Social Studies

The Social Studies Department at Saint Thomas Academy designs its courses to provide a challenging learning environment that promotes academic excellence and recognizes the unique abilities of each student. The Social Studies Department expects each student to:

· Develop the ability to connect the past and the present by applying methods of historical research; use a variety of sources to demonstrate cause and effect relationships in history.

· Acquire geographical skills and understand and apply the main themes of geographic analysis.

· Acquire economic literacy and apply it to U.S. and world economic institutions in order to be an effective citizen and to enhance personal economic decision-making.

· Acquire political literacy in order to be able to participate effectively in the U.S. democratic process.

· Be able to evaluate controversial issues and apply this knowledge through debates and other methods of presentation (both written and verbal).

· Develop a multicultural awareness and sensitivity, recognizing that judgments about people of different cultures are usually shaped and influenced by the standards and values of the culture in which one lives.

· Develop the competency to acquire, organize, evaluate, and report information for the purposes of solving problems and clarifying issues.