History

List of 15 items.

• Global Studies

  Global Studies
  (1 credit; open to class 9)
  
  Global Studies examines the multiple factors that shaped the development of societies during the post-classical and early Renaissance eras. Specifically, students will consider the ways in which societies have been transformed by their interactions with others. Additionally, students will consider how modern day challenges, such as human rights and globalization, reflect the experiences of societies and individuals in the past. Students will learn to critically evaluate primary and secondary sources, consider divergent points of view, and demonstrate empathy for others. Students will learn to communicate their ideas effectively and collaborate with others in discussions and presentations. Research and historical essay writing are two of the core priorities of the History Department’s commitment to student development. Establishing a strong foundation in these skills is a central focus of the course. (Formerly known as Global Issues in Historical Context, this course changed names in 2022-23.)

• Modern World History

  Modern World History
  (1 credit; open to class 10)
  
  This course spans the chronological period from the Renaissance to contemporary times. The independence – and interconnection – of European, Asian, African and American historical developments is emphasized throughout the course. Students analyze global cultural, political, socioeconomic, religious and intellectual trends through teacher instruction as well as independent and  collaborative research, examination of primary and secondary sources, and presentations. The ultimate goal of the course is to answer the question: “What forces have shaped the modern world - why is the world the way it is today?”

• United States History (H)

  United States History (H)
  (1 credit; open to class 11)
  
  United States History (H) is a survey course that sets out to examine the development of four major themes since British colonization: the changing role of government, the United States’ place in the world, the impact of change on society, and what it means to be an American. More importantly though, this course engages students in the intellectual discipline of history; students will routinely employ historical methods, processes, and thinking skills throughout the year. Assessments will focus on reading, writing, listening skills and discussion in a variety of ways. A unique feature of this course is the use of the Harvard Business School Case Study Method Project. Throughout the year, students engage deeply with specific events via the case study method to gain a greater understanding of larger historical trends. Successful completion of this require students to demonstrate mastery of group discussions, in-class essays, independent research projects, and presentations.

• AP US History

  AP US History
  (1 credit; open to class 11)
  
  AP United States History is an advanced level course that aims to develop in students both an understanding of the content of U.S. History and a mastery of the thinking skills essential to the study of history. This course challenges students to not simply memorize facts about America’s past but to genuinely engage in the analytical work of history. Specifically, students will develop skills associated with chronological reasoning, comparison,  contextualization, historical argumentation, and interpretation of historical narratives--all skills that could be called upon in a college-level history course. The development of these skills will occur alongside a thorough exploration of the major themes and facts of U.S. History from 1491 to the present day. Additionally, students will engage in frequent collaborative research assignments as well as class discussions, debates, presentations, and a year-long research project.

• Asian Americans: Migrant to Model Minority (H)

  Asian Americans: Migrant to Model Minority (H)
  (1/2 credit; spring semester; open to Class 12)
  
  The History of Asian Americans seeks to build upon the eleventh-grade exploration of “Who has access to the American Dream?” Both junior-level options in history at SJS explore the extent to  which various groups have been included in the American experiment with all the rights and privileges accorded to them under the law. This senior elective sets out to take a closer look at the struggle that various Asian American groups experienced throughout United States History. A deliberate effort will be made to place these experiences in the context of major events studied in 11th grade US History, as it is easy to overlook how these major events impacted various immigrant groups. Special efforts will be made to distinguish varying experiences of immigrant groups from South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia and their generations that followed. With the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, the Constitution clearly documented a modern definition of what it means to be an American. Concepts and clauses within the Amendment will serve as the bar used to measure access throughout. As such, the course will be divided into three chronological periods of time.

• Black Lives in Post-Reconstruction America (H)

  Black Lives in Post-Reconstruction America (H)
  (1/2 credit; fall semester; open to Class 12)
  
  This course sets out to take a closer look at the struggles and triumphs African Americans experienced in the post-Civil War United States. Special attention will be placed on three areas of study. First, the Supreme Court frequently mapped out the turning points that dictated the trajectory of progress, or lack thereof. The course will start by analyzing the landmark decisions that first limited the spirit of Reconstruction, justified Jim Crow, and then paved the road to Brown and beyond. Second, students will read The Autobiography of Malcolm X and analyze Malcolm X’s journey and experience in America. Finally, the course will analyze a selection of twentieth century historiography that analyzes the African American experience from Reconstruction, through Jim Crow, the Black Civil Rights Movement, to the present.

• Economics (H)

  Economics (H)
  (1⁄2 credit; fall or spring semester; open to Class 12)
  
  This course is a semester-long, senior level elective offered by the History Department. It is an economics course designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of both micro and macroeconomic principles while emphasizing the development of analytical thinking skills essential for decision-making in a variety of real-world situations. Through a combination of theoretical frameworks, practical applications, projects, and simulations, students will delve into the core concepts of economics and learn how to approach problems and make informed decisions like economists. The course will serve as a valuable foundation for those wishing to pursue economics or business degrees in the future or for those who want to hone their ability to “think like economists,” critically analyze data, and make informed decisions throughout their lives.

• History, Geopolitics and Economics of Energy (H)

  History, Geopolitics and Economics of Energy (H)
  (1⁄2 credit; fall or spring semester; open to Class 12)
  
  This senior level history elective examines the rise of the petroleum industry, how it has shaped global affairs, and the ways in which the industry is changing in the face of new technologies, energy sources, and revelations about its impact on the planet. The course will be firmly grounded in history, but will include significant attention to political science, public policy, science, economics, finance, and innovation.

• History of Human Networks (H)

  History of Human Networks (H)
  (1/2 credit; fall or spring semester, open to class 12)
  
  This course focuses on the rise of human communities, challenging students to analyze history not as a story of famous people or rival empires but as a web of social networks that shaped the course of human events. This class will cover the cultural, economic, military, and political history of human networks, from hunter-gatherers to modern corporations and protest movements. An interdisciplinary approach will require students to incorporate not only written histories but also indigenous people’s oral myths and scientific theories that account for humans’ social cooperation. This course will explore the development of social networks using a  comparative approach, which will highlight both common and distinctive features of African, Asian, European, American, and global communities throughout human history. 
  
  

• Issues of Justice and Equity in the Twenty-first Century

  Issues of Justice and Equity in the Twenty-first Century
  (1/2 credit; fall or spring semester, open to Class 11-12*)
  
  We will examine contemporary issues of justice and equity including, among other things, same-sex marriage and the law, assisted suicide, patriotism, civil dissent and disobedience, abortion, gun control, death penalty, and race relations. The justice and equity issues will be examined through the lenses of utilitarianism, libertarianism, nationalism, economic markets and their moral limits, “just deserts,” and faith and the common good. Primary source material from specific philosophers and/or ethicists such as Plato, Socrates, Augustine, and Epictetus will also be used. Students will spend a portion of each class identifying specific issues in the news that day and choosing one issue to discuss/argue and resolve using principles of justice and equity. (*Priority enrollment for Class 12 students. This course not available in 2025-2026.)

• Religion and Politics in America

  Religion and Politics in America
  (1/2 credit; fall or spring semester; open to Class 11-12*)
  
  This course will begin with the colonial period and look closely at the impact of religion on the development of the country into the 21st century. The focus will be a comparative and historical study of the impact of religions on American culture to gain an understanding of the ways in which religion has shaped America. There will be an emphasis on current events and the way 21st Century religious beliefs in America permeate and impact contemporary social, cultural, and political views. (*Priority enrollment for Class 12 students. This course not available in 2025-2026.)

• Psychology (H)

  Psychology (H)
  (1⁄2 credit; fall or spring semester; open to Class 12)
  
  This course explores the field of Psychology. The primary focus will be on cognitive processes in broader social contexts. Close attention will be given to early stages of identity, including various developmental theories on learning, intelligence, personality, emotion, motivation, and stress. These theories will be explored through analysis of personal experiences and psychological research of current social trends.

• A Tale of Two Vladimirs: 20th Century Russia (H)

  A Tale of Two Vladimirs: 20th Century Russia (H)
  (1/2 credit; fall or spring semester; open to class 12)
  
  How do you criticize a totalitarian government and find a life for yourself within its confines? This class will study the long twentieth century in Russia from Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin and examine the totalitarian governments put in place partly through the lens of Soviet and Post-Soviet literature. The class will focus on studying political history, social history, and literature to understand what the Russian people experienced through the long century. Throughout the course, novels will be read to help highlight how authors protested the injustices they witnessed in the Soviet regime. This will be an honors-level history elective with an emphasis on analyzing primary sources and the novels through graded discussions and response papers. The final focus of the class will be the question: was Putin inevitable?

• US Government and Politics (H)

  US Government and Politics (H)
  (1/2 credit; fall or spring semester; open to Class 12)
  
  This one semester course studies the constitutional structure of the United States government. Using current and recent events in American politics, students will analyze the ways in which competing ideologies, election campaigns, political parties, and the media are influenced by and in turn shape the American political system.

• US History Post-1945 (H)

  US History Post-1945 (H)
  (1/2 credit, fall or spring semester, open to Class 12)
  
  The United States exited World War II with newfound optimism, bolstered by a booming economy and unprecedented superpower status. In the subsequent decades, the nation would vie with the Soviet Union for international supremacy abroad as it waged an ongoing domestic struggle to live up to its own ideals. In this course, students will analyze and explore the events, legacies, and myths of post-World War II America. For the post-World War II generation, the future brought hopes for a forward-thinking, more inclusive America. While much of the period is remembered fondly for diplomatic prestige, the comforts of the affluent society, and the success of multiple rights-based movements, it was also  plagued by strife, ranging from mysterious, violent conflicts abroad to inner-city riots at home to the untimely deaths of several public figures who symbolized the young generation’s ambitions. As this course will demonstrate, the postwar decades were complex and ever-changing, a period where struggle and disillusionment often tempered social, cultural, and political change.