Developing independent thinkers and responsible citizens

Department Highlights

• A variety of cultural experiences are offered to students, including opportunities to:
• • Vote in mock elections and witness and participate in political debates and debates on current issues
  • Meet with speakers from the various branches of the military as well as elected leaders from Congress and the PA Legislature
  • Participate in a stock market online simulation game to learn about Wall Street and investments
  • Compete for the Amor Historiae (Lover of History) Award and the Citizenship Award
• Students take part in field trips to locations such as the The Heinz History Center, the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh Walking Tour, Shanksville, PA, and various sites in Washington, D.C., including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
• The department coordinates the annual 9-11 Memorial Ceremony.
• Students compete in Model UN simulation activities held at various colleges and universities to learn more about diplomacy and international relations. The group participates in the Pitt Model UN Competition.
• The Social Studies Department coaches the academic quiz team to compete on Hometown High Q, the high school quiz show that airs on KDKA-TV.
• Students compete in the Pennsylvania Mock Trial Competition. Mock Trial is a competition structured around the imitation of a real life court trial. Students compete as attorneys and/or witnesses with a legal professional serving as judge.

Faculty