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History and Social Sciences |
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The goal of the History Department is to teach students the skills necessary to analyze the past, and thus gain perspectives on the present. The curriculum includes courses which provide an awareness of our own history, an appreciation of the many cultures which enrich the human experience, and an understanding of the political, social, and economic issues which confront us as citizens. In order to graduate, students must earn 12 credits in History and the Social Sciences, including 4 credits in the category of American History. Students are encouraged to fulfill this requirement in their sophomore year. Courses which meet this requirement are listed below under AMERICAN HISTORY. Qualified Seniors may enroll in a program leading to graduation with Honors in History. Applicants prepare ambitious projects and papers which are reviewed by committees of history teachers. To assist in the selection of appropriate classes, courses are graded in a range of 1 to 5, based on the quantity and difficulty of the work expected. One is the most challenging. The designation appears at the end of each course description. In planning a program in history each student is strongly encouraged to take a course in three of the following four categories, and must confer with a department member about selecting an appropriate sequence of courses. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT SOME HISTORY ELECTIVES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN A PARTICULAR YEAR. AMERICAN HISTORY EUROPEAN STUDIES AREA STUDIES SOCIAL SCIENCES * Students may choose to enroll in this course in addition to a full year history course without going through the normal double enrollment process. There are no prerequisites for any history courses except where noted. All courses are open to grades 10 through 12, except where noted.
Since they cover the same material, students may take ONLY one of the following for U.S. History credit: MODERN AMERICA, 1865-1985 (104) MODERN AMERICA 1865-1985 Full year course - 4 credits Replaces SURVEY OF UNITED STATES HISTORY After a review of the Constitution this course focuses on Reconstruction and then explores the economic, political, and social developments of the late nineteenth century that facilitated the country's rise to power in the twentieth century. Among these topics are: expansion, industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. In the twentieth century the course explores the Progressive Era, the "Great War," the affluence and anxieties of the 1920's, the Depression, World War II, post war growth and social change, Cold War America, the turbulence of the 1960's and the movements for social change, Vietnam, the post-Watergate era, and the revival of conservatism. (105) ADVANCED PLACEMENT ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY is designed for students who wish to prepare for the Advanced Placement Examination in United States History. The course will acquaint students with the writings of major American historians as well as important schools of American historiography. Students will be required to do extensive reading. Important historical works as well as significant journal articles will supplement a college level American history textbook, Davidson's Nations of Nations The textbook will be issued during the preceding June. Students will be required to independently master the first four chapters and write one essay during the summer break. In preparation for the Advanced Placement Examination, students will also be expected to learn a great deal of factual material. Only students who are seriously considering taking the Advanced Placement Examination should take this course. (1-3) (107) TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICAN TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICAN HISTORY is a detailed survey course which proceeds by decades, and examines the relationships of major events during each period of modern American history. While conventional political topics are discussed, social history, and important cultural events are also emphasized. Students are encouraged to consider different interpretations of the same event. Students will be required to do an extensive amount of reading from a college level text, Nash's The American People, and also from supplementary sources. Classes will mix lecture with discussion. There will be regular homework assignments, and at least two major research papers. This course requires excellent organizational skills. (1-3)
TRENDS IN TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICAN HISTORY is a full year course based on TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICAN HISTORY (107), and appropriately scaled for students who need skills work. The course will emphasize both skills development and historical content. (4-5) (110) GREAT TRIALS AND ISSUES This course surveys the American historical experience by focusing on critical political and social issues as well as on some of the great trials that reflect US society in transition and at moments of crisis. After a thorough exploration of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as the basis of the country's social values and political structure, students will examine how much of United States history relates to the full realization of the ideas and principles of these documents. Topics students will explore are the reform movements of the 1830's, the centrality of race during the Civil War, the rise of industrialization and the Haymarket Trial, immigration, the Progressive Movement, civil liberties during World War I, US involvement during World War II, Japanese American Internment, the Civil Rights movements, and the tragedy of Vietnam. Basic skills such as organization, note taking, writing essays, vocabulary development, and oral expression are emphasized. (3-5) EUROPEAN STUDIES (112) MODERN EUROPEAN HISTORY Full year course - 4 credits Open to: 9 only Focusing on Europe since 1600, this course presents a chronological survey of the following topics: the English, French, Russian, and industrial revolutions; the rise of colonialism and nationalism; World Wars I and II; the rise of the dictatorships; the cold war and contemporary Europe. Reading and other materials are selected from a variety of sources as a supplement to the textbook. Student work is designed to teach historical, social, and geographic content as well as to develop verbal and analytical skills. (1-4) (115) PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY This course is an introduction to the major philosophers of the west and their ideas, with an emphasis on ethics and political philosophy. Philosophical ideas will be presented in their historical contexts. The course will start with the beginnings of western philosophy in ancient Greece, and (116) WESTERN CIVILIZATION - WESTERN CIVILIZATION - THE ARTS AND HISTORY traces the evolution of the western world through a survey of the visual arts and music presented in their historical contexts. In addition, science, technology, and the evolution of ideas will be considered. The first semester starts with ancient Egypt and continues through the fourteenth century. The second semester covers the last six hundred years. This course seeks to develop a sense of the continuity of western civilization, and a heightened appreciation of the arts, both for themselves and as a mirror of history. The central text will be Kenneth Clark's Civilisation. Students will spend the majority of class time critically examining and discussing various works. They will be expected to read in various sources, write analytical essays, and work independently on projects. By special arrangement students may prepare to take the Advanced Placement examination in the History of Art. (1-3) This course is designed as a companion to WESTERN CIVILIZATION - LITERATURE (See English course description). We strongly recommend that the two courses be taken concurrently. Students who sign up for both courses will receive special priority in scheduling. Students who are scheduled for both courses should remain in BOTH courses for the year. If a student wants to drop either course, he/she will have to drop the other if there is a wait list for the class. Students who have taken WESTERN CIVILIZATION - THE ARTS AND HISTORY one year and wish to take WESTERN CIVILIZATION - LITERATURE the following year, or vice versa, will also receive special priority in scheduling. (117) DICTATORS Full year course - 4 credits The history of the world in the twentieth century is marked by the rise of dictators who were able to gather a great deal of power and use it ruthlessly for their own ends. Under these dictators, more than one hundred million people lost their lives as these dictators tried to establish total control over their people. DICTATORS will focus on Hitler's rule in Nazi Germany, Stalin's rule in the Soviet Union, and Pol Pot's role in Cambodia.We will analyze how these men came to power, what their totalitarian governments looked like, and what the tragic results were in the countries where they ruled. Throughout the course, we will also look at current events happening in the world in order to understand what dictatorships look like today. Ultimately this course is designed not just to teach the content of the periods and places studied, but is meant to help students to identify and oppose oppression both locally and globally. Students will be expected to read from a number of different sources--textbooks, magazine articles, fiction and non-fiction books, and primary sources. In addition, students will be expected to write a research paper for this class as well as a number of shorter papers. Students will also have the opportunity to do original research with survivors of the Stalinist purges. AREA STUDIES (101) NINTH GRADE HISTORY LAB Full year course - 4 credits Open to : 9 only This smaller class is designed for students who have had significant difficulty with the reading, writing, and conceptual skills demanded in history courses. Individualized instruction helps students to begin to master various history skills involving chronology, cause and effect, bias, geography, data, research, and film. Reading and writing skills will be the primary focus throughout the course. (4-5) (120) MODERN WORLD HISTORY Full year course - 4 credits Open to: 9 only This course is a comprehensive examination of three or four countries or regions, such as China, India, Japan, Korea, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Each unit includes an overview of geography, a survey of social and religious traditions, and a study of history and politics. Reading materials are selected from a diversity of sources including books, magazines, newspapers, and novels. Assignments are designed to improve writing and analytical skills. (1-4) (132) WORLD CRISES Full year course 4 credits This course is designed to introduce students to a few current international political crises involving such issues as terrorism, ethnic conflict, religious wars, and globalization. Previous areas of study have included: The 9/11 Attacks & War on Terror, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Issues in Afghanistan, the War in Iraq, Nuclear Weapons Proliferation, & the War on Drugs. Future units will reflect the changing world in which we live. The historical basis of each controversy will be presented so that students can make connections between past and present, and thus gain an understanding that goes beyond newspaper headlines. The complexities of each situation will be examined, taking into account different perspectives and viewpoints. Through readings, debate, research, and rigorous analysis, students will be expected to come to their own informed opinions about the topics studied. The course requires that students stay abreast of world news, and emphasis is placed on introducing students to various sources of information about world affairs. (1-3) (135) ASIAN STUDIES: TRADITION AND This course will focus on the life-styles, traditions, and beliefs of some of Asia's peoples. Special attention will be paid to the areas of India, China, and Japan. Students will be asked to do long-term research and class presentations on other Asian nations of their choosing. Course materials will be drawn from diverse sources including texts, novels, diaries, art, music, ritual, and film. Central to the course will be questions concerning the relationships between tradition and change in Asia. What are some of the most significant Asian traditions? How are they changing? What are their impacts on efforts to modernize Asia? (136) A HISTORY OF AFRICA AND ITS This course provides an opportunity to learn about Africa. Students will connect Africa's present with its past; learn about its peoples' interaction with other parts of the world and the historical impact of this contact; and finally, study the trans-Atlantic slave trade, colonialism, World Wars I and II, and Africa today through the diverse voices of its people. Daily discussion of current events will draw upon our ongoing studies. The first semester focuses on West Africa, beginning with ancient kingdoms and progresses chronologically, concluding with a case study of modern Nigeria. With key concepts and historical trends in place, in the second semester students will be prepared to study countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The year concludes with South Africa and a focus on Mandela and the Freedom Struggle. Primary sources, novels by African writers, and African films will be used. Students will be expected to read closely, write analytical essays and a research paper, and participate actively in class. (1-3)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (140) PSYCHOLOGY Full year course - 4 credits This course covers core concepts in psychology beginning with the use of the scientific method in research and the physiological basis for behavior. Topics covered first semester include perception, learning, memory, and states of consciousness. During the second semester the focus is on human growth and development, personality, stress and adjustment, abnormal behavior and psychotherapy, and social psychology. Class time is divided between lecture, films, discussions, experiments, and demonstrations. During the first semester, students take frequent unit tests, write a paper on a movie selected by the instructor, and write a five page research paper. Second semester, students take frequent unit tests, read two books on which papers are assigned, construct a personal time line, and write a seven page research paper. By special arrangement, students may prepare to take the Advanced Placement examination in Psychology. (2-4)
This course replaces LAW & SOCIETY and AMERICAN ISSUES and is not open to students who have taken LAW & SOCIETY and/or AMERICAN ISSUES. Students may choose to enroll in this course in addition to a full year history course without going through the normal double enrollment process. This course explores some of the ways that the American legal system enters
(144) GLOBAL ISSUES Full year course - 4 credits GLOBAL ISSUES introduces students to issues of poverty and development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, regions of the world collectively referred to as the "Third World" or "developing countries." Students use readings, documentaries, group projects, role plays, lectures, and a research paper to explore pressing issues facing these areas today. In the past these issues have
(146) ECONOMICS AND FINANCE Full year course - 4 credits One of the objectives of this course is to give students a better understanding of the economic problems we face today and prepare students for the further study of economics. The course examines how our economic system works, and is designed to help students become more intelligent voters and citizens. Some examples of areas covered are: the causes and effects of inflation, deficits, supply and demand, elasticity, labor-management relations, money and credit, government influence on the economy, monetary policy and fiscal policy, as well as investments and the stock market. Other micro and macro economic principles are also included.
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