History and Social Science

The Topics in Global History course provides students with the skills & tools necessary to study in-depth historical subjects & developments across a global scale of time & space. Students will navigate the causes, consequences, & connections of historical events that have shaped societies across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, from the Crusades to the postmodern era. They will be encouraged to draw connections between past and present global challenges, & explore how people & institutions respond. Additionally, students will reflect on their civic responsibilities, considering how they can positively impact their local communities while thinking & acting as informed & considerate global citizens. As part of an authentic learning experience, students will actively engage in debates, collaborative projects, and mock trials, strengthening their public speaking, critical thinking, and collaborative research & inquiry. Students will learn essential skills for historical study, such as the use of primary and secondary sources, determining & assessing historical points of view, and developing & substantiating original, historically defensible arguments, all while cultivating their own capacity for critical & independent thinking.

The United States History course empowers students to become critical and independent thinkers, as well as engaged and well-informed participants in civic life, by studying, analyzing, and evaluating the history of the United States, its institutions and its peoples. This includes the structure, function, and powers of various levels of government, the ways in which Americans have actively participated in civic life throughout history, and how students themselves can be active and empowered citizens. Through a series of authentic and practical assessments, students will become more active and informed civic participants and historians. This course spans American Origins, from independence to the Civil War to the social and political dilemmas of the 20th and 21st centuries. This program of study offers students a historical and contemporary examination of the freedoms provided and extended to all Americans over time into the present day, and how they are interpreted and applied. Students will cultivate and practice the essential qualities and competencies required to live a life of purpose in the 21st century, such as media literacy, independent research, independent analysis and evaluation, use of sources, problem-solving, and collaboration.

The Advanced Placement World History course instills in students the skills and habits necessary to engage in advanced-level history coursework. Students analyze and evaluate advanced historical topics, themes, and interpretations of Modern World History in the form of argumentation in writing and debate, dialogue, and personal reflection. Students cultivate their understanding of world history from c. 1200 CE to the present by learning to make connections and to craft historical arguments through the use of appropriate evidence, including primary & secondary sources, as they explore the evolution of world systems & peoples over time. Thematic learning objectives include Social Interactions (SIO), Political Systems and Governments (GOV), Interactions between Humans and the Environment (ENV), Cultural Developments (CDI), Economic Systems (ECN), and Technology and Innovation (TEC). In May, students take the AP World History: Modern exam.

The Advanced Placement U.S. History course is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to analyze and evaluate advanced historical topics, themes, and interpretations of U.S. History in the form of argumentation in writing and debate, dialogue, and personal reflection. The course is divided into nine units that span the pre-Columbian era to the present day. Thematic learning objectives include American and National Identity (NAT), Politics and Power (POL), Work, Exchange, and Technology (WXT), Culture and Society (CUL), Migration and Settlement (MIG), Geography and the Environment (GEO), and America and the World (WOR). The course incorporates the learning objectives of a college 100-level survey course with the skills development of a 200-level seminar in order to offer an authentic college-level course and college-preparatory experience to qualified students. In May, students take the AP exam in U.S. History.

AP Macroeconomics grapples with classical economic models and concepts. Students will examine economic performance measures, economic growth, and the global economy in addition to practicing how to integrate high-end analytical thinking skills with advanced writing and research skills. There is a strong emphasis on economic modeling, to demonstrate understanding and mastery of Supply, Demand, Fiscal and Monetary policies. Students begin modeling basic supply and demand scenarios and then move into more complex economic modeling of national economies, inflation, unemployment, recessions and economic expansion. The course incorporates the learning objectives of a college 100-level survey course in order to offer an authentic college-level course and college-preparatory experience to qualified students. Students enrolled in this course take the AP exam for Macroeconomics in May.

AP Human Geography is a yearlong seminar that serves as an introduction to human geography or cultural geography. The content is presented thematically rather than regionally and is organized around the discipline’s main subfields: economic geography, cultural geography, political geography, and urban geography. The approach of the course is spatial and problem oriented. Case studies are drawn from all world regions, with an emphasis on understanding the world in which we live today. Historical information serves to enrich analysis of the impacts of phenomena such as globalization, colonialism, and human–environment relationships on places, regions, cultural landscapes, and patterns of interaction. Students will see geography as a discipline relevant to the world in which they live; as a source of ideas for identifying, clarifying, and solving problems at various scales; and as a key component of building global citizenship and environmental stewardship. Students enrolled in this course take the AP exam for Human Geography in May.

The AP Psychology course provides students with an introductory psychology framework for college-level content and skills, as recommended by the American Psychological Association (APA) Introductory Psychology Initiative. These skills include Social Science Practices such as Research Design, Data Interpretation, Concept Application, and Evidence-based Argumentation. The Framework is organized into five content-based units, including - Biological Bases for Behavior, Cognition and Development, Social Psychology, and Mental and Physical Health. This framework integrates key skills throughout the course that students need to be successful in subsequent courses in psychology.

(only for students who have completed AP Seminar)

AP Research, the second course in the AP Capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000–5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.
[From AP College Board]

*Can be taken for English or History/Social Science credit.

Laws and Citizenship in Action is a yearlong elective that explores the ways in which American society and  its justice system are rooted in, and shaped by, constitutional principles, and the roles the government and citizens play in sustaining a constitutional democracy. Resources include the textbook Street Law, 11th Ed, as well as ongoing partnerships with attorneys, judges, law enforcement, and policymakers. In the first trimester, students will become active practitioners in understanding and interpreting the Constitution and its key amendments, which define citizens' rights and government powers. They will apply constitutional principles and precedent to contemporary legal issues, using past and current Supreme Court cases to conduct mock trials and debates, and will participate in a simulation of the legislative process. In the second trimester, students will investigate how these principles are implemented by the Executive Branch and law enforcement. This includes the historical context and present-day perspectives on major topics in criminal justice, such as immigration, mandatory minimums, capital and juvenile punishment, and policing methods. In the third trimester, students will design a capstone civic action project on a law‑related issue of their choosing, applying research methods, critical analysis, and civic reasoning to propose and execute solutions to real‑world challenges. Through case studies, moot court exercises, debates, deliberations, and performance-oriented projects, students will gain a deeper understanding of law, power, and responsibility in a constitutional democracy, all while developing and empowering their own sense of civic identity.

Psychology of the Human Brain seeks to provide students with a strong introduction to college-level neuro-psychology. The course allows students to dissect and evaluate human behaviors and their impact on the world around them by exploring the behavior, function, and anatomy of the human brain. This includes how parts of the brain jointly control & influence the behaviors of humans. Students will cover this journey through three trimester-long sections: Introduction to Psychology and the Human Brain (fall), Social Psychology and the Human Brain (winter), and Positive Psychology & the Inner Cosmos (spring). This program offers a wide range of assessments, including hands-on activities, competitive games, essay writing, gallery presentations, technological expressions, debates, personality research, and the use of a variety of education-based gaming platforms. This program of study allows students to apply course knowledge toward a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them.

This year-long course blends aspects of practical application of economics with theoretical approaches. The fall trimester (Economics in Everyday Life) focuses on understanding how economics shapes daily life. After a brief overview of global economic concepts, students engage in project-based learning tied to life after high school. Topics include budgeting, car purchasing (buying, financing, or leasing), credit management, financial instruments, retirement accounts, and the stock market. The winter trimester (Business Organization & Entrepreneurship) explores economic issues related to business, including finance and organization. Students examine inflation and its effects on local and global economies. Through entrepreneurial projects, they create investment pitches, identify funding sources, assess hiring needs, and develop products. Additionally, students build resumes, write cover letters, and practice interview skills. In the spring trimester (Classical Economic Theory and Globalization), students study global economic interconnections through trade and investment. Topics include international trade models, government policies, currency exchange rates, and their effects on trade. The course also covers development economics, inequality, and public sector issues like health care and environmental economics. Activities include discussions, simulations, debates, and research.