HISTORY AND THE SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT
WORLD CIVILIZATIONS 9: Emerging Worlds
World History is the story of our collective human family. These are stories of triumph and tragedy, ingenuity and creativity, resistance to change and bigotry, great compassion, and brutal, senseless violence. We undertake this study in order to learn how the peoples who came before us dealt with the world around them and with each other. What can we learn from them? Our goal to is to begin to ask how people in other times and in other places were both like and unlike us. Many of the basic questions that you have of your life and about the world are questions that have been asked for thousands of years. One purpose of this course is to ask those fundamental questions and look at how others have answered them. To begin answering these questions students are initiated to the rigors of historical research. We begin in Africa where we dissect the cradle of civilizations in order to apply this study to the rest of the world. Students emerge from this class ready to understand European history and its global significance.
This year long course is required for all 9th graders.
WORLD CIVILIZATION 10: Interacting Worlds
World History 10 will begin with the rise of Islam and Islamic Empires. Following the trail of Islamic expansion will take us into India and finally into China. In each of these areas we will spend time extensively exploring the literatures that are representative of these cultures. From there we will move on to Europe. We will explore the voices of the global medieval world and then turn our attention to the great plague pandemics. Our attention will move to the periods of the European Renaissance and Reformation and the beginning of interaction between Europe and other worlds. Finally, in preparation for junior year American history, we will look at the Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolutions.
This year long course is required for all 10th graders.
UNITED STATES HISTORY 11
A yearlong survey of American history, this course covers the period of early exploration to the present. Focus is on specific themes and trends in our history, including social, political, economic, intellectual and cultural developments. Critical thinking and writing skills are at the heart of this course. Students will gain extensive experience in historical research and writing, culminating in a major analytical essay on a 21st century issue or problem. Paralleling the study of American literature, this course will include interdisciplinary work with English 11 to make more meaningful and extend students' learning. Students will "do history" through the examination and analysis of primary sources and literature, including fiction and nonfiction.
This year long course is required for all 11th graders except those in the Advanced Placement United States History course.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY
This yearlong, college-level course is designed to assist students in developing analytic skills and knowledge to deal critically with problems and materials in American history. A major focus of this course is preparation for the Advanced Placement U.S. History exam given in May. The course will examine our history through economic, social, political, diplomatic, cultural, and intellectual developments. It parallels the study of American literature and will include meaningful interdisciplinary work with English 11. Students will experience in-depth work in historiography and primary source interpretation. Historical thinking and writing are the foundations of the curriculum that is both content and writing intense.
Eligibility: Elective course open to eleventh graders with the recommendation of tenth grade English and history teachers.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EUROPEAN HISTORY
A.P. Modern European history covers the period from roughly the 14th century to the 20th century and focuses on the politics and culture of Europe. The histories of Africa, China, the United States, Japan, Central and South America, as well as many other regions are included in this survey but are examined primarily through their contact with Europe. The course will examine the ideas, trends, individuals, and groups that have shaped Modern European History. While the shift from old to new world ideology and technology will be the overriding perspective, specific themes such as industrialization, political and social revolution, imperialism, nationalism, as well as artistic and intellectual expression will also be discussed. Students will explore this vast and explosive history through the use of written primary and secondary sources, video, art, music, discussion, debate, lecture as well as a variety of different assignments.
Eligibility: Elective course open to twelfth graders with the recommendation of 11th grade history teachers.
MODERN AMERICAN HISTORY
This history course investigates the people, issues, and trends that have influenced our development as a country and a culture from 1950 to the present. Students will investigate these issues and contemplate their impact on our future as American and world citizens. This course will utilize the musical genre of the various periods as primary sources for
study. There will be a daily presentation of music and students will participate in discussion regarding the music and how it reflects the historical and cultural issues of the times. Students will also be exposed to the film and news journals of the period to enhance their understanding. This course will provide ample opportunity for students to express their ideas with a high expectation for student interaction both in discussion and through formal student presentations.
Eligibility: This one-semester elective course is open to 11th and 12th graders.
Global Issues:
Seminar style, and discussion/debate driven, this student-led course is designed to promote understanding of current trends, events, and problems in the world viewed through the lens of sustainable existence. Meaningful discussions and debates spring from an exploration of ideas through inquiry to support and inform critical thinking as demonstrated in oral presentation of ideas, questions, and position papers (2-3/Qtr). Working in small teams of 2-3, all students become "mini-experts" in a self-selected topic to lead the class in instruction over an extended period. Instruction may include service-learning components.
Eligibility: This one-semester elective course is open to 10th - 12th graders.
East Asian History
This introductory survey course examines two of East Asia's principal member nations: China and Japan. Beginning with the origins of the respective civilizations and ending with the present, students analyze how major factors such as geography, belief systems, social structure, art and music, technology, political-economies, imperialism, and modernization efforts have shaped the development of China and Japan, and, by extension, greater Asia-a region encompassing more than thirty-percent of the earth's land area, and home to the world's most diverse continent. The course is discussion-based and reading and writing intensive. Student analyses will be demonstrated through daily discussions, occasional response papers, art projects, and the completion of two novels and two major papers.
Eligibility: This one-semester elective course is open to 11th and 12th graders.
Introduction to Economics
This semester-long survey course is designed to familiarize students with basic economic principles and introduce consumer education for the purpose of real-life application. Through projects and class work, students will explore and present their thoughts on topics that illustrate the principles, concepts, and relationships that have informed the U.S. and global economies. Topics include: microeconomics, macroeconomics, and global economics.
Eligibility: This one-semester elective course is open to 11th and 12th graders.
PSYCHOLOGY
This is an introductory course designed to provide students with a physiological, theoretical and practical understanding of psychology. Students will receive an in-depth understanding of how the central nervous system functions as well as the various control points of the brain. Students will then study the theories that have been developed by pioneers such as Freud, Selye, Maslow, Piaget and Skinner. Practical application of theories will be introduced through the study of "Personal Style”, the psychology of addiction, and by providing students with stress management techniques. This is a semester course.
Eligibility: This one-semester elective course is open to 11th and 12th graders.
ADDITIONAL APPROVED COURSES NOT CURRENTLY OFFERED:
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
MODERN AFRICAN HISTORY
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
THE MIDDLE EAST
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