Social Studies Department

At the high school level, academic standards for specific courses continue to build upon the skills and knowledge acquired at earlier stages of instruction. The high school courses focus on one of the five content areas that make up the social studies curriculum: history; civics and government; geography; economics; and individuals, society, and culture (psychology, sociology, and anthropology). The structure of the high school standards may vary since each course has its own organizing principles based on the major concepts or ideas that make up the discipline. At the high school level, one content area is the major focus of a course, while the other areas play supporting roles or become completely integrated into the subject matter.

“The mission statement of the social studies department of Ben Davis High School, a cooperative venture of students, families, and global interests, is to ensure that all learners acquire and apply democratic knowledge, geographic skills, historical processes, and the desire to become lifelong learners and productive citizens in the USA-world communities through innovative teaching of outstanding quality.”