History & Social Sciences

(2) Semester Course: 2.5 credits/semester

Open to:  Grade 9 

Prerequisites:  Teacher/Counselor Recommendation

Foundations in Modern World History is a college prep course that strives to help students make connections between the events of the 19th and 20th centuries and today.  Students will develop a foundational understanding of the political spectrum, appreciate the effects of industrialization, and analyze a variety of factors that influence interactions among societies.  It is hoped that students leave the course better able to understand the world in which they live. In addition to ensuring that the content is accessible to all learners, a focus of this course will be providing the necessary supports to develop students’ writing skills, reading comprehension and analytical skills, as well as strategies for effective research.

(2) Semester Course: 2.5 credits/semester

Open to:  Grade 9

Prerequisites:  None

 This course in Modern World History is intended to help students learn about the processes that have shaped today’s world. While studying 19th and 20th centuries, students will develop a foundational understanding of the political spectrum, appreciate the effects of industrialization, and analyze a variety of factors that influence interactions among societies. During the first semester we will investigate how nationalism, competition, and the lack of self-determination influenced conflict.  Throughout the second semester we discuss the extent to which  economic development, international cooperation, and self-determination can be utilized to create and maintain peace.  It is hoped that students leave the course better able to understand the world in which they live. In addition to the course content, this course develops students’ writing skills, reading comprehension and analytical skills, as well as strategies for effective research.  This is done by engaging with a variety of primary and secondary source documents so that students can develop confidence in creating their own understandings.

(2) Semester Course: 2.5 credits/semester

Open to:  Grade 10

Prerequisites: Teacher/Counselor Recommendation

 Foundations in US HIstory I is a college prep discussion and activity-based course that explores United States History from the early Colonial Era through the legacy of a failed Reconstruction. 

A major focus of the course is on themes and issues that endure across American History -  

What is the role of government in an economy and in the lives of its citizens? What is the ideal balance between the Federal and State governments? To what extent does America live up to the values and principles stated in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution? How should the government balance the rights of the individual in relation to the rights of the group? How does a country pursue its national interests while respecting the diversity of the continent? 

In addition to ensuring that the content is accessible to all learners, this course provides the necessary supports to facilitate the development of historical reading, writing, speaking, and research skills.  Throughout the course, students analyze primary and secondary source documents, participate in discussion seminars, and attempt to draw connections between America’s history and the events of today.

Instructional scaffolding will be provided as students complete a student-led civics research project that follows the six stages of actions civics and is culturally responsive in design and implementation.

Open to:  Grade 10                                    (2) Semester Course - 2.5 credits /semester

Prerequisites:  Modern World History

This discussion and activity-based course explores United States History from the early Colonial Era (1620) to the end of Reconstruction (1876). In the first half of the course, units of study include, Colonial America; The Revolutionary Era; The Constitution and Critical Period; and The Early Republic.  In the second half of the course, units of study include, Nationalism and Sectionalism; Jacksonian Democracy and Reform; Manifest Destiny; the Civil War and Reconstruction; and The Gilded Age.

A major focus of the course is on themes and issues that endure across American History -  

What is the role of government in an economy and in the lives of its citizens? What is the ideal balance between the Federal and State governments? To what extent does America live up to the values and principles stated in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution? How should the government balance the rights of the individual in relation to the rights of the group? How does a country pursue its national interests while respecting the diversity of the continent? 

Throughout the course, students analyze primary source documents, photographs and political cartoons, participate in debates and discussion seminars and attempt to draw connections between America’s history and events of today, with the goal of learning and applying some “lessons of history”. 

 2 Semester Course    2.5 credits per semester

Open to:  Grade 10  

Prerequisites:  Modern World History and teacher recommendation

The first part of a two-year sequence, this course is taught at a college level and follows the Advanced Placement United States History curriculum. Students will be prepared for and are expected to take the Advanced Placement United States History Examination in May of their junior year, which may allow them to be awarded credit or a course waiver in college. This course covers a broad range of political, social, economic, and cultural trends from Pre-Columbian origins through the end of the nineteenth century. 

In addition to historical content, emphasis is placed on the development of historical reasoning skills and disciplinary practices. The intent is “to encourage students to become apprentice historians who are able to use historical facts and evidence in the service of creating deeper conceptual understandings of critical developments in US History.” Due to the vast amount of material that must be covered, the pace is rigorous, and homework is consistent. Students are required to read a college text and a variety of challenging supplementary materials including primary sources and the writings of major historians. A great deal of emphasis is placed on student initiative and independence, and class time and assessments focus primarily on sophisticated analysis. 

(2) Semester Course 2.5 credits/semester

Open to:  Grade 11 

Prerequisites:  Teacher/Counselor Recommendation

This discussion and activity-based course explores United States History from the late 19th century to the present. Units of study include, The Gilded Age; The Progressive Era; American Imperialism; The Roaring 20s & The Great Depression; America and World War II; The Early Cold War and the 1950’s; The Great Society and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s; The Crises of the late 60s and 70s; The Resurgence of Conservatism; and Modern America.

Each unit will focus on a major question about American society and culture, drawing parallels from historical eras to the present day, such as -  

What makes an economic system fair? Has and does America put its principles into practice in its interactions with other countries? To what extent is it the responsibility of the government to help its citizens during a crisis? Has Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dream been achieved?

In addition to ensuring that the content is accessible to all learners, this course provides the necessary supports to facilitate the development of historical reading, writing, speaking, and research skills. Above all, crafting well-structured arguments supported by clearly connected evidence is emphasized. To that end, students will encounter evidence from a wide variety of sources, from primary and secondary written documents, to political cartoons and propaganda posters, to raw data. Throughout the course, students will engage in project-based learning, participate in debates and discussion seminars, and attempt to draw connections between America’s history and events of today, with the goal of learning and applying some “lessons of history.”

(2) Semester Course 2.5 credits/semester

Open to:  Grades 11

Prerequisites:  US History I

This discussion and activity-based course explores United States History from the late 19th century to the present. Units of study include, The Gilded Age; The Progressive Era; America Emerging as a World Power; America and World War I; The 1920’s in America; The Great Depression and the New Deal; America and World War II; The Early Cold War and the 1950’s; The Great Society and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s; The Vietnam and Watergate Eras; The Resurgence of Conservatism; The 1990’s in America; and America in the 21st Century. 

 A major focus of the course is on themes and issues that endure across American History -  

What is the role of government in an economy and in the lives of its citizens? What is it to be a just society? To what extent does America live up to the values and principles stated in  the Declaration of independence and the US Constitution? How do we balance the rights of the individual in relation to the rights of the group? How does a country pursue its national interests in an increasingly globalized world? To what extent is war effective as an instrument of public policy? 

Throughout the course, students analyze primary source documents, photographs and political cartoons, participate in debates and discussion seminars and attempt to draw connections between America’s history and events of today, with the goal of learning and applying some “lessons of history”. 

Semester Course 2.5 credits

Open to:  Grades 11

Prerequisites:  US History I and teacher recommendation

The second part of a two-year sequence, this course is taught at a college level and follows the Advanced Placement United States History curriculum. Students will be prepared for and are expected to take the Advanced Placement United States History Examination in May, which may allow them to be awarded credit or a course waiver in college. The course covers a broad range of political, social, economic, and cultural trends from the Gilded Age of the late 19th century through 21st century trends in American society and politics. 

In addition to historical content, emphasis is placed on the development of historical reasoning skills and disciplinary practices. The intent is “to encourage students to become apprentice historians who are able to use historical facts and evidence in the service of creating deeper conceptual understandings of critical developments in US History.” Due to the vast amount of material that must be covered, the pace is rigorous, and homework is consistent. Students are required to read a college text and a variety of challenging supplementary materials including primary sources and the writings of major historians. A great deal of emphasis is placed on student initiative and independence, and class time and assessments focus primarily on sophisticated analysis.

(2) Semester Course 2.5 credits/semester

Open to: Grades 11-12                                                                    

Prerequisites:  Teacher recommendation

AP World History takes a “big picture” approach to studying the development of and interaction between societies around the globe.  This approach focuses less on fine details and allows students to better understand the arc of human history through understanding larger themes and broad trends over time.  The course asks students to analyze how different themes have continued to influence human history, but how those influences have evolved and changed over time.  Comparative analysis is a regular aspect of the course, as is the use of primary and secondary sources. 

Advanced Placement World History is a college-level course open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors that prepares students to take the national Advanced Placement Examination in May of each year which may allow them to be awarded credit or a course waiver in college.  Numerous short papers and essays are assigned.  Classroom participation is a must.

Semester Course 2.5 credits

Open to:  Grades 10 -12

Prerequisites:  None

This multidisciplinary course applies themes from history, political science, economics, sociology and psychology in investigating how societies can subtly support and sometimes actively participate in genocide. The course focuses on the Nazi Holocaust as a primary case study, but students will also examine other historical genocides. The study of racism, anti-semitism and prejudice will also invite exploration of issues of justice, individual choice and responsibility and the creation of inclusive, humane societies.

This course is highly interactive and is built around discussions and written reflections based on a variety of sources. Students will be encouraged to make connections between events in history and the moral choices they make in their own lives. The curriculum from the national nonprofit organization Facing History and Ourselves serves as a guide for the course progression.

Semester Course 2.5 credits

Open to:  Grades 10 - 12 

Prerequisites:  None

This course will introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth's surface. Students apply spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. The curriculum reflects the goals of the 2012 National Geography Standards.   This course may serve as preparation for an upcoming Advanced Placement course on Human Geography.

(2) Semester Course 2.5 credits/semester

Open to:  Grades 10 - 12 

Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation

This reading and discussion-based course affords students the opportunity to examine broad social issues and specific events of the day from both national and international perspectives, while also nurturing habits of mind that will aid students in productively engaging in public discourse and decision-making as adults. This course will increase global awareness while also guiding students in becoming informed citizens of the world, with a lifelong interest in the news. This specifically addresses a key element of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks: "The primary purpose of a history and social science education is to prepare students to have the knowledge and skills to become thoughtful and active participants in a democratic society and a complex world."

(2) Semester Course 2.5 credits/semester

Open to:  Grade  12 

Prerequisites:  Teacher recommendation

A student who envisions taking Advanced Placement US Government and Politics may take the one-semester course entitled Law in America, but may not take that course concurrent with Advanced Placement Government.

Advanced Placement US Government and Politics is a college-level course open to seniors. The course prepares students to take the national Advanced Placement Examination in May of each school year, which may allow them to be awarded credit or a course waiver in college. Course topics include the constitutional underpinnings of United States Government, political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, interest groups and mass media, institutions of national government, public policy, civil rights and civil liberties.  In this course, a great deal of emphasis is placed on student initiative and scholarship.

Semester Course 2.5 credits

Open to:  Grades 11-12 

Prerequisites:  None

A student who envisions taking Advanced Placement US Government and Politics may take this course, but not concurrent with Advanced Placement Government.

This one-semester introductory law class examines jurisprudence (“The philosophy and science of law”) in the context of, 1) constitutional law, 2) the role of the three branches of government in creating, interpreting and enforcing laws, 3) civil rights and civil liberties, 4) criminal law and the criminal justice system, and 5) civil law. Students will participate in numerous classroom activities, including informal discussions, formal Socratic Seminars and the research and dissection of actual court cases. As time allows, current events pertaining to issues of law in America will be explored.

(2) Semester Course - 2.5 credits/credit

Open to:  Grade 12

Prerequisites:  Teacher recommendation

A student who envisions taking Advanced Placement Psychology should not take the Introduction to Psychology course.

Advanced Placement Psychology is designed to replicate a college introductory psychology class. Students will be prepared to take the Advanced Placement Psychology Examination, which may allow them to be awarded credit or a course waiver in college.  The expectation is that all students will take that examination, administered in May of each year. Topics include: Research Methodology; The Biological Foundations of Behavior; Sensation and Perception; States of Consciousness; Learning Theory; Memory; Thought and Language; Developmental Psychology; Motivation and Emotion; Personality Theory; Assessment and Individual Differences; Abnormal Psychology; Treatment of Psychological Disorders; and Social Psychology.

Semester Course /  2.5 credits

Open to:  Grades 11-12

Prerequisites:  None

A student who envisions taking Advanced Placement Psychology should not take the Introduction to Psychology course.

In this course students will receive a wide-ranging introduction to psychology - the systematic study of human behavior and mental processes. Students are encouraged to actively participate on a daily basis; this is a discussion and demonstration based course. Topics include: Research Methodology, The Biological Foundations of Behavior; Sensation and Perception; States of Consciousness; Learning Theory; Memory; Thought and Language; Developmental Psychology; Motivation and Emotion; Personality Theory; Assessment and Individual Differences; Abnormal Psychology; Treatment of Psychological Disorders; and, Social Psychology. Time permitting, students may also examine elements of Sports Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology and other selected topics. 

Semester Course - 2.5 credits

Open to: Grades 11 - 12

In this course students undertake the systematic study of human society and social interaction. This is a discussion and demonstration driven course that requires active student participation. Students will be consistently asked to think like a sociologist. Topics include, Social Science Theory and Methodology; The Development of Identity; Social Behavior and Interaction; Socialization; Cultural Differences and Commonalities; Social Control and Deviance; Social Inequality; and other selected topic

Semester Course - 2.5 credits

Open to:  Grades 9-12 

Prerequisites: None

Students will be introduced to the basic principles of economics. Students will look at issues through the lens of economic thinking, while better understanding the economic issues and challenges in their own lives and in an increasingly global society. Some topics include scarcity, supply and demand, market structures and business organization, money and banking, investments and the stock market, the role of the government in the economy, and economic globalization. No prior knowledge is required, with an open mind you will learn how decision-making is at the core of economics.

(2) Semester Course - 2.5 credits per semester

Open to:  Grades 11-12

Prerequisites:  None

This two semester elective course covers an exciting though enormous span of history, looking at African rock paintings from 25,000 BCE through Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds from 2010 CE!  By the end of the course, students will be able to identify hundreds of works of art and styles of architecture from all over the world and have a greater appreciation for many different cultures and their art.  Students will also gain an understanding of why people create art and how it reflects what is going on at the time in that culture.  In addition to being fun and interesting this course also prepares students for the AP Art History Exam.

 Semester Course /  2.5 credits

Open to:  Grades 9-12

Prerequisites:  None

This seminar is designed to allow in-depth examination of selected topics from the history of art (for example: images of power, the human form, protest art, etc.).  The course may focus on a region, time period, artistic movement or a single artist, yet it may also cover the thematic study of artworks from multiple regions or periods.  Different topics are chosen each time the course is offered and emphasis may be on Ancient, Medieval, Modern, American, Asian, African, or Indian Art, etc.  This course is both for people who are curious about Art History as well as those already familiar with it as this is not a survey course (covering all periods/culture) but a chance to focus in on specific themes and art historical periods!  It is for people who love history or love art, or hate both - you’ll end up loving them!  Remember: no previous knowledge of Art History is necessary to take this course! And you are welcome to take it even if you have taken AP Art History.