History

Ninth grade examines the history of the United States, beginning with an exploration of pre-colonial societies. Emphasis is placed on analyzing key themes that have driven events in U.S. history and developing an understanding of the connections between historical events and contemporary American society. Units of study include: the Colonial Era and independence; the U.S. Constitution and the formation of government; slavery; sectionalism and westward expansion; the Civil War and Reconstruction; industrialization and the Gilded Age; the Progressive Era; world wars and the Great Depression; and the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement.

Tenth grade examines the modern world, beginning with a brief overview of the Enlightenment and the French and Haitian Revolutions. Students explore how the ideas of the Enlightenment and these revolutions spread and changed the course of history. Themes covered include the formation of nation-states and the rise of nationalism, imperialism, decolonization and globalization. Units of study include revolutions, industrialism, imperialism and 20th and 21st century legacies.

A hallmark of the Prep School is its emphasis on individual students and their interests. Starting in ninth grade, students have access to a wide range of electives in art, music, theater, technology and physical education. As they advance through high school, they gain more autonomy in selecting their courses. By their junior and senior years, they create their entire academic programs in all subjects, including English, history, math, science, world languages and other elective courses. This approach fosters engaged, successful and independent graduates prepared for the next educational step in their lives. The flexible elective system ensures that no two academic years are the same. 

Here is a sampling of our history & social science electives:

• 20/20 Vision: A Retrospective on 1920s America
• After the Trauma: Truth, Memory & Reconciliation
• The Great Migration: The Epic Story of a Nation Remade
• The Vietnam Wars
• Food Politics: Poisoned for Profit
• I ♥️ NY: History of New York City I & II
• Macroeconomics and Microeconomics
• History of Covert Operations
• The Crown: A Historical Look at Monarchy
• Animism to Zoroastrianism: The History of Religion
• Witches & Werewolves: Monstrous & Magical History
• Rewriting the Rules: Constitutional Amendment Throughout American History
• Constitutional Law

AP Human Geography introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use and alteration of Earth’s surface. The content is presented thematically around the discipline’s subfields: economic geography, cultural geography, political geography and urban geography. This approach is spatial and problem-oriented. Students engage in reading and interpreting geographic models, digital maps and graphic data.

AP Psychology introduces students to the science of mind and behavior, with a strong emphasis on understanding the scientific methods that allow psychologists to test their theories empirically. Assessing the obstacles faced by a science whose original subject — the mind — eludes objective description is a central learning goal. This goal includes a critical awareness of how the science of the brain contributes to the modern understanding of our mental functions and the laws of our behavior. Students learn about consciousness and unconscious mental processes; how humans perceive their environments and emotions; how they learn, think and remember; and how our cognitive and social abilities — and needs — develop through life. They also learn how to describe and explain differences in personality, how to assess psychological disorders and how therapists attempt to treat them. By the end of the class, students have acquired the knowledge typically covered in an introductory psychology course.

AP U.S. History is designed to be equivalent to a two-semester introductory college course in U.S. History. Students examine the political, diplomatic, economic, social, intellectual, ideological and cultural history and development of the United States from 1491 to today. It is a demanding course designed to help students hone their analytical and critical thinking skills. Students learn to assess historical materials, interpret them and consider different points of view and possible biases. They develop skills to arrive at conclusions based on an informed analysis of the data presented and to articulate reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing.

AP World History: Modern spans the significant events and developments of world history from 1200 CE to the present. After a foundational unit on the Neolithic Revolution, the rise of world religions and the early classical civilizations, the course focuses on the Mongols and the Columbian Exchange in setting up industrialization and the modern era. Focusing on broad patterns of history across both time and space, this course is designed to be equivalent to a two-semester introductory college course. It employs the same skills, practices and methods used by historians. Students analyze primary and secondary sources, develop historical arguments, and make comparisons and connections across themes and chronological periods as outlined by the College Board.

Created by our talented faculty based on their specific expertise and passion, this seminar reflects the latest thinking in the fields of international relations, history and political science. Each year, students analyze a topic carefully selected by the History Department, exploring it as a historical phenomenon through the lens of international relations. Previous topics have included genocide, migration, the future of Europe, petroleum and water, global health, and Putin in the 21st century. At the beginning of the year, students read foundational texts that provide a comprehensive overview of prominent thought in international relations, history and political science. These sources offer a framework for exploring the subject matter covered in the course.

Throughout the year, students participate in meaningful research activities, essay-writing assignments and class activities centered around seminar-style discussions. They engage in collaborative and active learning; hone critical thinking skills through discussion, argumentation, debate, information literacy, planning and strategy, project creation and management; apply creative problem-solving; gain confidence in inquiry; and develop a personal voice through research writing and oral communication. Although the seminar has a different thematic focus each year, the objectives remain the same.