In Modern World History from 1450, students study the major turning points that shaped the modern world including the expansion of Islamic and Asian empires, transoceanic exploration, the Atlantic slave trade, the Enlightenment, industrialization, imperialism, nationalism, political revolutions, the world wars, the Cold War, decolonization, and globalization. By presenting content from multiple perspectives and through diverse primary and secondary source materials, this course not only provides students with a solid foundation in the history of the modern era, but it also prepares students to be active and informed citizens of the world.

Through critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their capacity to conduct research, analyze sources, make arguments, and take informed action. In written assignments, students address critical questions about the history of the modern era. In discussion activities, students respond to diverse opinions, take positions, and defend their own claims. Formative and summative assessments provide students — and teachers — with ample opportunities to check in, review, and evaluate students’ progress in the course.

This course is built to state standards.

2 semesters, 1 credit

In U.S. Government and Politics Honors, students examine the history, principles, and function of the political system established by the U.S. Constitution. Starting with a basic introduction to the role of government in society and the philosophies at the heart of American democracy, this course provides students with the knowledge needed to be informed and empowered participants in the U.S. political system.

Through critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their capacity to conduct research, analyze sources, make arguments, and take informed action. In written assignments, students address critical questions about U.S. politics and the role of individual Americans in politics and political organizations. In discussion activities, students respond to political opinions, take a position, and defend their own claims. Formative and summative assessments provide students — and teachers — with ample opportunities to check in, review, and evaluate students’ progress in the course. For Honors students, the course culminates with a multipart independent research project focused on a topic of their choice.

This course is built to state standards and informed by the College, Career, and Civil Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, and the National Standard for Civics and Government.

1 semester, 0.50 credit

U.S. History Honors traces the nation’s history from the precolonial period to the present. Students learn about the Native American, European, and African peoples who lived in North America before a large part of it became the United States. They examine the beliefs and philosophies that informed the American Revolution and the subsequent formation of the government and political system. Students investigate the economic, cultural, and social motives for the nation’s expansion, as well as the conflicting notions of liberty that eventually resulted in a civil war. The course describes the emergence of the United States as an industrial nation and then focuses on its role in modern world affairs.

Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, students probe the economic and diplomatic interactions between the United States and other nations while investigating how the world wars, the Cold War, and the “information revolution” affected the lives of ordinary Americans. Woven through this chronological sequence is a strong focus on the changing conditions of women, African Americans, and other minority groups.

The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships. These skills are applied to text interpretation and in written assignments that guide students step-by-step through problem-solving activities.

Honors students perfect their ability to use logic and evidence to create persuasive written arguments in five-paragraph essays, two independent research projects, and shorter exercises such as document-based questions and analytic discussions.

The course is built to state standards and standards from the National Council for History Education, the National Center for History in the Schools, and the National Council for Social Studies.

2 semesters, 1 credit

This course traces the nation’s history from the end of the Civil War to the present. It describes the emergence of the United States as an industrial nation, highlighting social policy as well as its role in modern world affairs.

Students evaluate the attempts to bind the nation together during Reconstruction while also exploring the growth of an industrial economy. Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, students probe the economic and diplomatic interactions between the United States and other world players while investigating how the world wars, the Cold War, and the “information revolution” affected the lives of ordinary Americans. Woven through this chronological sequence is a strong focus on the changing conditions of women, African Americans, and other minority groups.

The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships. These skills are applied to text interpretation and in written assignments that guide learners step-by-step through problem-solving activities.

Students perfect their ability to use logic and evidence to create persuasive written arguments in five-paragraph essays and in shorter exercises such as document-based questions and analytic discussions.

This course is built to state standards and standards from the National Council for History Education (1997), the National Center for History in the Schools (1996), and the National Council for Social Studies (1994).

2 semesters, 1 credit

U.S. History traces the nation’s history from the pre-colonial period to the present. Students learn about the Native American, European, and African people who lived in America before it became the United States. They examine the beliefs and philosophies that informed the American Revolution and the subsequent formation of the government and political system. Students investigate the economic, cultural, and social motives for the nation’s expansion, as well as the conflicting notions of liberty that eventually resulted in civil war. The course describes the emergence of the United States as an industrial nation and then focuses on its role in modern world affairs.

Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, students probe the economic and diplomatic interactions between the United States and other world players while investigating how the world wars, the Cold War, and the “information revolution” affected the lives of ordinary Americans. Woven through this chronological sequence is a strong focus on the changing conditions of women, African Americans, and other minority groups.

The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-and-effect relationships. These skills are applied to text interpretation and in written assignments that guide learners step-by-step through problem-solving activities.

This course is built to state standards and informed by the National Council for History Education, the National Center for History in the Schools, and the National Council for Social Studies.

2 semesters, 1 credit

Geography and World Cultures is a robust, one-semester course that explores how geographic features, human relationships, political and social structures, economics, science and technology, and the arts have developed and influenced life in countries around the world. Along the way, students are given rigorous instruction on how to read maps, charts, and graphs, and how to create them.

At the intersection of culture and geography, students learn about art, science, individuals and communities, and history and current events. Students discover how a mountain in the distance can inspire a Sufi poet, how a river blocking a passage occupies a civil engineer and a ship builder alike, and how the sound of a busy Cairo street inspires a musician. Human history is all about cultures meeting — how they influence and inspire each other; what sets one apart from the next; and how they battle each other for land, natural resources, religious dominance, and more.

Geography and World Cultures is designed as the first course in the social studies sequence. It develops note-taking skills, teaches analytic writing, and introduces students to the close examination of primary documents.

This course is built to state standards and standards from the National Council for History Education (1997), the National Center for History in the Schools (1996), and the National Council for Social Studies (1994).

1 semester, 0.50 credit

Sociology examines why people think and behave as they do in relationships, groups, institutions, and societies.

Major course topics include individual and group identity, social structures and institutions, social change, social stratification, social dynamics in recent and current events, the effects of social change on individuals, and the research methods used by social scientists.

In online discussions and polls, students reflect critically on their own experiences and ideas, as well as on the ideas of sociologists. Interactive multimedia activities include personal and historical accounts to which students can respond, using methods of inquiry from sociology. Written assignments provide opportunities to practice and develop skills in thinking and communicating about human relationships, individual and group identity, and all other major course topics.

This course is built to state standards and the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies.

1 semester, 0.50 credit