History

Available to: Grade 12 students

In this broad survey of economics, students learn foundational economic concepts, microeconomics, macroeconomics, global/international economics, and personal financial management. Students also engage in a range of projects in order to study, analyze, and dissect contemporary trends in American business, society, and politics from an economic perspective. Students develop analytical and comprehension skills to establish a basic understanding of the complex financial and economic world in which we live.

Available to: Grade 12 students

Philosophy helps develop one’s moral imagination in ways necessary to meet contemporary challenges and opportunities concerning the promotion of the global common good. This class will proceed with the assumption that philosophical claims—e.g., about human nature, our sociality, and its normative implications—are constantly being made throughout our world, and that it is the task of the student of philosophy to uncover and examine such claims. As such, this course attempts to promote ethical reasoning and reflection, in order to help prepare students to become responsible global citizens. This can be problematic insofar as our limited experiences of the world, along with inherent psychological limitations, make it difficult for us to envision the global implications of our actions and decisions. Philosophical reflection helps in this respect since it has, almost since its inception, encouraged us to expand these limits in order to consider as nearly as possible the global (or even universal) implications of ideas and actions. The whole point of philosophy, in this view, is to consider things as much as possible in terms of their relations to everything else and to allow such considerations to challenge one’s preconceived notions of common sense and social custom. Through both reading great works in the history of philosophy and an emphasis on critical, open-ended discussion, this course will attempt to develop students’ moral imaginations by encouraging them genuinely to consider multiple, often contradictory views and to examine their own most deeply held beliefs.

Available to: Grade 12 students

By an amazing series of historical accidents, there grew in America a musical culture that provided the soundtrack for most of the world for most of the last century. This soundtrack ranges across a vast spectrum: blues, ragtime, jazz, country, rock, rhythm & blues, rap – all were born here. Each has its own more-focused spectrum of styles. Each was born of the multicultural stew that is American history and reflects its roots in historical immigration and migration, the painful facts of slavery, the eventful meeting of cultures and people in American cities and in the American countryside. This course will look at the roots of our music in our historical experience, and listen to a vast range of traditional, popular, formal, and experimental musical forms. It is as much about the music as it is about the history; students will be encouraged to bring their own musical experience to bear as we look at our rhythmic, harmonic, and lyrical past: guitars, harmonicas, flutes and kazoos are welcome.

Available to: Grade 12 students

This class examines nearly every important philosophical school in what we know as the “western” or European tradition, as well as some non-western ideas, and primarily examines the areas of philosophy known as ontology, epistemology, and semantics: the quest for what is “really real,” what we can know about it, and what we can say about it. We concentrate on the use of logic, the nature of language, and how our ideas mirror reality – or don’t. You will come away from the course with heightened ability to detect logical flaws in arguments, and to understand that irresolvable differences of opinion often derive not from differences in fact but from different mental paradigms. Informally, we often say, “I disagree, but I understand your point of view”; you will be able to understand other points of view much more systematically. And you will be much more literate citizens of your culture. There is usually no final truth in philosophical issues; in fact, the truthfulness of positions in this field often depends on the skill and elegance of their presentation. For this reason, philosophers throughout history have commonly been derided as “sophists” – mere crafty manipulators of language. Nevertheless, there are philosophical arguments that have more meaning for us: these make the swarming confusion of the world more intelligible, or at least more tolerable. This may be the “wisdom” to which the Greek word sophia refers. Also, you will begin to see that there are mysteries about language itself that do much to control the way we think about even very simple concepts. You will also find that common sense is not the simple, objective thing we intuitively take it to be.

This course will build a foundational understanding of America’s civil and criminal legal fields, foundational Supreme Court rulings, and the historical roots of revolutionary conflict stemming from interpretations of justice. Incorporating practical civic literacy, legal competency, and real-world application, students will have the ability to analyze the complexities found in the justice system. The curriculum includes case studies, debates, mock trials, and role-play exercises that will offer tangible application to help students navigate a law-saturated society and provide a window for those interested in pursuing a future in the law. In addition, we will dive into historical events to explore the legal (and often revolutionary) streams that have cultivated conflict in America.

Type: honors

Available to: qualified grade 11 and grade 12 students, see placement requirements link above

Creative expression is at the heart of what it means to be human. To better understand the human experience across space and through time, this course surveys global history from prehistory to the present through a diverse collection of works of art and architecture. Students cultivate their understanding of art within its broader historical context and gain fluency in a specific vocabulary of art analysis as they explore concepts of culture and cultural interactions, theories and interpretations of art, the impact of materials, processes, and techniques of art making. Immersing themselves in the diverse cultural productions of societies from Africa, the Pacific, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, students explore how and why works of art function for those who create them, use them, and view them. They consider such issues as patronage, sex, race, and gender, politics, religion, class, ethnicity, artistic intention, and audience as they grow their skills in art historical analysis. Extensive readings, discussion of visual sources, independent research, frequent assessments, and field trips to local museums help hone students’ ability to synthesize sophisticated visual, written and verbal material to prepare for the AP examination.

Type: honors

Available to: qualified grade 12 students

AP Economics is a yearlong course that focuses on how economic decisions are made within national economic systems as a whole. This course covers the major topics of contemporary macroeconomic thought, including economic fundamentals, fiscal and monetary policy, long-term economic growth, and international trade. To expose students to real world economic applications, students collaborate in small groups to study and develop solutions to several contemporary economic challenges, including in the areas of housing, water, food, and energy. This course is designed to expose students to the intellectual environment and demands of a college level course. It is a fast-paced, content-driven class with high expectations. The course aims to prepare students for the AP Macroeconomics examination.