History

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.

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.

What rights do you actually have? And how do you preserve and demand justice for those rights? Students in this class will look closely at the United States Constitution, landmark Supreme Court Cases, and pivotal protest movements to become informed citizens on civic strategies to preserve and demand our rights. Students will investigate how individuals and groups have demanded justice within – and against – existing systems, as well as analyzing the success and shortcomings of justice movements. Students will also become versed in media literacy and work to analyze how stories are reported and by whom. By the end of this course, students will be empowered with legal knowledge of their constitutional rights and how to demand change on important issues from state and federal governments.

Can democracies handle pandemics better than dictatorships? Who wins the race to Mars? This course will explore democracies and dictatorships both in concept and practice. Throughout the term, students will analyze different systems of government and forms of civil society. Students will critically engage with questions of governance in relation to global challenges. The course culminates with the students debating who controls the final frontier: democracies, autocracies, or corporations?

*Note – this is an updated Governments of the World course

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.

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.