Anthropology is the study of how culture is developed by people living, thinking, and working together. This category examines issues related to how a particular group of people view the world; how they do things and the mind sets they use to understand the world.

Economics is the study of how people labor to satisfy human wants and needs.  This category examines issues related to the production and distribution of goods and services.  People use a variety of economic systems to attempt to satisfy their unlimited needs and wants with limited resources.

Geography is the study of how the earth and its features interact with the effects of human activity. This category focuses on the relationship between people and their environment.  Our environment influences our lifestyle and culture, provides opportunities and imposes limitations.  In addition, people influence the environment. Geography studies the physical and cultural elements of the environment, as well as the interaction between the elements.

Political Science is the study of how groups develop and use different structures to govern their lives. This category deals with the study of the processes, principles and structures of government, political institutions, and the study of law making and law enforcement.

Psychology is the study of mental processes and behaviors. This category investigates human behavior as it is influenced by an individual or a group. It examines both inherited and socially influenced behaviors.

Sociology is the study of human social behavior. This category investigates both the behavior of groups and the behavior of individuals as members of groups.

State and Local Studies is the study of the life and development of an individual, a people, a state, a county, an event or an institution. This category records and explains past and present events of a local area or of West Virginia in general.  It investigates the interrelationship between cause and effect, continuity and change, and other factors that historians use as they try to understand the past and the present.

U.S. History is the study of the life and development of an individual, a people, an event or an institution within the United States. This category records and explains various aspects of the history of the United States. It investigates the interrelationship between cause and effect, continuity and change, and other factors that historians use as they try to understand the past and the present.

World History is the study of the life and development of an individual, a people, a country, an event or an institution.  This category records and explains various aspects of the history of areas outside of the United States. It investigates the interrelationship between cause and effect, continuity and change, and other factors that historians use as they try to understand the past and present.

International is a special category for the 2009-10 academic year.  To participate in this category, students must work alongside two or more students from a school in another country to investigate and research a problem, issue, condition, or historical event, then determine action(s) that could be taken to improve a mutual problem or current global issue.  Students must consider a variety of perspectives in addition to their own and those of their counterparts, then determine how to communicate those perspectives through an oral presentation with the help of a project display board and/or multimedia presentation.