The Social Studies Department’s offerings provide students with a broad exposure to history and the social sciences. Group activities, lectures, discussions, research, writing and critical analysis are incorporated into the program. The department encourages students to develop the ability to express their ideas and to test them against those of others. Fundamental to the work of the department is study of the past and a desire to learn from the past, for the benefit of the present and the future. All students are required to earn a minimum of three Social Studies credits with at least one credit of Eastern Studies (Asia) and one credit of Western Studies (Europe and/or the Americas).

Eastern Studies

History of China

Number: 42003       Grade: 10-11       Length: Semester         Credit: Eastern Social Studies

This course provides an overview of the forces and events that have molded modern China. Beginning with the great philosophical and religious traditions and their role in Chinese life, the course will continue through the turbulence of the 19th and 20th centuries. The continuity of Chinese civilization will be emphasized, and past ideas and actions will be related to current events in Asia and the world. The course will involve a mixture of simulations, group activities, lectures, and discussion. Students will write several essays and short research papers, and are expected to participate in class discussions and simulations.

History of Japan

Number: 42005       Grade: 10-11       Length: Semester         Credit: Eastern Social Studies

This one semester course is designed to provide students with a better understanding of Japan today. In order to achieve this goal, the history of Japan is discussed through print and video from samurai times to the present. Special emphasis is placed on those periods in Japanese history which directly affect Korea. In order to understand present relations between Japan and the two Koreas, the course focuses on the Japanese occupation of Korea, the Korean War, and North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. Skills such as note-taking, essay writing and public speaking are stressed.

History of Malaysia and Singapore

Number: 42007       Grade: 10-11       Length: Semester         Credit: Eastern Social Studies

This course provides an overview of the events and forces that have created the modern nations of Malaysia and Singapore. Students will examine the common cultural and historical background of the two countries, as well as the impact of geography and location on their histories. The role of foreign empires and colonial powers will be examined, along with the forces at work and the courses followed in their independence movements. Emphasis will be placed on Singapore and Malaysia today. Students will examine their societies, cultures, economies, and political development through simulations, independent research, lectures, and class discussion.

Modern Asian Perspectives

Number: 42006       Grade: 11-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Eastern Social Studies

Modern Asian Perspectives deals with the recent history of Asia, from World War II to the present. The course will examine a variety of contemporary political, social and economic issues affecting Asia. Topics to be considered range from ongoing democracy movements and human rights issues such as the genocide trials in Cambodia, to current tensions between China and Taiwan and the reunification of the two Koreas. The course will include lectures, class discussions, student speeches and independent research. Students will be required to participate in discussions and debates revolving around the issues examined and to seek solutions to troublesome issues. Students will also be required to write several medium length research papers.

History of the Indian Subcontinent

Number: 42004       Grade: 11-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Eastern Social Studies

This is a survey course of the history and culture of the Indian Subcontinent from the pre-Aryan Indus Valley Civilization to the 20th Century. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, as well as the effects of the spread of these religions to other Asian cultures, will be studied. Students will investigate the historical role of the British Raj, the Indian Independence movement and the eventual partition of the Subcontinent. Additionally, social issues such as poverty, population, environment and human rights will be examined. The course will include lectures, class discussions, and independent research. Students will be required to write several medium length research papers and are expected to participate in class discussions.

Western Studies­–Europe and the Americas

US citizens are required, and citizens of other countries who are planning to attend university in the US are encouraged, to take US History or AP US History.

Western Civilization

Number: 42013       Grade: 9              Length: Year               Credit: Western Social Studies

The Western Civilization course serves two purposes. The first is to familiarize students with the major ideas and themes in Western culture from the ancient times to the present. Students will examine the development of the political, economic, social, intellectual, religious and artistic traditions that have created contemporary Western culture.  The second purpose is to ground students in skills important to being successful in the high school social studies program (reading, writing, interpreting, presenting, researching, etc.). The course will include a variety of instructional methods, from teacher led, to student centered.

US History and Government

Number: 42012       Grade: 10-12       Length: Year               Credit: Western Social Studies

This course enables students to make intelligent judgments on societal problems of the past, present, and future. First semester topics cover the years from the Age of Exploration to 1861 and include a six-week unit in US Government. The government unit features a study of the Constitution of the United States and the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government. Development of economic, cultural, and political patterns as well as the changing demographics of America up to the Civil War are stressed. Second semester topics cover 1861 to the present day including Reconstruction, industrial and socioeconomic events of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, the development of Imperialism, the reform movement, the World Wars, and 20th Century US Foreign Policy

European History

Number: 42009       Grade: 10-12       Length: Year               Credit: Western Social Studies

This course is a survey of the cultural heritage of the Western World. It traces the development of western civilization, highlighting the events, people, and ideas whose influences have come to define the world of today. Awareness of and familiarity with these influences is the emphasis of this course. The first semester is a survey, covering the Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman roots of western civilization, and the development of European society through 1815. The second semester focuses on modern European history, addressing changes in technology, political organization, social structure, art, and global impact. Connections to modern issues and current events will be emphasized. Common class activities include discussion, lecture, simulation, and debate. Students will demonstrate analytical skills and understanding through persuasive speaking and writing.

AP European History

Number: 42032       Grade: 10-12       Length: Year               Credit: Western Social Studies

Prerequisites: Western Civilization or European History

AP European History offers an in-depth look at the history of Europe from the High Renaissance (c.1450) to the present day. The three major themes examined are political and diplomatic developments, intellectual and cultural continuity and change, and economic and social developments. Both primary and secondary sources are used in examining these various themes. This college-level course aims to meet the needs of highly motivated and capable students who wish to pursue their interest in history and to develop their skills in historical analysis.

American Studies

Number: 41014       Grade: 10            Length: 1 year             Credit: Double credit, English and US History

Note: There are a limited number of spaces in this course. If more students request the course than can be accommodated, requesting students will be randomly selected for placement in the course.

This course is a thematic study of the American Experience through the lenses of history and literature. Students will analyze the extent to which ideologies, people, literature and events developed and shaped both American history and its contemporary issues. Students will be challenged to think critically and to make thoughtful connections as they draw on a variety of resources to understand the American Experience. This interdisciplinary course will be team taught and will earn both English and a Social Studies credit.

AP US History

Number: 42036       Grade: 10-12       Length: Year               Credit: Western Social Studies

This introductory college-level course is ideal for the student who has a real interest in history and who is prepared to work consistently and to go well beyond mere memorization of the material. Students are required to be internally motivated, to have good reading and comprehension skills, to be well organized, and to be prepared to examine and think about different, often conflicting, interpretations of history. The course moves briskly, so students must be prepared to devote time daily to reading and note taking. There will be considerable in-class discussions based on assigned readings, as well as numerous interpretive essays and a major research paper. The AP exam grades students in three areas - 50% multiple choice, a Document Based Question (DBQ), and two standard essays. The multiple-choice questions require students to have specific, detailed knowledge of the subject matter. The DBQ gives students a number of historical documents on a topic, poses a question, and then asks for feedback. The DBQ requires a flexible mind and a broad understanding of the topic. The two standard essays require a clear writing structure, an ability to show cause and effect, and some factual detail to support a particular point of view.

AP US Government and Politics

Number: 42035       Grade: 11-12       Length: Semester I      Credit: Western Social Studies

Prerequisite: None, but a US History course is beneficial

This college level course is designed to give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. The course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret US politics and the analysis of specific examples. The following are the basic concepts to be covered: constitutional underpinnings of US government; political beliefs and behaviors; political parties, interest groups, and the mass media; institutions of national government; and the formation of public policy.

Social Studies Elective Courses

SAS requires a minimum of three credits in social studies. While one credit must be in Eastern and another in Western history, the third credit may be earned by taking a second course in one of the above areas or by selecting from the elective courses listed below.

Economics

Number: 42008       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Social Studies

Economics will provide students some insight into ways by which people and nations function economically, i.e., how they make a living. Basic economic concepts including wealth, utility, capital, labor, supply and demand, profit and competition, production, distribution, exchange, consumption, and the factors affecting each area are studied. Monetary and fiscal policies are examined in the light of contemporary economics, both national and international. Students will study fiscal policy, the public debt, and ways banks create money.

Decision Analysis

Number: 42019       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Social Studies

This course, previously called Conflict Resolution, is designed to encourage a logical, deductive approach to thinking, and to look at several different approaches to resolving conflicts. The major analytical method presented is "game theory." Game theory methods are used to tackle issues and problems across the entire spectrum of the social sciences. The course is largely problem centered, applying game theory tactics and skills to hypothetical situations and to case studies that come from history, current world events, and the immediate world around us. Small group and individual analysis of these problems, followed by class discussion, is a common format. Some simple math is involved, but the primary emphasis is on logical thought.

History Through Film

Number: 42020       Grade: 11-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Social Studies

This semester course will analyze to what extent films reflect historical reality. Students will learn skills to actively draw truth from film, instead of passively accepting film as fact. By looking at both film excerpts and films in their entirety, students will learn how to read films critically, questioning closely the role of genre, directorial bias, societal pressures, and film-making techniques. Students will compare the history portrayed in film to that discussed in written text. After first learning some of the techniques producers/directors use to modify history, we will then look chronologically (using lectures, discussions, and films) at the main events in Western History. This is a skills-based course in which students will be expected to participate actively in class and demonstrate their knowledge through formal presentations and expository writing. Students will complete a formal research paper during the second quarter.

Psychology

Number: 42010       Grade: 11-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Social Studies

This one-semester course focuses on the study of the mind and behavior, beginning with a brief history of psychology and a look at the work of its principal theorists. Because technological innovations have made the structure and work of the mind more accessible in the past decade, some time is spent addressing recent findings in articles and documentaries as well as the text. Principal units include The Brain, Learning and Conditioning, Memory and Thought, Altered States of Consciousness, Intelligence, Personality Theory, Abnormal Psychology, and Nature or Nurture.

War, Peace and the Human Experience

Number: 42021       Grade: 11-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Social Studies

This course will explore the evolution of warfare—its causes, catalysts, camaraderie, conflict and consequences. After first looking at the nature of war between early people, the course will then look at how motivations for war have changed, as well as how technological innovations have altered the role of the individual both on the battlefield and at home. Special attention will be paid to the link between domestic issues and foreign affairs. The wartime repercussions and lasting consequences will be analyzed to show to what extent treaties and subsequent organizations have successfully kept the world at peace. Thematic units will study war and its relation to Classical Europe, early Asia, Medieval Europe, the World Wars, the Middle East, and irregular warfare between state and non-state actors.

Foundations of Knowledge

Number: 48505       Grade: 11-12       Length: Year               Credit: Social Studies

Foundations of Knowledge is a yearlong course that focuses on one seemingly simple question: how do you know whether something is true? We will begin our quest with everyday experience, examining the role thinking, language and perception play in knowledge. Then we will turn our attention to the types of learning we engage in at the Singapore American School. In every class we are asked to use distinct methods to arrive at truths—mathematical, scientific, literary, and historical, but we seldom have time to investigate the methods each discipline uses to arrive at truth. With the help of instructors from the subject areas, we will examine the approaches each employs to establish claims within their discipline. Is there one truth, or does each approach have its own truth? Is one better than the other? Moving beyond the classroom, what is true about religion, ethics, and art? Dare to know…

AP Art History

Number: 42038       Grade: 11-12       Length: Year               Credit: Social Studies or Arts

This college level course provides students with an understanding and knowledge of architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art forms within their historical and cultural contexts. Students will examine major forms of artistic expression from the past and the present from a variety of cultures. Students will learn to look at works of art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to analyze what they see.

AP Human Geography

Number: 42040       Grade: 10-12       Length: Year               Credit: Social Studies

Prerequisite: None for 11-12. Tenth graders must have earned A’s in both semesters of their 9th grade social studies course.

This course is designed to introduce students to key concepts surrounding Human Geography.  Emphasis is placed on understanding past and present trends in population dynamics, political geography, economic development, cultural considerations, agriculture and urbanization.  Throughout the course geographic models are presented to explain trends and to predict future change. For anyone interested in world news, this course is a natural as it combines theory with present case studies.

AP Psychology

Number: 42034       Grade: 11-12       Length: Year               Credit: Social Studies

Psychology and AP Psychology represent choices. A student may choose one, or the other, or both. They use different texts. What further differentiates the two is their level, duration and purpose. AP Psychology entails additional readings, more writing, and AP practice tests. Several major oral reports will be required of each student. A student must be willing to pursue college level work. Students electing AP Psychology are expected to have demonstrated high academic achievement in previous course work and to be prepared for the rigor and fast pace of an AP section. Strong students are encouraged to enroll directly in AP Psychology, an advanced level course that introduces the systematic and scientific study of behavior and mental processes. History and methods, the biological basis of behavior, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, thinking, motivation and emotion, development, personality, testing, intelligence, abnormal psychology, treatment, and social psychology comprise the syllabus. The eminent psychologists are surveyed. The renowned Public Broadcasting Service programs on “The Brain” and “The Mind” offer case histories to illustrate psychological theories.

AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics       

Number: 42033/42037  Grade: 11-12        Length: Two-semester Sequence          Credit: Social Studies

Prerequisites: None, but Economics is encouraged.

This is a rigorous two-semester economics course that emphasizes macroeconomics - the principles of economics that apply to the economic system as a whole - first semester, and microeconomics - the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers within the larger system - the second. Topics covered include basic concepts such as scarcity, trade-offs, and the functions of the economics system; the nature and function of product markets, including basic supply and demand theory, consumer choice theory, and pricing theory; the nature and function of factor markets, including theories of wage determination; measurement of economic performance using concepts such as gross domestic product, inflation, and unemployment; analysis of various schools of economic thought in relation to aggregate demand and aggregate supply; money and banking, including the tools of the central bank; and, finally, the usefulness of various government policies that can be applied to remedy the economic problems discussed throughout each semester. While a student may enroll in either or both semesters; however, it is strongly recommended that students not take the second semester microeconomics course unless they have successfully completed the macroeconomics course.

AP Comparative Government and Politics

Number: 42031       Grade: 11-12       Length: Semester II     Credit: Social Studies

This college level course is intended to help students better understand the diverse constitutional, ideological, and social bases of political leadership exercised by different countries. Six countries, China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia are examined. Basic concepts to be covered are: the sources of sovereignty, public authority and political power; national and international political institutions; the relationship between citizens, state, and society; the causes and effects of political and economic change; and various areas of public policy.

AP World History

Number: 42039       Grade: 10-12       Length: Year               Credit: Social Studies

Prerequisite: None for 11-12. Tenth graders must have their 9th grade social studies teacher’s recommendation.

The purpose of AP World History is to develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, advanced through factual knowledge and specific analytical skills. The course will focus on change and continuity within and between cultures, allowing students to improve their analytical and persuasive writing skills. Students will explore the cultures of Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Pacific islands. The period covered is from the Neolithic era to the present. The course will prepare students for the World History AP exam in May.