United States History is a required class for students at Carmel High School. In their junior year students must take two semesters of United States History. Students have many options to fulfill these credit requirements. They can choose from the AP, IB or Block classes described below.
UNITED STATES HISTORY 1
Classification: Regular (414)
Prerequisite: None
Open to: 11, 12
Credit: 1
This course will build upon concepts developed in previous studies of American history in the Carmel Clay Schools. It will emphasize national development from the end of the Reconstruction period (1877) and continue chronologically through 1940. Students will study key economic, social, political and cultural events of these periods as well as the people, groups, and movements that have an impact on the life of Indiana and the United States. This course will satisfy one semester of the junior year United States history requirement for graduation from Carmel High School and is open to all level of students.
UNITED STATES HISTORY 2
Classification: Regular (415)
Prerequisite: None
Open to: 11, 12
Credit: 1
This course will further build upon concepts developed in previous studies of American history, in particular US 1 and will emphasize the continued national development of the United States following World War I to the present. Students will study key economic, social, political and cultural events of the periods as well as the people, groups and movements that have an impact on the life of Indiana and the United States. This course will complete the two semesters of United States history required of juniors for graduation from Carmel High School and is open to all level of students. Students receiving credit for US 1 and 2 may not take Regular Block, Honors Block or AP US.
UNITED STATES HISTORY 1-2/ ENGLISH 11, 1-2 (Regular Block)
Classification: Regular (110-111/469A-470A)
Prerequisite: None
Open to: 11
Credit: 4 (2 in Social Studies and 2 in English)
Course content includes the basic requirements of American literature, composition and United States history. The interdisciplinary approach will enhance students' awareness of relationship of historical events and literature from the Puritan period to 1994. Writing skills will be emphasized. Successful completion of this course satisfies the junior requirements for junior level English and Social Studies. The second semester of the course will be devoted to 20th Century American literature and history. This course requires a two-period block of time and is team-taught. This is a full year course and transfers out are not permitted at semester break. (Time covered: 1600 to Present.)
UNITED STATES HISTORY 1-2/ENGLISH 11, 1-2, AP (AP Block)
Classification: AP
Prerequisite: Selection process
Open to: 11
Credit: 4 (2 in social studies, 2 in English)
This course is offered to students recommended as most able in English and Social Studies. Admission will be through administrative selection with student agreement. Course content includes an integrated study of American literature, composition and history dating from Puritan times to the present. Successful completion of this course will satisfy the junior requirement in both English and Social Studies. The second semester of the course will be devoted to 20th Century American literature and history. This course requires a two-period block of time and is team-taught. This is a full year course and transfers out are not permitted at semester break unless approved. (Time covered: 1600 to Present.)
Extensive reading and writing in American history is required. This course will satisfy the full year requirement in United States history. Student and will follow the national AP United States History curriculum. Students will be given a summer reading assignment covering the first five chapters in the Advanced Placement text. Students may pick up their rental texts from the CHS bookstore after the first week of summer school. Students are encouraged to purchase their texts. An examination over summer reading material will be given in the first week of class. (Students approved for transfer from this course at the end of the first semester will be assigned to United States History 2; however, they will not be prepared for the AP Exam in May.)
UNITED STATES HISTORY 1-2, Advanced Placement
Classification: Advanced Placement (417AP1-417AP2)
Prerequisite: None
Open to: 11
Credit: 2
This is a two-semester course designed for the highly academically motivated student who has a very strong interest and aptitude in United States history. During the first semester, course content covers from the colonial period to the end of the 19th Century. The second semester is devoted to the 20th Century. While it is not required that students take the AP U.S. History exam at the approximate cost of $80.00, it is expected-the focus of the class is to adequately prepare students toward this end. Extensive reading and writing in American history is required. This course will satisfy the full year requirement in United States history. Students enrolling in AP United States History will be given a summer reading assignment covering the first five chapters in the Advanced Placement text. Students may pick up their rental texts from the CHS bookstore after the first week of summer school. Students are encouraged to purchase their texts. An examination over summer reading material will be given in the first week of class. (Students approved for transfer from this course at the end of the first semester will be assigned to United States History 2; however, they will not be prepared for the AP Exam in May.)
IB HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS HL 1,2,3,4
Classification: IB (480IBH, 481IBH, 482IBH, 483IBH)
Prerequisite: Recommended AP World History and/or AP European History
Open to: 11, 12
Credit: 4
The High Level (HL) history program is a two-year curriculum offered as a stand-along course within the Social Studies Department. It will include the History of the Americas 1 for the junior year and the History of the Americas 2 in the senior year. The comparative course will integrate the histories of Canada, Latin America, and United States. It is designed to promote and enhance an awareness of international understanding through focusing on the Western Hemisphere. This two-year program will introduce students to the common experience I the Americas through a comparative analysis of cultural, political, social, and economic issues. The junior year will study the period from the mid-19 th century through the present. The senior will focus on an analysis of the Western Hemisphere and its relationship to Europe in the 20 th century. Students enrolling in this course will be strongly encouraged to take AP world History in the 9 th grade and AP European History in the 10 th grade as preparation for the IB program.