The social studies department may offer an AP Human Geography class next school year as an elective course. The availability depends on how many students sign up for the course when they create their schedules next month.

The curriculum focuses on patterns of human interaction, the environment, migration and geography, social studies teacher Courtney Osborne said. She would be the only teacher for the class.

Whitman offered the class ten years ago, but student interest declined.

“It was just one period, taught by the same teacher every year,” principal Alan Goodwin said. “When she retired, the class was just taken off the list.”

Some teachers said they see the course as a way for students to take an enjoyable elective with the rigor of an AP class.

“Right now, there are a lot of social studies classes students love but can’t get AP credit for,” Osborne said. “That’s something we hope to remedy if we offer this course.

The social studies department has tried to offer new classes in the past, but not enough students signed up for the courses.

“A few years ago, we tried to add an Asian Studies class, but only six or seven students displayed interest,” social studies resource teacher Robert Mathis said. “There are only so many class periods during the day that students sometimes have to make sacrifices.”