Global Studies

Global Studies is a mandated course by the New York State Department of Education for high school graduation in the subject of Social Studies. Similar to the World History courses taught in other states, Global Studies focuses on international history from the perspective of all those involved. It is a two-year course taught to freshman and sophomores, who will be expected to find historical as well as geographic perspectives of the topic at hand.

Year One of Study

In the first year of studying this course, students will be provided with an opportunity to develop an understanding of traditional and modern Asian, African and Latin American countries by studying the geography, history and culture of those nations. Emphasis will be placed on the following areas: traditional societies, encounters with imperial powers, nationalist and independence movements, and contemporary challenges. Critical thinking and writing using primary source documents will be stressed.

Year Two of Study

During their second year of study, the course will serve the historical narrative of the world from prehistoric times to the present. Special emphasis is given to the development of Western Civilization. The concepts developed emphasize continuing attempts by human beings to achieve freedom, social justice, a decent standard of living and general progress. Efforts, throughout history, to thwart these aspirations will be examined, with special attention given to the underlying causes of the rise of Fascism and Nazism and the subsequent tragedy of the Holocaust. The course utilizes the various social studies disciplines of history, geography, political science, economics, anthropology, and sociology. Synthesizing information and responding to document based questions are important skills that will receive special attention for students in this course. A regents examination in Global History and Geography (Grades 9-10) is given in June.

Sources

* [http://www.desaleshs.org] [http://regentsprep.org/Regents/global/global.cfm NYS Global History Regents Exam Review]
[http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/pub/sscore2.pdf NYS Global History Curriculum]
[http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/pub/sscore2.pdf Global History Regents Exams - Accessible Online]