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Civics is the study of citizenship and government. This one-semester course provides students with a basic understanding of civic life, politics, and government, and a short history of government’s foundation and development in this country. Students learn how power and responsibility are shared and limited by government, the impact American politics has on world affairs, the place of law in the American constitutional system, and which rights the American government guarantees its citizens. Students also examine how the world is organized politically and how civic participation in the American political system compares to that in other societies around the world today.

Civics describes the organization and operation of government on the local, state, and national levels. Students’ roles in family, school, and the economy are investigated with an emphasis on their rights and responsibilities. Students will also develop an understanding of the challenges faced with U.S. foreign policy.

In this course, students will compare the geography, governments, economies, and cultures of the world. Emphasis will be placed on learning about the civics, politics, economics, structures, processes and policies of the United States and then comparing them with those of the international community. Students will use what they know and learn about the United States and the world to analyze current events and contemporary issues. Reasoning and research skills will be applied to the content throughout the course.

Students are introduced to the basics of economic principles, and they will learn the importance of understanding different economic systems. They will also investigate how to think like an economist. Students will explore different economic systems, including the American free enterprise system, and they will analyze and interpret data to understand the laws of supply and demand. Students will also be presented with economic applications in today’s world. From economics in the world of business, money, banking, and finance, students will see how economics is applied both domestically and globally. Students will also study how the government is involved in establishing economic stability in the American free enterprise system as well as the how the U.S. economy has a global impact.

In this course, students learn about the government and economic system of the United States and their role in it. They begin their study with looking at colonial America and the importance of the documents, such as the Constitution, that the Founding Fathers wrote. Students then turn their attention to the structure of the U.S. government as they learn about the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. They study the role of elections, voting, and public opinion in the American political process, as well as the role that state and local governments play. They learn citizenship skills that will enable them to participate in their government and communities throughout their lives. Turning to economics, students study the free enterprise system that the American economy is based on and learn about how economic growth is measured, types of businesses, the process of developing the government budget, and the role the government takes in the U.S. economy. They also gain personal finance knowledge, such as the importance of budgeting, saving, and the responsible use of credit. Students examine the role that banks and international trade play in their lives. They also look at the different types of economies in the world, the interdependence of countries today, and the spread of democracy around the world.When enrolling in the full year option of this course it will be delivered in two semesters. Transcripts will reflect each semester separately

In this course on economic principles, students explore choices they face as producers, consumers, investors, and taxpayers. Students apply what they learn to real-world simulation problems. Topics of study include markets from historic and contemporary perspectives; supply and demand; theories of early economic philosophers such as Adam Smith and David Ricardo; theories of value; money (what it is, how it evolved, the role of banks, investment houses, and the Federal Reserve); Keynesian economics; how capitalism functions, focusing on productivity, wages, investment, and growth; issues of capitalism such as unemployment, inflation, and the national debt; and a survey of markets in such areas as China, Europe, and the Middle East. HST403: U.S. Government and Politics (or equivalent) is recommended, but not required.

This course studies the history, organization, and functions of the United States government. Beginning with the Declaration of Independence and continuing through to the present day, students explore the relationship