SOCIAL STUDIES (INTERNATIONAL

WORLD STUDIES

Course Number: 2031 Grade level: 9

Credit Value: 1 Prerequisite: N/A World Studies is focused on student inquiry into current world issues and their historical contexts. Concepts such as trade and globalization, human movement and migration, innovation and technology, and rights and responsibilities will be explored. These concepts will be examined through case studies from around the world and student driven inquiries into specific topics. A great deal of attention will be paid to developing academic skills needed, not only in this course, but in the students’ high school careers and beyond.

UNITED STATES HISTORY

Course Number: 2020 Grade level: 10 (advised), 11 or 12 (if required to meet Nido graduation)

Credit Value: 1 Prerequisite: World History 9 This survey U.S. History course aims to give students an overview of major events in U.S. history, while linking these events to themes that are relevant to societies around the world. Students will explore five main content strands: Conflict and resolution, leadership and citizenship, global connections, innovation and social progress, and ethics and ideology. During the course students will hone their research, analytical thinking, and academic writing skills in order to prepare for upper level humanities courses. Students will explore a number of primary and secondary sources in each unit and will be assessed in a variety of ways, including: quizzes (reading, vocabulary, map), essays, simulations, debates, research projects, oral presentations, graded discussions, and rap battles.

GLOBAL POLITICS

Course Number: 2146 Grade level: 11-12

Credit Value: .5 Prerequisite: N/A Global Politics is an academic discipline that focuses on contemporary events and the interactions between national and international actors, including states and non-state actors, such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. The study of Global Politics has become more important and more complex as our world has become more globalized and interconnected. For Nido students, Global Politics provides an opportunity for inquiry into, and reflection on, key global issues from a local, national and global perspective. Students will have opportunities to acquire and apply a range of skills: • Gathering, synthesizing and communicating information individually and in groups • Developing and justifying a line of reasoning (in both oral and written form) The nature of Global Politics makes for a fluid class structure, allowing students to explore areas of interest, tackle pertinent current events, and explore topics creatively.

GLOBAL CONFLICTS

Course Number: 2148 Grade level: 11-12

Credit Value: .5 Prerequisite: N/A Global Conflict is an academic course of study that draws from the disciplines of history, politics, and international relations while focusing on major conflicts going on in the world today. By examining academic theories and taking a case study approach students will attempt to reach some conclusions as to the nature and causes of conflict and how these have been changing in the post-Cold War era. Students will examine the impacts of conflict with particular focus on the contemporary refugee crisis. This course will also consider the role of international organizations such as the UN, EU, AU, NATO and NGO’S in attempting to prevent conflict, bring about peace, and deal with the aftermath of conflict. Collaboration, presentations and simulations will be the foundational components of the course.

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Course Number: 2154 Grade level: 11-12

Credit Value: .5 Prerequisite: N/A Why do people make certain decisions? Why do humans like some people and not others? What influence do peers have on each other? This course will provide an introduction to the theories and principles that influence how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. Topics covered will also explore attitude, personality conformity, persuasion, attraction, aggression, and prejudice. The course will use project-based learning to introduce students to experimental design, and each student will get the opportunity to construct and carry out social psychological research on Nido’s campus. Learning will be stimulated with the use of diverse media, including TED Talks and podcasts.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HAPPINESS

Course Number: 2156 Grade level: 11-12

Credit Value: .5 Prerequisite: N/A What does it mean to live “the good life?” And more importantly, how can humans more effectively achieve the good life? This course will provide an introduction to the philosophical ideas and psychological principles that influence how people experience happiness, success, and satisfaction. From an exploration of historical theories of happiness to modern research about positive psychology, students will explore their own happiness while relating their own experiences to academic study. Students will complete a final project on how to cultivate happiness in their own lives.

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

Course Number: 2153 Grade level: 11-12

Credit Value: .5 Prerequisite: N/A Introduction to Business is designed to expose students to the many functions of modern business. The course will be focused on the forces within the business environment (i.e., globalization, economics, government, and society) and an introduction to the key functional areas within the firm, such as marketing, operations, accounting, finance, management, and human resources. Assessment in this course will be varied and orientated towards authentic assessments whereby students will recreate real life scenarios, such as taking the role of key stakeholders in decision making.

ENTREPRENEURISM & SUSTAINABILITY

Course Number: 2149 Grade level: 11-12

Credit Value: .5 Prerequisite: N/A In the Entrepreneurship & Sustainability course, students will learn about the intersection of business and social change and apply this knowledge to develop their own social enterprise. A social enterprise is an organization that strives to advance social change through innovation and free market principles. In this course, students will create and develop a business plan that is focused on achieving a wider social, environmental, or community objective. Once students have developed their plan it will be time to put it into action and build out their social enterprise with the objective of creating a viable product or a service that is market ready. Assessments in this course are project based and aligned to the development of the social enterprise.

IB ECONOMICS SL I

Course Number: 2049 Grade level: 11

Credit Value: 1 Prerequisite: Grade 10 social studies course This course is an introduction to economic concepts and economic reasoning, surveying both micro and macroeconomics. Individuals, firms, and governments must constantly make choices, which will affect both their own economic well being and that of society as a whole. How these choices are made and how the consequences of the choices are analyzed, are both central to the field of economics. In the first year of the course students will study the following topic areas: resources and markets, business economics and macroeconomics. During the first year of the IB Economics course, there is no distinction between the SL and HL courses in terms of skills and content.

IB ECONOMICS HL I

Course Number: 2052 Grade level: 11

Credit Value: 1 Prerequisite: Grade 10 social studies course This course is an introduction to economic concepts and economic reasoning surveying both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Individuals, firms, and governments must constantly make choices, which impact both their own economic well being and that of society as a whole. How these choices are made and the subsequent consequences are central to the field of economics. In the first year of the course students will study supply & demand, elasticities, market failure, employment, inflation, income equality and economic growth. For each topic, a focus will be placed on analysis, evaluative writing and diagram construction. During the first year of the IB Economics course, there is no distinction between the SL and HL courses in terms of skills and content.

IB HISTORY HLI

Course Number: 2048 Grade level: 11

Credit Value: 1 Prerequisite: Grade 10 social studies course This course is the first year of a two-year course that introduces students to major themes in 20th century world history. The course begins with The Move to Global War, an examination of Japanese, Italian and German expansion in the 1930s. We continue with a study of the rise to power and rule of authoritarian leaders, with special focus on Mao Zedong and Fidel Castro. The course concludes with a survey of the Cold War. Throughout the first year of the course there is an emphasis on source evaluation and essay writing skills.

IB ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND SOCIETIES SLI

Course Number: 4305 Grade level: 11

Credit Value: 1 Prerequisite: Grade 10 Science & Social Studies courses This course is the first year of a two-year course following the IB Environmental Systems and Societies Syllabus which prepares students to take the IB ESS SL exam in May of the second year. This course intends to give students a sound, knowledge-based understanding of the interrelationships between ecosystems and societies, focusing on the scientific, ethical and socio-political aspects of environmental issues. The topics addressed include systems and models, ecosystems, human populations, resource use, pollution management, global warming and environmental value systems. Practical work constitutes about 25% of this course and of its assessment. Note: This is a transdisciplinary course. Students taking this course will satisfy the group 3 and 4 IB requirements and may choose another subject from any of the 6 groups to complete their sixth subject for the IB Diploma. For the Nido diploma, one year of science and one year of social studies credit will be awarded; for the national plan diploma two years of science will be awarded.

IB ECONOMICS SLII

Course Number: 2051

Credit Value: 1 Grade level: 12

Prerequisite: IB Economics Year 1

This course is a continuation of IB Economics I. In year two of this course, SL students will cover two areas of study: International Economics and Development Economics.

IB ECONOMICS HL II

Course Number: 2053 Grade level: 12

Credit Value: 1 Prerequisite: IB Economics Year 1 Economics HL is a challenging course that requires excellent qualitative and quantitative skills. The course should be selected by students who are genuinely interested in economics as an academic discipline. Students will study the same topics as SL but will delve deeper into each, including some mathematical reasoning. In year two of this course, HL students will cover three areas of study: International Economics, Development Economics, and Market Power.

IB HISTORY HL II

Course Number: 2043 Grade level: 12

Credit Value: 1 Prerequisite: IB History Year I This course is a continuation of IB History HL I and focuses on major themes in the 20th century in the Americas. Students will examine the Cold War as it played out in the Americas, with a focus on US foreign policy in the region. The class will also survey social movements in the Americas, with a focus on the African American Civil Rights Movement. The course concludes with an examination of political developments in the Americas, with a focus on the phenomenon of populism, threats to democracy, and the nature of dictatorship in the region. Students will have many opportunities to investigate the history of Chile and the experiences of families through the turbulent events of the 20th century.

IB ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND SOCIETY SLII

Course Number: 4310 Grade level: 12

Credit Value: 1 Prerequisite: IB Environmental Systems and Society SLI This course will complete the IB syllabus. The topics studied include environmental value systems, ecology and conservation of biodiversity. Practical work constitutes about 25% of this course and of its assessment. Note: This is a transdisciplinary course. Students taking this course will satisfy the group 3 and 4 IB requirements and may choose another subject from any of the 6 groups to complete their sixth subject for the IB Diploma. For the Nido diploma, one year of science and one year of social studies credit will be awarded; for the national plan diploma two years of science will be awarded.