Social Studies

Courses may be added or canceled at any time.
Contact Distance Education to confirm course availability.

SST 003 055H: Sociology (˝ unit)
Sociology is the study of the behavior of people in a group. In this course, students will study the social development of individuals in a society, and they will consider the effects that culture, language, and status have on this social development. Special attention is given in this course to mechanisms of social control and to forces of social change. Through the analysis of such social institutions as the family, government, church, and school and through the examination of such contemporary social problems as poverty, urban decay, delinquency, and discrimination, students will develop an understanding of the characteristics of social interaction in a complex, modern society.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $44 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

SST 007 055H: Psychology (˝ unit)
This introduction to psychology covers a broad range of topics, including learning processes, the development of personality, mental and emotional problems, the psychology of group behavior, and social attitudes. Study of these topics will help students develop an awareness and an understanding of the many forces that influence their behavior.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $44 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

SST 021 058H: World Geography (˝ unit)
This course explores relationships between people and their physical environment. Students learn how natural surroundings influence the way people live and how people modify their surroundings to make their lives easier. While studying about the United States, Canada, and Latin America, students learn the general characteristics of each region before they analyze the interaction between the culture and geography of certain nations.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $42 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

SST 022 058H: World Geography (˝ unit)
Examines four geographic regions: Europe, Africa, Australia and Oceania, and Asia. Students learn how the topography, climate, and natural resources of each region influence the lives of its people. They also learn how those people raise their standard of living by reacting to and modifying their natural surroundings. Throughout the course, students use such basic geographic skills as reading and drawing maps, analyzing charts and diagrams, and interpreting technical vocabulary.
• Required Handbook can be purchase for $42 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

SST 031 056H: World History (First Semester, ˝ unit)
Emphasis on the history and cultures of both the Western and non-Western worlds is an important feature of this course. Special attention is given to the civilizations that developed in India, China, Africa, and Latin America from ancient to recent times. The contributions which each culture made to world civilization are stressed throughout the course.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $44 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

SST 032 056H: World History (Second Semester, ˝ unit)
Examines the history of the Western and non-Western worlds from approximately 1750 to the present. The social and political upheavals which revolutionized Western civilization and signaled the end of absolutism are examined first and then the consequent growth of democracy and nationalism is considered. Considerable attention is given to the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution, the “new” imperialism, and the two world wars. Course concludes with a discussion of postwar problems and recent developments that have world-wide impact.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $44 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

SST 033 057H: American History (First Semester, ˝ unit)
The history of the United States from the European background to settlement through the Civil War is presented. Students begin by examining the definition of history and its value. The readings stress important themes and events and include excerpts from the primary sources of each period considered. Self-check exercises are used as a device to reinforce the facts and issues presented in the readings and in the syllabus.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $43 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

SST 034 057H: American History (Second Semester, ˝ unit)
This course traces the major historical developments in the United States from 1865 to the present. Students will examine the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution, immigration, reform movements, the two world wars, and other historical phenomena that have influenced American society since the Civil War. The readings include excerpts from primary sources. Social history is emphasized throughout.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $36.25 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

SST 037 056H: American Government: Theories, Policies, and Politics (˝ unit)
In-depth analysis of the American federal system of government as it is outlined by the Constitution of the United States. In addition, students study state and local government and analyze the similarities and differences in the structures of the governments of the 50 states. By helping students increase their understanding of the principles of national, state, and local government in the United States, this course helps prepare the student for responsible citizenship. The constitutional rights that are guaranteed to an American citizen, as well as the relationship of citizens to the states, are discussed in detail.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $37.50 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

SST 038 056H: American Government: National Level (˝ unit)
In this course the roles, functions, powers, and structures of the three branches of the national government of the United States are analyzed in detail. Students study relationships among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. In addition, students examine the role that the national government plays in the solution of specific foreign and domestic problems.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $37.50 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

BUS 035 057H: Economics (˝ unit)
(Recommended for honors-level students) This is a challenging course which leads students to a better understanding of basic economic concepts by examining work. Students will study the role of the market in modern capitalistic economies and how it functions. The market system as a pure concept and the market system as it functions with government control and restraint will be examined. Students will analyze how government promotes and curbs the market in response to the will of society. Finally, the variety of alternate economic systems adopted in some parts of the world will be compared to the market systems in free societies.
• Required Handbook can be purchased for $46 from Distance Education.
• Required textbook can be purchased from MBS Direct.

If you have any questions regarding High School Independent Learning courses, send e-mail to Carol B. Williams or call 800-922-2577 (in the continental United States) or 803-777-7210.

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