Social Science

Staff                                Department Office Direct Line: 773-534-3328 

Mr. Brian McKay (Dept. Chairperson)

Mr. Misael Alejandre 

Ms. Marlenne Alequin

Mr. Sergio Almodovar

Ms. Heidi Dolcimascolo

Mr. Daniel Epstein

Ms. Natalie Field

Ms. Sarah Greco

Ms. Lisa Lemoine

Ms. Darlene Schnur

Mr. David Soto

Ms. Kassandra Tsitsopoulos

Course Offerings 

Three years of Social Science courses are required for graduation.

*Required

Non-Credit Graduation Requirements completed in Social Science

• US Constitution (within US History class)
• Financial Literacy (within Senior Social Science class)
• CPS Civics Service Learning Project (within Civics)

Ninth Grade

World Studies

World Studies is the first course offering in which students will enroll as they enter Prosser Career Academy. The purpose of the course is to develop an understanding of the geography, historical events, and cultures that have shaped the world as we know it. Students are expected to improve their reading and writing skills and develop their critical thinking skills. 

We believe that all students should explore their world and the World Studies course allows students to develop a better understanding of the world in which they live.

Tenth Grade

United States History

United States History is the second required class, along with World Studies, that makes up the core of the Social Studies course offerings. U.S. History explores the history of our nation including our laws, our culture, our economy, and our times of crisis. Students will continue to improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills as they continue through their courses at Prosser. 

One requirement of the US History Course is mastery of the important concepts of the US Constitution. 

Eleventh Grade (2 Year IB Courses)

IB History of the Americas

The International Baccalaureate History of the Americas course is a requirement for all students working towards the IB Diploma. The course is a unique two year history course that explores various topics from the perspective of the Americas. The History of the Americas uses a case study approach towards a smaller number of topics in history such as the Civil War, the Mexican Revolution, the Arab-Israeli Conflict, and the Cold War.

Successful completion of the course may allow students to achieve college credit in History. 

IB Psychology

International Baccalaureate Psychology is an elective course for students who are interested in the field of Psychology and want an extremely in depth look at the subject. Students will be expected to understand and analyze the various fields of psychology and the approaches used in those fields. 

Students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma and Career Certificate Programs are invited to choose IB Psychology as an elective. Students may earn college credit after passing the IB exam.

Twelfth Grade   

Financial Literacy

Before graduating from Prosser, all students are required to receive instruction in financial literacy.  They will demonstrate mastery of such important topics as credit and credit cards, banking, loans (including student loans), budgeting, and taxes to name a few. 

Financial Literacy is taught in the Senior year through Senior courses. (AP Govt, Economics, Psychology)  

Civics (1 Semester)

This course is designed to help students understand what the meaning of Citizenship is and the responsibility that comes with being a citizen in the United States of America.  This is not a class on Patriotism or Nationalism, but rather what it means to be a contributing member of our community and our Nation through service, political involvement and political activism.  We will learn what is the political foundation of our nation, what is Federalism and the differences between Federal, state and local government.   We will examine the formation of our two party political systems and its history as well as the meaning of civic duty in contemporary America.

Economics (1 Semester)

Economics is a one semester Senior course for students who are interested in the workings of the economy. We study the manner in which goods and services are produced and consumed within our society. Economics is a course that investigates how businesses work, how consumers choose, and how governments influence our day to day decisions.

Psychology (1 Semester)

Psychology is an elective course for students who are interested in the field of Psychology and are considering pursuing psychology further in college. Students will be expected to understand and analyze the various fields of psychology and the approaches used in those fields. 

Psychology is a Senior elective and allows students to explore their interests while improving their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

AP US Government & Politics (Full Year course)

The AP United States Government class and exam are designed to equip students with knowledge of the United States government as well as provide students with opportunities for application of that knowledge in various political scenarios. This is a college-level class spanned over the course of two semesters. Students will study the foundations of American government, government institutions, political processes and examine policy choices. To validate the course’s scope and rigor, each student is encouraged to take the AP Government and Politics exam and potentially earn college credit. 

History Fair

In addition to the courses the Social Science Department offers, the team also enriches Prosser's culture and community by sponsoring History Fair each year, which is a sustained opportunity for students to engage in authentic historical research and present their findings in mixed and multimedia ways that include presentations, slide decks, poetic compositions and academic papers. Something that makes these student projects come alive is that teachers encourage students to select topics in which they are deeply interested and they plan instructional activities that will support student success in research, analysis, evaluation, criticality, creativity and presentation.

Our students benefit from learning within a Social Science Department that creates classroom environments and units of study that allow them to explore deeply meaningful topics for their History Fair projects, topics that are related to their own cultures and communities and history. This year, the History Fair celebration fell within Black History Month and so many of our students invested in researching black history, with topics including Muddy Waters, Soul Train, James Farmer and the Freedom Rides, Obama’s activism before being president, Richard Wright and the Chicago Renaissance, the 1992 Bulls Championship, Thomas Dorsey, Mamie Till’s activism, Black Panther Party of Illinois, Jean Baptiste du Sable, The Chicago Defender and the Great Migration, Chicago Branch of the NAACP, Harold Washington, Integration of Loyola Basketball Team, Frederick Douglass, Chicago Race Riot of 1919, Ida B. Wells, The Trumbull Park Homes Disturbances, The failing of the CHA and Cabrini Green, Gautreaux and the CHA, Assassination of Fred Hampton, Michael Jordan’s marketing strategies, W.E.B. DuBois, Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Tulsa Race Riot, Jackie Robinson, Magic Johnson and Little Rock 9. Our students, their brilliance, the topics they selected and the scholarly work they put into their projects is the heartbeat of History Fair, the Social Science Department and our school community.  

Each year, the work of Social Science students is celebrated on History Day, when teachers and students join together in the school Auditorium to award exceptional projects from every teacher's classes. The ceremony culminates with a video capturing students' work along the way.

Library Cards

All students are Prosser Career Academy are required to have a working Chicago Public Library Card in their name. Getting a library card is easy—and it's free! Please visit any CPL location to fill out an application. Current, valid ID with name, photo and Chicago address is required. 

World Studies classes use their library cards to research topics in the following units: World Religions, Indigenous Land Acknowledgements, Striks and Labor Rights, The Climate Crisis, Cold War Hot Spots and the National History Day annual theme.

IB classes use their library cards to research for their IB Extended Essay and IB History Internal Assessment. 

Books in the Social Science Curriculum

How to Change Everything: The Young Human’s Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Other by Naomi Klein

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Voting

We also help eligible students register to vote, and, during election years, we take them to early voting!