• Advanced Placement Psychology (10, 11, 12) (3 Trimesters) (Approval)

    The Advanced Placement Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals.  Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology.  They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.

    It is recommended that students take an additional psychology based elective prior to or in conjunction with this course.

    Students in this course are encouraged to take the AP exam in May.

    Advanced Placement U.S. History (11, 12) (3 Trimesters) (Approval)

    Advanced Placement U.S. History is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and enduring understandings necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States history. The program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses. Students should learn to assess historical materials—their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance—and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. Students in this course are encouraged to take the AP exam in May.


    Amazing Race (9, 10, 11, 12) (1 Trimester)

    Students "travel" to and within multiple countries utilizing a variety of transportation modes, including airplanes, hot-air balloons, helicopters, trucks, bicycles, taxicabs, car, trains, buses, and boats.  Clues provided in each leg lead the teams to the next destination or direct them to perform a task, either together or by a single member.  These challenges are related in some manner to the country wherein they are located or its culture.  Students will use skills in language, economics, research, science, mathematics, currency, and fitness.  Students will change partners throughout the course and will be acquiring an individual time log for the term.  This class is hands-on making good attendance a key to success.

    Behavioral Psychology (10, 11, 12) (1 Trimester)

    This course will study the field of psychology, and several of its related fields.  The behavioral aspect will be focused upon in regard to the development of human behavior.  The class will explore such components as attitude, stereotyping, prejudices, and discrimination.  How have these things developed within us?  The course will integrate the biological factors, the psychological factors, and the social factors that have aided in the development of our behavior.  (Behavior Psychology and Developmental Psychology will be offered on alternating years)

    Civics (11) (1 Trimester)

    This course is required of all junior level students at Northwest High School. All students must successfully complete one trimester of Civics with a passing grade in order to fulfill graduation requirements. A variety of activities will be used for assessment in the course. This course emphasizes an understanding of the fundamentals of the American political system.  A major area of emphasis is placed on the development of positive citizenship values and behaviors in an effort to instill a sense of responsibility that goes along with being an American citizen.

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    Developmental Psychology (11, 12)   (1 Trimester)

    This course will study the field of psychology, and several of its related fields.  The developmental aspect will be focused upon in regard to the development of human behavior.  The class will explore such components as human development, learning, intelligence, language development and cognition.  The course will integrate the biological factors, the psychological factors, and the social factors that have aided in the development of our behavior.  The course will also touch on things like perception, personality and social psychology as well.  There will be in-class work, individual and group projects, and exams.  This course will be enhanced through the accompaniment of various video clips and DVD's to help with the understanding of these behaviors.  (Behavior Psychology and Developmental Psychology will be offered on alternating years)

    Economics (11) (1 Trimester)

    This course is required of all junior level students at Northwest High School. All students must successfully complete one trimester of Economics with a passing grade in order to fulfill graduation requirements. A variety of activities will be used for assessment in the course. This course emphasizes an understanding of the fundamentals of the American economic system. Macro and micro economics will be taught in this survey course.


    Global Issues (9, 10, 11, 12)  (1 Trimester)

    This course gives a thematic overview of issues faced globally in the twenty-first century.  It will do so from a variety of disciplines and will focus on four major areas:

     

    • Development and Poverty
    • Gender Issues and Family Issues
    • Conflict and Diversity
    • Health and the Environment

    This course will serve as an extension of World History as students analyze and examine issues currently facing the world.

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    History of American Music (9, 10, 11, 12) (1 Trimester)

    The History of American Music is an in depth study of the origins of popular music in the 20th century and the social and historical context that gave birth to it. From blues and country to punk and heavy metal, students will familiarize themselves with landmark groups, music, and movements of different periods.

    History Through Film (9, 10, 11, 12)  (1 Trimester)

    This course will look at major world events using modern cinema.  Main assessments for this course will include projects, paper and presentations.
     

    History Through Sports (9, 10, 11, 12) (1 Trimester)
    In this course students will analyze how different sports were developed, changed over time, and most importantly how they changed the world.  Students will learn where different sports originated from and after discussing the sport itself, we will research how in certain time frames athletes have used their popularity to change the culture.  For example, Tommie Smith, who used the biggest stage in all of sports, The Olympics, to show his pride in “Black Power” during the American Civil Rights Movement.
     

    Michigan History (10, 11, 12) (1 Trimester)
     
    The course will focus on the political, social, and economic history of the State of Michigan from territorial status to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on the development and impact of the automobile on the State.
    Native American Studies (10, 11, 12) (1 Trimester)

    The course will focus on the history of Native American culture within the continental United States from Exploration to the Present with an emphasis on the relationship between the U.S. Government and the Native American tribes.

    Social Psychology (10, 11, 12) (1 Trimester)

    Social Psychology is one trimester course for sophomores, juniors and seniors intended to give you a broad picture of the field of social psychology with an emphasis on preparation for college and critical thinking.  This course emphasizes problem-solving and working in groups, and will offer you a set of intellectual tools with which to more accurately understand the society in which you live.  Your participation, discussion, and feedback are needed.  Group activity, work and cooperation are heavily emphasized.  Much of the readings in this course are written at college level.

     

    UB-Economics/Civics (11) (2 Trimesters) Teacher Recommendation Only

    This course will cover essentially the same material covered in course Civics . Textbook and vocabulary will be modified for students with language/learning disabilities. Prerequisite: Staff recommendation and approval.

    UB-United States History (9) (2 Trimesters) Teacher Recommendation Only

    This course will cover essentially the same material covered in course United States History . Textbook and vocabulary will be modified for students with language/learning disabilities. Prerequisite: Staff recommendation and approval.

    UB-World History (10) (2 Trimesters)  Teacher Recommendation Only

    This course will cover essentially the same material covered in course World History . Textbook and vocabulary will be modified for students with language/learning disabilities. Prerequisite: Staff recommendation and approval.

    United States History (9) (2 Trimesters)

    This course is required for all freshmen who plan to graduate from Northwest High School. Students must complete two trimesters of the course with a passing grade. The course is a continuation of the United States History course, Exploration-1898 offered to students at the middle school level.

    The High School course is a general survey course in United States History covering the time period from the Spanish-American War through events to the present time period. The class is heterogeneously grouped and is taught at a level that makes it possible for all students to succeed. A variety of activities will be used for assessment in the course. The purpose of the course is to instill in students a sense of their historical, political, social, economic, and cultural heritage, which will aid in the development of positive citizenship values and behaviors.

    World History - Eastern & Western  (10) (2 Trimesters)

    This course is required of all sophomore level students at Northwest High School. All students must successfully complete two trimesters of World History with a passing grade in order to fulfill graduation requirements. The course will be a general survey on the growth and development of civilization, western and eastern, from the Renaissance to the fall of communism.  Emphasis will be on the major historical eras. 

    World Religions - (9, 10, 11, 12) (1 Trimester)
     
    This course is an introduction to the academic study of religion and of world religions, and to the religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as well as other minor religions.  The course examines the historical evolution, the fundamental doctrines and beliefs, the practices, institutions and cultural expressions of these religious traditions.  The course also deals with some of the essential differences and similarities which exist among each religious tradition, and points to the uniqueness of each of them.  Goals for students enrolled in this course are (1) to develop the ability to think both empathetically and critically about conflicting religious claims, and (2) to gain knowledge of the history and culture of several major religious traditions.