2025 - 2026 MCPS High School Course Bulletin

Social Studies

The goal of social studies is to help create literate and well-informed citizens who actively participate in a democratic society. Students learn how to become effective citizens through—

active engagement in the learning processes and skills of the social sciences and history by using the inquiry process;
development of a useful knowledge base in culture, economics, geography, history, and politics that incorporates a broadened narrative by

including marginalized groups;

learning the fundamental structures of human systems of interaction and how these systems have developed over time;
application of concepts and knowledge of the past to problem-solving real-world issues of the present;
application and evaluation of the role of an effective citizen, including putting citizen participation theory into practice;
effective use of multiple sources of investigation for research and learning, including technology, primary and secondary source materials,

the arts, film, and oral history; and

development and communication of social studies concepts and knowledge using a variety of formats, with a special emphasis on analytic

and argumentative writing.

The required social studies courses include state requirements for environmental literacy and financial literacy instruction.

Additional information regarding the MCPS Social Studies program can be found at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/socialstudies/.

Three credits in social studies are required for graduation, including 1 U.S. History credit, 1 National, State, and local Government credit, and 1 World History credit. Courses that satisfy those requirements are listed below.

U.S. History

• United States History A and B

• AP United States History A and B

National, State, and Local Government

• National, State, and Local Government A and B

• AP United States Government and Politics with NSL A and B

World History

• Modern World History A and B

• AP World History

• IB History 1 A and B and IB History 2 A and B