12th Grade History Courses

Seniors study history following one of two paths. The first path is composed of year-long advanced placement course. The second path is composed of seminars in fall, winter, and spring terms.

AP Economics [Full Year]
This course examines fundamental economic tools and employs them to analyze the American and world economies. The course begins with a thorough examination of microeconomic topics, including the market theory of supply and demand, forms of competition, and factors of production. The second half of the year focuses on macroeconomic issues, including the relationship between unemployment and inflation, monetary and fiscal policies, and methods of calculating GDP. Students are expected to work at a rigorous pace. Students are required to sit for at least one AP Exam, either macroeconomics or microeconomics, and may choose to take both exams. Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair

AP Government and Politics [Full Year]
This course involves a detailed study of the important concepts and theories pertaining to US government and politics, a comprehensive understanding of the political process, and the extensive use and analysis of basic data relevant to US government and politics. Students are required to take the AP Exam in May. Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair

Philosophy: Honors [Full Year]
Philosophical inquiry endeavors to find answers to unanswerable questions, such as “Does evil exist?”, “Is knowledge possible, and can it be proven?”, or “Do humans have free will?” As a central element to many subjects, its influence ranges from mathematics, psychology, religion, politics and even economics. In studying philosophy’s impact on these topics, we will read original texts from Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche, Kant, Lao-Tzu, Buddha, as well as our primary text The Norton Introduction to Philosophy.

Psychology [Full Year]
This course will introduce interested students to psychology, the science of behavior and mental processes. The foundations of psychology, including its early history and an exploration of its research methods, will serve as a tools to help students gain an understanding of a variety of topics including sensation and perception, memory and learning, individual development, and emotion. Students will also have an opportunity to delve into several subsets of psychology such as studies in personality, sexuality and gender, social psychology, and clinical psychology. Ultimately, students taking this course will finish the year with an understanding of how behavior is studied, as well as how principals of psychology can apply to further educational or career goals.

Dollars & Sense: Practical Economics and Personal Finance [Fall]
Is budgeting a hassle or a necessity? Is debt always bad or when and how can it be good? How can you make credit cards helpful instead of harmful? When do you need insurance? In addition to saving and investing, this course will introduce students to the economic way of thinking and practical, personal finance through various media. Sources may include recent popular works such as Freakonomics and The Psychology of Money, material from The National Council of Economic Educators, media articles, and Khan Academy among others. Topics will be determined partially by student interest and current events. We will discuss how economic decision-making helps one achieve goals and promotes happiness.

An Introduction to Economics: Applications and Fallacies [Winter / Spring]
We can’t always have our cake and eat it too. Humans have unlimited wants, but limited resources, so everyone on the planet faces the “economizing problem.” Scarcity forces people to make choices. Ever wonder about the incentives, motivations, and reasoning behind the daily decisions made by people, corporations, and governments? The winter term will focus on microeconomics and individual decision-making. Topics may include a basic overview of supply and demand, the market system, different models of competition, reasons markets fail, and wage determination, among others. The spring term focus will broaden to a general overview of macroeconomics. Topics here may include unemployment and inflation, the basics of monetary and fiscal policy, the government’s role in the economy, and international trade. Students will apply what they learn as they discuss and debate current and historic economic topics such as healthcare, wage disparity, the national debt, and many commonly accepted beliefs that may or may not survive scrutiny. There is no prerequisite or math requirement for this course.

The Atlantic Slave Trade [Fall]
This course focuses on the economic, social, cultural and political history of the Atlantic slave trade. The Atlantic Slave Trade examines four hundred years of West and East African experiences, as well as all the American colonies and republics that obtained slaves from Africa. Additionally, the course places the slave trade in the context of world trade and examines the role it played in the growing relationship between Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Modern Middle Eastern History [Winter / Spring]
This course analyzes post-World War I Middle Eastern history, from the Ottoman and Egyptian reforms, through the challenge of Western imperialism, to the Iranian Revolution, the Gulf War and the War on Terrorism. After introducing students to the region’s history from the origins of Islam in the seventh century, the course focuses on the past two centuries of profound and often dramatic change. Particular emphasis is placed on the region’s political, social, and cultural history.

The Civil War [Fall]
This course examines the political and military events of the Civil War era, while analyzing the important social and economic developments in the United States during the 19th century. The course identifies the crises, changes, and transformations that defined America in the years between the Mexican War and Reconstruction. The course follows the thematic outline of James McPherson’s text Battle Cry of Freedom. Students will read primary sources and historical narratives.

Twentieth Century War [Winter / Spring]
This course focuses on World War I, World War II, and the Cold War, with an emphasis on the causes and effects of warfare and the conflicts between communism and democracy. The course will examine the major battles and military operations of the various wars; and the social, political, economic, psychological, and cultural effects of war. World War I focus issues include Bismarck’s diplomatic system, blame for the war, new military technologies, and the nature of trench warfare. World War II focus issues include the rise of Hitler, American isolationism and involvement, the development and use of the atomic bomb, and the dawn of the Atomic Age. The Cold War focus issues include post-World War II American and Soviet foreign policy, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Kennedy and Khrushchev, Reagan and Gorbachev, and the fall of the Soviet Empire.