Successful historians and social scientists engage with their world. They seek to understand human goodness, interpersonal fairness, and social justice. Successful learners in history and the social sciences probe those moments in history, and in their own lives. The best learners will recognize throughout history when the good appears to vanish, allowing injustice, in its many forms, to flourish. Ultimately, successful social scientists become activists, advocating for a theory of being, of societies, of economic systems, and of ecology, that promote the good, and the just.
To become successful in this endeavor, 51社区 students must continue to develop their facility with the School鈥檚 Essential Skills. First they must ask good, thought-provoking questions about how the human world works. They must employ research and critical questions skills to understand what has already been learned on the topic. Further, they must consider the perspectives of the multiple stakeholders who are involved in their research. Finally, they must strive to develop their written and oral communication skills, employing responsible research practices, thesis development, and clear, engaging presentation.
The emphasis of this class will be creating a knowledge base in multiple areas of the study of history. The ultimate goal is to have the students be better historians when they finish their coursework. Content work will begin with work on world geography where students will develop a better knowledge of regions, countries and influential topographic features.
The course then moves into work in two major themes. First is an examination of historically influential government and economic systems where ancient world history will be the starting point and the class will examine the development of these systems. The second theme will be world religions where the origins of some of the major world religions will be examined again using their origination point in ancient history as the backdrop for expanded understanding of the complex situations that have arisen around religion in general. Ancient civilizations that will be studied are: Greece, Rome, China, Japan, and the Middle East.
Skill emphasis in this course will be heavily based in communication, critical thinking, and content knowledge acquisition. Students will work to expand their skill sets in each of these areas in order to have a strong foundation as they enter tenth grade.
This class will cover a broad swath of World History content from 1200- Present. It is designed to build on student鈥檚 knowledge and skills from 9th Grade Ancient History.聽 Students will be asked to expand their knowledge of global history and think deeply about the interconnectedness of the world鈥檚 history. The topics and examples in the course are specifically chosen to lend a global perspective rather than a strictly Western view.聽 Events will be broken into units that offer a glimpse into the major developments the world has experienced since 1200.聽 Students should expect to read, take notes, answer prompts, make arguments, support those arguments with evidence, and expand their vocabulary and geographic knowledge throughout the yearlong course.
Designed predominantly for juniors, United States History is a course that provides a thematic investigation of the idea of the American Experiment. The main areas of investigation focus on how the United States changes and experiments with its political system, how it addresses and adapts to the changing social and demographic trends and finally how its interactions with the global world impact the economic realities of its citizens and the world. In this course, students are challenged to develop critical thinking and communication skills. Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to formulate and defend an argument that is supported by historical evidence and logical discussion. Students are also expected to understand connections that others have made between the past and the present, but also be able to make those connections themselves and apply these understandings to their own lives. The core lesson is that the study of history makes a difference in the experiences of today.
Step into the world behind the yellow tape and the judge鈥檚 gavel in Introduction to Criminal Justice, a course designed for those who want to understand how our society truly functions. We move beyond the “true crime” hype to give you a front-row seat to the American Justice System, blending high-level analysis of law and government with high-energy, hands-on training in investigation, defensive tactics, and emergency response. You鈥檒l tackle the tough questions about the history of policing, the ethics of the courtroom, and the realities of corrections through intense class debate and practical exercises. By the end of the year, you鈥檒l not only have the critical thinking skills to navigate complex social issues, but you鈥檒l also have the opportunity to walk away with three college credits through NHTI, giving you a professional head start on a career in law, public service, or criminal justice.
At its core, economics is the study of scarcity and resource allocation, which opens economics to be more than just a study of monetary systems. This course is designed to introduce students to the core concepts of economics. Students will spend time learning not only the聽 fundamental ideas of economics, which include topics such as economic systems, money, and property rights; students will also touch on the basics of micro and macro economics, game theory, and personal finance. While intentionally designed not to be math intensive, a competency with Algebra is required as many of these ideas will utilize formulaic and graph based understanding and calculations. Students will be challenged through unit tests, economic simulations, research papers, and presentations.
This course is designed to provide an insight as to the goings on of the sports industry across the world. Students who have an interest in the professional aspects of sport, outside of playing, will find this course to be a great overview of opportunities and the changes that are occurring in the sports world. This is not just within professional sports as they are regularly considered though, as looks into youth and recreational sports, esports, and the growing professionalism of collegiate athletics will also be reviewed.聽聽
Some areas which will be covered include sports league and franchise structuring, monopoly and antitrust, sports gambling, labor market organization, and the economics of intercollegiate sports.. Students will be challenged through class discussions, unit tests, case study analysis, presentations, and various research projects.
This course is designed to introduce students to both entrepreneurial mindset and the foundational tools used to turn ideas into action. Throughout the course, students explore key frameworks including design thinking and the lean startup model as they learn how to identify problems, generate creative solutions, and develop innovative product or service concepts.
A strong emphasis is placed on ethical and social entrepreneurship, encouraging students to consider the broader impact of business decisions and to design ventures that create value for both customers and communities. Students also develop essential communication skills through storytelling and formal pitch delivery, learning how to clearly and persuasively present their ideas. In addition, the course introduces basic financial modeling to help students understand revenue, costs, and the fundamentals of business sustainability. A unique feature of the class is the opportunity to collaborate as a team in planning and executing the annual Winter Carnival weekend.
Building on the foundational concepts introduced in Entrepreneurship 1, this hands-on class guides students through the full process of launching and operating a real business on campus at 51社区. This class focuses on experiential learning, teaching students to move beyond theory to access seed funding, market their products or services, manage day-to-day business operations, and track financial returns. A key component of the course is learning how to define, track, and analyze Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure business success and inform strategic decisions.
The culminating project for the course is a comprehensive business report that reflects each student鈥檚 entrepreneurial journey. This report will serve as both a reflection and an analysis of their venture, and may include key components such as: an executive summary, ideation & discovery processes, marketing and sales strategy, KPI tracking and performance evaluation, financial statements (including revenue, expenses, and cash flow), and a discussion of challenges, pivots, and lessons learned. Students will also be expected to evaluate the overall success of their business and propose recommendations for future growth or improvement.
In this course, students investigate the study of human mind and behavior, following the model of a college-level introductory course. There is an emphasis on scientific reasoning and analysis of complex human phenomena, as well as on the application of psychological concepts to real-world issues. Major themes of the course are the relationships between brain and behavior, body and mind, nature and nurture. Core topics include the study of the life span development of an individual, and the subfields of cognitive psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology and the study of personality. Students spend additional time reviewing and preparing for the AP Psychology exam, which they take in May.
AP U.S. Government and Politics provides a college-level, nonpartisan introduction to the key political concepts, institutions, policies, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will study foundational documents, landmark Supreme Court decisions, and diverse primary sources to gain a sophisticated understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions and the American electorate.
Beyond theoretical study, the course is designed to foster informed and engaged citizenship. Students will develop the skills necessary to analyze data, evaluate political assertions, and participate in civil discourse regarding the contemporary issues facing our nation. A central component of the AP framework is a required civics project. This hands-on experience allows students to apply course concepts to real-world scenarios. Per school policy, all enrolled students must take the AP U.S. Government & Politics exam in May.
A faster-paced and more challenging version of the standard United States History course (above), this course provides a rigorous intellectual challenge for students with a serious interest in history and demonstrated proficiency in writing and critical thinking. This course mirrors the rigor and expectations of a full-year introductory college course, preparing students for advanced study and the opportunity to earn college credit through success on the College Board AP U.S. History Exam.
The course covers a wide array of historical topics, beginning with Pre-Columbian America and culminating in the most recent events of the 21st century. Students will explore content in both breadth and depth, emphasizing the events, trends, and themes most significant to each era. The course focuses on the mastery of content knowledge, historical thinking skills, critical analysis of primary and secondary sources, and evaluative essay writing. Per school policy, all enrolled students must take the AP U.S. History exam in May.
51社区 students in the Social Sciences emerge from the program with a deeper understanding of their world, a broader perspective of their place in it, their own vision of responsible global citizen, and the rhetorical power to share that vision.
