand determine the overall levels of interest, employment and production.  Students are strongly encouraged to ask questions, and to come in for additional discussion, whenever the details of a presentation become confusing.

United States History

United States History traces the development of the country from the first European settlements on the Eastern Seaboard to the presidential campaign of 2008 and the election of the first African-American president.  Economic and social issues, and the environmental impacts of the extraordinary technological advances of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, are strongly emphasized.  Developments in literature, music and the visual arts are used to illustrate and enhance the explanation of changes in social mores and public opinion.  Through a focus on the triumphs and tragedies in the story of the country, the course hopes to provide the students with the knowledge and principles needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

World History

The focus of World History is the development and spread of the idea of democracy, from its origins in the ancient world to the modern democratic movements in Africa and Eastern Europe.  The emphasis is on the interaction of events and ideas, how our ideas are influenced by our experience, but in turn our ideas determine how we act on that experience.  A wide range of historical techniques are introduced, and analytical skills are stressed.   The course concludes with a review of the problems and potentials confronting the 21st century.

SDAIE Economics

SDAIE Economics is a college-prep course that covers the basic structure and functioning of the United States economy.  The emphasis is on macroeconomic issues of employment, price levels and production, but microeconomic topics in business, labor and consumer behavior are also stressed.  The practical applications of economic principals and differing theoretical perspectives are addressed whenever possible.  The students are encouraged to appreciate both the value and the limitations of an economic perspective.