Upper School Global History and Social Sciences
What is History? How does History help us understand today’s world? Whose History are we studying? The Global History and Social Sciences curriculum provides students with the opportunity to learn about History from global perspectives, looking at, analyzing, and thinking critically about primary and non-U.S. sources. Our students also examine the struggles the U.S. faced in its pursuit of the ideals of justice and equality for all —while also exploring topics and issues experienced by marginalized and underrepresented groups who traditionally receive little attention in history books. Identifying and alleviating gaps in the historical narrative provides opportunities for students to learn about others’ lived experiences. The global dimension of the curriculum demonstrates the wide variety of themes students will deal with in each course. The Global History and Social Sciences student is a critical thinker with an awareness and understanding of religious, political, social, cultural, and economic issues. Differentiation, project-based learning, and the use of technology are also important parts of the curriculum.
Requirements
30 credits are required for graduation.
Honors
In grades 10 through 12, students may elect to take their Global History and Social Science course at the honors level. Honors students are expected to be leaders in class discussions, to maintain a high level of enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity, and to demonstrate a superior level of critical analysis in all written work and on honors-specific prompts on assessments. Earning Honors credit requires that after electing Honors and agreeing to the honors policy, that the student continues to live up to these expectations.
History FAQs
Currently, we have students doing a deep dive into voting and polling data, immigration advocacy, analysis of the current presidential candidate debates, and podcasting through Student Directed Projects (SDP). In their work, students are able to focus on interests that go beyond the history classroom. We also have students involved in the Massachusetts History Bowl and Bee competitions (this year, we placed 2nd in the Massachusetts State Championships). In the past two years, students have submitted work to competitions like the NPR Student Podcast Challenge and the JFK Profiles in Courage Essay writing contests.
We use a variety of tools to cultivate student driven research, including:
- Credo
- Boston Public Library
- Google Scholar
- Gale
Required Global History & Social Science Courses
Global History I: U.S. History
Global History I: U.S. History
Nation and Nationalism
From the beginning, the identity and values of the U.S. nation were complex. This course looks closely at the distance between the ideals embedded in our founding documents and the lived realities of people’s lives. Students will investigate the founding and early growth of the nation to understand our modern political and social
… landscape better. What policies and practices allowed for the nation to expand? How are they upheld, or not, today? Who were the voices for progress, and how did they define that progress? When the U.S. divisively upheld slavery, what communities instead brought us closer to ‘a nation of the people, by the people, for the people’?The Age of Reforms
From Sectionalism, including Reconstruction, through the suffrage movement, this course examines the root causes of the political, social, economic, and cultural reform movements in the United States. How successful were those reformers, and how did some of their objectives become part of mainstream political discourse? Using multiple perspectives and sources, students will investigate the people and movements that helped shape the United States and assess the effectiveness of those movements.
[read more]Global History II: U.S. and World History
Global History II: U.S. and World History
From Power to Superpower (Required)
From the Spanish-American War to the end of World War II, this course will explore the evolution of the U.S. as a global superpower, its territorial expansion, its foreign policy, and its involvement in different wars and conflicts. We will examine how governments garner popular support for military and humanitarian interventions
… abroad and how the outcomes of these actions have affected and been affected by political decision-making and geopolitical interests.A Time for Change
This course provides students with a bird’s eye view of American society through the lens of significant events in the 20th and 21st centuries that have affected and continue to challenge the nation and the world. Students will explore multiple narratives and experiences of different groups in America throughout the past century, considering why some stories are told instead of others. Students will explore themes of change and evolution in politics (role of government, gender, race), culture (music and art), economics, and technology and examine how the U.S. developed as the nation it is today.
[read more]Global History III: World History
Global History III: World History
Empires, Colonization, Resistance and Independence
Empires have shaped the political and cultural landscape of the world. They are the embodiment of power in policy and practice. How did they first form, and how have they evolved? Who are the people across history who have stood up to these colonizing giants? How did these leaders create movements
… that reimagined their world in the shadow of empires? And what are the legacies of colonization and imperialism that continue to manifest in our everyday lives?Juniors are encouraged to take a second term of history and can choose from any of the available History electives.
[read more]Global History & Social Science Electives
Advanced History: Independent Research (Honors)
Advanced History: Independent Research (Honors)
An intensive, inquiry-based course that will require students to pursue an advanced independent course of research on topics of their choice. Students in this class will be expected to work through several multi-step research assignments, including producing research-based papers and presentations and participating in research projects. This course is designed to hone the research skills of
… critical thinking, problem-solving, analysis, and dissemination. It is designed for the student who is interested in possibly pursuing advanced humanities research in college.Limit per class: 14 students.
[read more]Governments From Around the World
Governments From Around the World
How do governments of the world work together in dealing with geopolitical issues? This course will explore the various governmental systems of the world in existence today. It will also examine why democracy thrives in some areas of the world and what factors hinder it in others. Throughout the term, students will be exposed to governmental
… systems from all corners of the globe. Ultimately, through those explorations, students will critically engage with global contemporary issues and the challenges associated with the various governments in existence. [read more]Identity, Race, and Class
Identity, Race, and Class
How have we been socialized to perpetuate stereotypes and biases toward groups of people? How do gender and identity intersect with race and class? Students will examine the work of some of the most important thinkers on race, class consciousness, and identity, and analyze the impact of those concepts on American society and their personal lives.
… As participants in this class, students will be encouraged to engage in authentic, individual discussions and to connect their experiences to other global voices. [read more]Religions and Beliefs
Religions and Beliefs
Do you ever wonder why people from very different religious backgrounds might peacefully coexist, while others from mostly similar backgrounds find themselves in conflict? In this course, students will explore a wide range of belief systems, religious and spiritual ideologies, learning about the origins, practices, and adaptations over time. Investigations into how belief systems shape contemporary
… politics, government, and society will also be explored. [read more]Media and Its Influences
Media and Its Influences
From the printing press to widespread use of social media, the creation of news content has been defined and redefined by the technology of its historical time. Using today’s media landscape, students will examine what qualifies as news, what ethical questions are presented in journalism, and how we are impacted today by those that craft, manipulate,
… and distribute the message. Students will use different media tools and platforms to question, challenge, and deconstruct media messages and their biases. Students will become better equipped to read the world and understand the news. [read more]Theories of Justice
Theories of Justice
Is economic inequality unjust? Is the government justified in restricting your freedom if it does so to improve your life? Using philosophical ideas by which one might understand justice, students will engage in discussion, debate, and a series of project-based learning activities as they examine complex problems and develop solutions to issues that challenge some of
… their perspectives on fairness and the meaning of societal justice. In this course, students will explore a range of topics related to affirmative action, euthanasia, gentrification, drug policy, corporate social responsibility, and distributive justice. [read more]Advanced History: Theories of Punishment (Honors)
Advanced History: Theories of Punishment (Honors)
What aspects of culture and politics promote criminal justice reform? How can the United States achieve an effective justice system that protects public safety while also confronting issues related to restoration for those impacted by crime, both the victim and the accused? Is the prison industrial complex used by the government and industry to address social,
… political and economic challenges? In this course, students are introduced to criminology and penology. Students will examine historical trends, current programs related to reform, and examine the psychological impact and role that poverty, lack of mental health services, addiction, trauma, and education has had on the lives of incarcerated people. They will participate in forums led by people whose work or volunteerism is connected to addressing existing issues within the system and engage in field-based experiences. Students will explore topics of choice and design viable solutions. [read more]Artists’ Response to Social Change
Artists’ Response to Social Change
Throughout history, artists have responded to social change through various modes of expression. The impact of the artist’s voice in interpreting society has often played a critical role in documenting historical events and shaping the future. This course will examine different socio-political changes through the lens of artists and artistic movements. Students will discuss the power
… of these artists’ work, their messages, and the movements they’ve sparked. Art’s role as a political tool will also be explored. [read more]Black Joy: 1877-1940s
Black Joy: 1877-1940s
This course examines the period between the end of Reconstruction and the 1940s, the “nadir of race relations” in America, where racism was open, more pronounced, and sown into the American fabric. During this era, despite the realities of racial terror and violence faced by African Americans, the emergence of Black-owned businesses, the Harlem Renaissance, African-American
… Political Thought, sports leagues, and women like Madame C.J. Walker created a culture of Black joy and excellence during times of uncertainty. Students will explore the history, politics, economics, and culture of Black Americans whose narratives of success, power, and innovation play a role in the voice and history of shaping the United States. They will also investigate how Black joy was expressed, experienced, and celebrated during this transformative era. [read more]Urbanism + the Built Environment
Urbanism + the Built Environment
Using Boston’s landscape, students in this course will investigate the role of cities in shaping ecological and cultural systems that will influence the built environment in future design. Students will examine key moments in the city’s growth, including the impact of industrialization, immigration, and urban renewal on Boston’s physical and social landscape. Students will also research
… and examine the history and legacy of social, cultural, and economic inequalities as they consider how today’s built environment addresses contemporary issues by reinventing, reimagining, and planning design spaces that will impact the relationship between people and their environment. Students will meet with experts to discuss, question, and critically analyze the issues facing metropolitan areas. Travel may be an opportunity that exists as part of taking this class. Students will engage in the design process by constructing their ideas and solutions for conceptualizing future cities using physical materials and digital technologies to create 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional models to showcase their work. [read more]
