History & Social Sciences

Chronological US History 

This course, or its counterpart Thematic US History, is a required course to be taken in the Fourth or Fifth Form year. 

This course will review the main events and issues of U.S History, while also learning the fundamental skills of research and working to develop mature, intellectual and critical consideration of the relationship between past and present. Class discussion, projects, collaborative learning, and persuasive writing will be expected and valued avenues with which to approach these priorities. We will start the course by examining formative elements of the American Colonial experience. From there we will follow chronological events in US History starting with the Revolutionary Era and birth of the young Republic. Quickly, we will analyze the transformative elements of Antebellum America up to the Civil War, and how in its aftermath the Union was fundamentally revolutionized anew, with an emphasis on social, economic and foreign policy — and the evolving relationship between the people and government. In the spring term we will discuss the dynamics of the Depression years, World War II, and post-war America, and more recent historical influences on the US of today. Through our year together, we will study the unique melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, faiths, and identities that have and do characterize the ‘experiment’ that is the US of America. 

Historical Thinking: An Exploration of Global Change 

Required of all Third Form students 

This course will investigate the period from 1250 CE to the Cold War in a global context. Through the study of this period students will be joining historical arguments about systems of thought and belief, networks of exchange, revolution, empire, industrialization, and conflicts. Students will learn foundational historical skills in evaluating sources, researching, and constructing arguments. Important to the study of this period will be reading the voices from all sides of events and investigating them in context. Students will be able to add context to what they see in the world they live in. 

Psychology 

Psychology explores the study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings. The course covers topics that include theories and findings on learning, memory, perception, social development, sleep and personality, as well as abnormal psychology. In-class demonstrations, projects and engaging activities add to students' understanding of the topic. 

Thematic US History 

This course, or its counterpart Chronological US History, is a required course to be taken in the fourth or fifth year. 

In this course students will study US History by examining one theme at a time. Such themes include: identity, society, politics, economics, and culture. To access these themes, students will try to answer approximately one overarching question per unit: Who is an American? What are American values? Does the US have a culture? What are the meanings of liberty and equality? What is the role of the government in the lives of US citizens? Is the US an empire? Is the business of America business? Emphasizing depth and not breadth, each question presents students with a new journey through America’s past so they may see how a single issue develops over time. This narrower focus allows students to develop intellectual curiosity, pursue different methods of historical analysis, and engage deeply with the historical record. Throughout the year the themes will “layer” on top of one another so students will move through US History several times in several different ways. In the process, students will be encouraged to ask questions, take intellectual risks, and be empowered to develop their own ideas and interpretations of US History so they may join the national conversation about our shared past. 

Contemporary Issues in Economics 

This course employs economics concepts taught in Advanced Studies Economics, Introduction to Macroeconomics and Introduction to Microeconomics, so students must take at least one of these electives or be concurrently enrolled at the time of study. Prerequisite: open to students in the Fourth Form and above with departmental approval. 

Enlightenment

How reasonable was the Age of Reason? Read and discuss the thoughts of some of the great thinkers of the late 17th and 18th Centuries. From the controversies of Rousseau, the mischief of Voltaire, and the optimism of Leibnitz to the passions of Paine and the gravity of Burke, students will examine this world of letters and the politicians navigating its waters. How enlightened were Frederick II, Joseph II, and Catherine II? Prerequisite: open to students in the fourth form and above who have completed Modern World History. 

Fake News: Media & Politics in the Contemporary World

Check your news feed lately? Since 2020, Americans have spent between 6-9 hours per day engaged in media of one form or another. In this media-saturated world, we are continuously bombarded with hundreds of news items from numerous platforms: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google, Twitter (X), text messages, podcasts, radio, television, and print press. Not only does the media exert significant influence over us, with the ability to curate content, Americans have become increasingly siloed in ideological echo chambers, contributing to ongoing political polarization. This course will explore the role of the media in the US, specifically as it relates to politics, and learn the powerful skill of deconstructing media messages in order to gain more control over them. Students will learn how to determine the trustworthiness of sources, verify news stories, determine reputability, detect bias and agendas, distinguish between facts and opinions, and learn the importance of multiple points of view. Skills notwithstanding, the course encourages students, as citizens in a free society, to become responsible and discerning consumers of information. Prerequisite: open to students in the Fourth Form and above who have completed World History. 

German History 

It has been said that the Germans are either at your throat or at your feet. But what of this complex nation beyond the Prussian tropes? Explore the culture and people who gave rise to several Bach, both von Humboldt, Kant, Dürer, Goethe, Marx, Holbein, Maria Theresa, Daimler, Sophie Scholl, Willy Brandt, and Hannah Arendt. German history is far more than the years 1933 to 1945. Teutonic contributions to the arts, politics, literature, sciences, education, and industry will all be considered. Prerequisite: open to students in the fifth and sixth forms with completion or concurrent study of US History. 

Greek Philosophy

This course explores a dynamic period of philosophical debate and discovery. Beginning with Pre-Socratics, this course surveys pivotal thinkers, including Socrates, Plate, Aristotle, and Epicurus. Intertwined with our learning of influential theories of ethics, politics, language and religion will be experiential learning experiences that put philosophy into practice. Prerequisite: open to students in the Fourth Form and above who have completed Historical Thinking: An Exploration of Global Change.. 

Hollywood vs. Reality: Events in U.S. History 

This elective course invites students to explore how Hollywood movies depict important events in U.S. history. Students will compare popular films to real historical accounts to examine how and why stories are changed for entertainment. Through film analysis, class discussions, and hands-on projects, students will evaluate historical accuracy, bias, and creative choices made by filmmakers. The course emphasizes critical thinking and media literacy while encouraging students to reflect on how movies influence what we believe about the past. 

Introduction to Macroeconomics

This course covers economic topics like scarcity, choice, supply, demand, national income accounting, fiscal policy, global trade and foreign exchange markets with real-world applications and current event discussions. 

Introduction to Microeconomics

This term course covers topics in microeconomics including consumer choice and utility maximization, theory of the firm, market structures, and the role of government within the broader economy. A considerable amount of class time is dedicated to real-world applications and current-events-based discussions. Prerequisite: open to students in the Fourth Form and above with departmental approval. 

Modern African History

Africa is frequently misunderstood, with various African countries conflated, and stereotypes abound about an impoverished and war-torn continent. How much of this is actually true, and how can we deepen our understanding of the complexities of African history? This course will provide a survey of major historical events and milestones on the African continent and diaspora since the 19th and 20th centuries. In an effort to bring greater clarity to the role Africa plays in the modern world in terms of politics, socio-economics, and culture, we will dive into historical and media analysis of Africa from the beginnings of post-colonialism to the present day. Prerequisite: open to students in the Fourth Form and above who have completed Historical Thinking: An Exploration of Global Change. 

Native American History

Native American history is timely and timeless. As we consider US History, and before it, English colonial history in North America, we often talk and think about the 'forgotten people.' This consideration takes on many forms, layers, and textures. There are many renderings of the so-called 'American' story. Yet, in the telling of this history, are not the most 'forgotten' the original Americans — Native American/Indigenous peoples themselves? This course will attempt to engage and examine this fundamental question, from pre-Jamestown 1607 to contemporary issues in Native American/US relations and policies. Prerequisite: Open to students in the Fifth and Sixth Form. Must have taken US History or be taking it concurrently. 

Sports and Society in the U.S.

Sport is ubiquitous in the US. From Teddy Roosevelt's ponderings to Serena Williams' being, it is not an understatement to say that the US is a sporting society. When considering the arc of US History over the past century, sports can offer a window into fundamental change over time across so much of the spectrum of this unique, pluralistic society. This course will endeavor to examine the role that sports have played in the transcendence of the US's modern social history, from myths created, to legends deified, to barriers broken — a unique history unto itself. Prerequisite: Open to students in the Fifth and Sixth Forms. Must have taken US History or be taking it concurrently. 

Tennis Court to St. Helena 

Explore the period that spans the French Revolution of 1789 to Bonaparte’s exile to St. Helena. Watch how reasonable requests for an effective and just government give way to violence and extremism. Watch how reaction grips the establishment. Read the treatises, letters, announcements, and edicts of the people of these times. Consider the spilling of revolutionary fervor into the rest of Europe and the world. Track the horror of the 23 years of war that are unleashed on the world. Weigh the tension between liberal ideas and the rise of the modern dictatorship. Explore the efforts to contain a new manifestation of France. Prerequisite: open to students in the fourth form and above who have completed World History. 

Advanced Studies in Modern Asian History 

Advanced Studies in Modern Asian History explores the major developments in South, East, and Southeast Asian history, including the development and domination of Asian empires in the early modern period, the encroachment of European companies and states, the varied strategies employed to respond to European imperialism, and the tumult of 20th-century war, independence movements, and ideological struggle. Through close analysis of primary and secondary documents, students will study the major historical narratives of these three regions while also keeping in mind the context of a broader Asian history. 

Advanced Studies in Economics 

Explore the principles of both micro and macroeconomics in Advanced Studies in Economics. By building an understanding of the issues of inequity and access, you will develop a working knowledge of the problems and issues in the economy of the US. Through a study of how land, labor, and capital (the factors of production) contribute to the growth and operation of a market economy, how supply and demand affect price and output levels of goods, how government policies alter the working of the market, and how international factors influence a nation’s domestic economic conditions, you will develop a deeper appreciation for the nuances of the US. Prerequisite: Fifth Form students and above with departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies in European History 

Advanced Studies in European History is designed to stimulate and challenge Fifth and Sixth Form students to improve analytical skills by demonstrating that history is a series of interpretations as well as the study of the ongoing relationship between cause and effect. The course considers political, economic, military, intellectual, and cultural developments in Europe beginning with the Renaissance. Students learn to think about history, what it is, what it means, and why events happen. Prerequisite: Fifth Form and above with departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies in US Government and Politics 

Embark upon a detailed examination of the political landscape of the US in Advanced Studies in US Government and Politics. By studying constitutional history, political beliefs, political parties, interest groups, governmental institutions, public policy, civil rights, and civil liberties, you will be challenged to ask questions about how equity and access continue to challenge our Founding Fathers’ goals. This course is designed to prepare you for undergraduate political studies coursework. Prerequisite: Open to students in the Fifth and Sixth Forms who have met their US History requirement with departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies Topics in Black American History: Abolitionism 

This course focuses on the role of Free Black Americans in the abolitionist struggle against slavery. We begin in the era of the American Revolution, when northern African Americans cooperated with antislavery whites who had founded moderate organizations such as the New York Manumission Society. From this starting point, we trace the transformation over time of the American antislavery movement, under the pressures exerted by black abolitionists who sought greater control over the struggle being waged in their name. These black abolitionists radicalized the broader antislavery movement, and introduced political ideas that would influence American political life for 200 years. We will study the major institutions of this abolitionist movement — for example newspapers, conventions, and “vigilance committees” — as well as the writings of leading individuals, such as James McCune Smith, James Theodore Holly, Alexander Crummell, David Ruggles, and Samuel Ringgold Ward. 

As we explore this history, we will pose a number of questions. What did Free Blacks believe about how the struggle against slavery should be fought? What were the roles in the black abolitionist movement of churches, newspapers, conventions, and masonic lodges? How did Free Black Americans understand and cultivate their relationship with the much larger number of enslaved African Americans in the south; and also with the wider African diaspora, in Africa itself, in the Caribbean, in Canada, and elsewhere? Prerequisite: open to students in the Fifth and Sixth Forms with completion of United States History and departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies Civil War

It is difficult to overstate the importance of the Civil War in the history of the US. Commonly referred to as “the Second American Revolution,” the Civil War occurred barely a century after the war for independence and the establishment of the republic. During that four-year period, Americans took up arms against one another in what was, and still is, the bloodiest war in US history. While the conflict claimed the lives of nearly 750,000 soldiers, it resulted in the preservation of the Union and the emancipation of four million enslaved people, it redefined concepts of freedom and enhanced the authority of the federal government, and it disrupted the global economy and ushered in the Second Industrial Revolution. In short, the Civil War changed the trajectory of US history. Examining the period from 1850-1877, students will analyze the causes of the conflict, the dynamics of the war, and the results and memorialization of the war in the context of Reconstruction. In the process, students will be encouraged to assign meaning to the war as a nationally transformative event, and those meanings may include: intellectual, social, constitutional, individual, racial, and/or sectional. Prerequisite: open to students in the fifth and sixth forms with completion of US History and departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies in Constitutional Law: Civil Rights And The Supreme Court

This course focuses on the evolving importance of the United States Constitution and the Supreme Court in delineating the civil rights of minority groups and protected classes in America and in developing a more egalitarian, integrated society. Students will research, prepare legal briefs and consider current Supreme Court cases. Readings will be drawn from case law and related materials. Prerequisite: open to students in the Fifth and Sixth Forms with completion or concurrent study of United States History and departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies Contemporary Issues in the Middle East

The Middle East frequents news headlines and Hollywood billboards as its internal dynamics and foreign policy decisions attract the attention of the world. How much do we know, and can we appreciate this culturally rich and diverse region of the globe? Contemporary Issues in the Middle East examines some of the highly debated current issues in the Middle East. Looking at modern history through academic texts and the media, this course introduces students to major political, social, and cultural issues in the region through the study of both its history and historiography. Prerequisite: Open to students in the fifth and sixth form with departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies Academic Research

This course introduces students to historical research and writing, focusing on conducting original research and translating it into historical writing. The fall term focuses on locating, utilizing, and evaluating primary and secondary sources, while the winter term focuses on identifying debates, using sources creatively, constructing logical arguments, and addressing ethical issues. The course breaks down research into manageable steps, teaching scholarship habits and fostering a collaborative community through peer review. 

Advanced Studies Academic Writing

This course introduces students to historical research and writing, focusing on conducting original research and translating it into historical writing. The fall term focuses on locating, utilizing, and evaluating primary and secondary sources, while the winter term focuses on identifying debates, using sources creatively, constructing logical arguments, and addressing ethical issues. The course breaks down research into manageable steps, teaching scholarship habits and fostering a collaborative community through peer review. 

Advanced Studies Holocaust 

The Holocaust was the systematic murder of six million Jews, as well as millions of other victims, including Poles and disabled people, carried out during the Second World War by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. This course examines the origins and implementation of this genocide. Topics include Nazi ideology from 1919 onward; the evolution of anti-Jewish policy after 1933; the development of the camp system; the radicalization of violence on the Eastern Front; Jewish resistance; and the experiences of victims and rank-and-file perpetrators. 

Advanced Studies Immigration 

In the middle of the 20th century, historian Oscar Handlin wrote, “Once I thought to write a history of the immigrants in America. Then I discovered that the immigrants were American history.” Often romanticized and considered a source of national pride, America’s immigrant past is more contested, complicated, and nuanced than many assume. The American ideals of liberty and equality trumpeted by the Founding Fathers strained under the weight of mass migration from vast regions of the world. Immigration and subsequent generations of ethnic groups sparked conflict and debates over national identity, citizenship, religious and cultural values, and economics to name a few. Over the course of the term, students will delve into this complex historical topic by examining life in the Old Worlds, the causes and processes of migration, how these immigrants adjusted to life in a new context by reshaping their identities and creating “parallel” societies within the US. From the German Palatines of the 17th century to the Mexicans of the 21st century, students will learn how as immigrant and ethnic peoples interacted with one another and mainstream America, they continually changed what it meant to be an American. Prerequisite: open to students in the fifth and sixth forms with completion of US History and departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies International Relations 

This course is designed to integrate students’ knowledge of current events into their historical context and situate this understanding of global affairs within a body of international relations theory. Through the study of international organizations, students develop their analyses of events with the realities of how these events are perceived, reacted to, and addressed in the international arena. Using research, papers and presentations, debates, simulations, analysis of news sources and global media, and international relations theory, this course challenges students to step outside themselves and understand the difficult decisions world leaders make while forging their ideas about how to build a better world. Prerequisite: Open to students in the Fifth and Sixth Forms with departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies Introduction to Church History

This course seeks to examine significant trends and changes in the history of the Christian Church from its earliest manifestations to the present day. Special consideration will be given to the ways in which Christian communities have defined themselves while simultaneously creating groups of “others” whose influence is still felt to this day. The purpose of this class is not to be catechetical, but rather to give students a sense of the profound influence the Christian Church has exerted in world affairs, and consequently how it has been shaped by world events. Prerequisite: open to students in the Fifth and Sixth Forms with completion or concurrent study of US History and departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies Irish American History & Literature 

The Irish American experience is central to U.S. history. Since 1584, Irish migration has shaped American society, with Irish Americans exerting an influence disproportionate to their numbers while challenging traditional narratives of race, assimilation, and power. This interdisciplinary course uses historical and literary sources to explore themes such as migration, nationalism, religion, labor, and culture, offering a nuanced view of the Irish American story. 

Advanced Studies Latin America

Latin American History will look at the region from the colonial period to the present day. We will focus on the 19th and 20th centuries, from the creation of new nations to their movement into the modern world. The region is vital to our understanding of the modern world and as our direct neighbor to the south, the connections between the USA and Latin America will be explored. We will look at the region through political, social, and economic means. Intrinsic to our study will be the many different voices that have played a role in shaping the region. Prerequisite: Open to students in the fourth, fifth, and sixth form with departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies in Notable Americans: Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the US is a study in contradictions who has left a legacy of enduring oratory. This course will center around reading and analyzing Lincoln’s speeches and letters. Using primary sources to better understand Lincoln, the Antebellum Era, the Civil War and Reconstruction through his own words, and those at times falsely attributed to him. Prerequisite: open to students in the Fifth and Sixth Forms with completion of US History and departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies Psychology 

This course acquaints students with the systematic and deep study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings. This course encourages intense focus on theories and findings in the following areas: brain biology and metabolism, neurology, learning, memory, perception, social development, personality formation, and abnormal psychology. It also allows students to experience material covered in the texts through in-class demonstrations and out-of-class activities. One major goal of AS Psychology is to develop proficiency and critical application of foundational psychological principles. Prerequisite: For Fifth and Sixth Form students with departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies Rome I 

This course will provide an in-depth look at the transformation of Republican Rome to Imperial Rome. Starting with a look at the structure of the Roman Republic, we will then jump forward to look at Rome’s conflict with Carthage and the impact Rome’s expansion had on the Republic. Our study of this period will rely heavily on reading translations of the primary source material. We will use the writings of Polybius, Cicero, and others as our main textual guides, but will also look at what material culture can provide. In addition, we will look at the rich scholarly debate on this period and how this period is relevant in our modern lives. Prerequisite:: Open to students in the fourth, fifth, and sixth form with departmental approval. 

Advanced Studies Rome II

This course will focus on the Roman Empire. Picking up where Rome: Republic to Empire leaves off, the Julio-Claudian dynasty will be the starting place. The essential question that this course will look toward is the decline and fall of the empire. This question was immortalized in Edward Gibbon’s narrative and is often repeated in the current news cycle in comparison to the US. While there are many primary sources to investigate for this time period the focus will be on historiography. The first part of the course will be looking at the empire through Roman eyes through primary sources (material culture and written). After establishing a general narrative, the second part of the course will be a look at different interpretations of the decline and fall and questioning if we should even consider the events as a fall. Prerequisite: open to students in the fifth and sixth forms with completion of US History and departmental approval. 

AS Tibet the Roof of the World 

This course delves into Tibet's history, focusing on its independence, religion-political relationship, and co- existence within China since 1950. It aims to develop skills in considering multiple perspectives, textual analysis, and continuity understanding. 

Advanced Studies in U.S. Women’s History

The untold story in US History is the story of women. From Anne Hutchinson to Progressive Era Reformers to the feminists of the 1960s, American resiliency and heroism have been embodied by women — and too often without proper recollection. Through the study of key women and social-political movements throughout American history, this course strives to introduce students to the pivotal roles that women have played in American history and better shaped their context for the state of women’s affairs today. Prerequisite: Completion or concurrent study of US History.