The Walla Walla Catholic Schools Social Studies Department guides students to understand the past and be aware of their present place in the local, state, national and global communities, as well as to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to fulfill their intellectual potential and become informed and active citizens within a democratic society.  Toward this end, we educate students to acknowledge the role of God in human history; to appreciate the diversity of human experience over time; to consider how context and culture shape individual lives and societies as a whole; to read and evaluate both primary and secondary sources critically and actively; and to make convincing arguments both orally and in writing.  The knowledge and skills we seek to foster within students will better prepare them for college, for their career, for civic involvement, and for lifelong learning.

United States History/AP United States History (year-long, alternates with European History)
This is a one-year survey course of American History from the Colonial Period and American Revolution through the 20th Century, with an emphasis on the major social, political, economic, and military changes throughout the time period. The course will analyze the causes and effects of historical events through critical thinking of assigned readings, supplemental primary and secondary sources, and documentaries. Students will be expected to work individually, in small and large groups to write, present, and discuss critically the conventional accounts of history.

Government (one semester, offered yearly)
The United States Government course explores the development of the United States Constitution and how it functions through the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, the foundations of American government, civil liberties and rights, and state and local governmental structure and functions. This class will look at government in action from both historical and current perspectives. In addition to this, the course seeks to continuously develop and foster higher-level critical thinking skills that emphasize analysis, synthesis, debate and evaluation. Students will learn how to support their positions with credible and factually based evidence. In doing so, students will learn how to accept the critiques and varying viewpoints of their classmates on a pathway toward academic excellence. The overall goal of the government course is to make students aware of being well-informed citrizens of the United States.