Ancient World Civilizations     Freshman Year

AP World History                    Sophomore Year

AP United States History        Junior Year

World War II                            Sophomore/Junior/Senior Year

Sociology                                Sophomore/Junior/Senior Year

Psychology                            Sophomore/Junior/Senior Year

AP European History              Senior Year

AP Government                      Senior Year

Economics                              Senior Year

Ancient World Civilizations: The primary goal of this course is to introduce students to the social, economic, and cultural conditions in which the Old Testament was written.  While the course mainly focuses on the ancient land civilizations, studies include each of the four great river valleys of the ancient world and an overview of the development and history of world religions.  This course concludes with the fall of Rome and the rise of the ByzantineEmpire. 

World History: This course covers the history of the modern world and encourages analytical thinking in oral and written work, including the use of technology in research and/or projects (Web Questing).

AP World History: Taught at a more demanding level than World History, this course is designed for those students wishing to pursue the Advanced Placement courses that follow.  Added emphasis is placed on working with primary source materials, critical analysis and historical writing. Able students prepare for the Advanced Placement Examination, which is taken in the spring. Additionally, qualified students are encouraged to take the SAT II World History in the spring.

United States History: This course examines political, social, economic, cultural and intellectual forces that have contributed to the development of America. Primary and secondary sources are utilized and several papers are required. The emphasis on Reconstruction through the present provides a basis for critical analysis in researching primary issues that affect present day history and global progress. 

AP U.S. History: Taught at a more demanding level than United States History, this course is designed for those students wishing to do college-level work and prepare for the AP Examination.  Added emphasis is placed on working with primary source materials and on historical writing.  All students are required to take the AP U.S. History exam in the spring.

Government: This course will help students develop concepts related to the biblical and secular nature of government, the United States congress, political parties, the Executive Branch, unalienable rights, the federal judiciary, state and local government, patriotism and other related topics. When feasible, other disciplines will be integrated into the curriculum so government will not be viewed as an isolated subject.

AP Government: This college-level course, gives students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States.  The course includes an in depth study of the Constitutional underpinnings that have shaped our nation, the structure and roles of the three branches of government, the formation of government and public policy, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democratic state.  Students learn to analyze and interpret both primary and secondary source material, evaluate historical documents and summarize college-level text materials. All students are required to take the AP Government exam in the spring.

Economics: Economics is the study of basic economic theories and principles. This course will show the American economy in action and how it works, cover government policies and how they influence the economy, expand students’ horizons with coverage of international economics and relate what students have learned to their own lives. When feasible, other disciplines will be integrated into the curriculum so economics will not be viewed as an isolated subject. A stock market simulation is a popular aspect of the offering.

AP European History:  AP European History develops an understanding of the main themes in modern European history including political and diplomatic, intellectual and cultural, and social and economic history. Analyzing historical evidence and reading critical literary narratives is integrated into the chronologically ordered whole picture of the modern history of Europe. Using a college level textbook, this course begins with the Renaissance and concludes with the demise of communism in Eastern Europe, the reunification of Germany, and the crisis of global terrorism. A great deal of emphasis will be placed on the art, music and culture of European society. This course is taught as a seminar, thus a tremendous amount of class discussion and participation is expected from each student.

Psychology:  This course explores the theories and foundations of the field of Psychology including its founders.  Students will learn basic theories of mental health as well as the causes and classifications of abnormality.  Efforts will be made to help students to explore and understand Biblical and psychological practical life applications in areas such as balance, boundary setting, parenting skills and developing effective social skills.  Students will develop skills in writing, discussion, group work and presentations.

World War II:

Sociology:

Vietnam: Of all the military conflicts the American military has fought in, none has been as controversial or had as much impact on American society and psyche as the Vietnam War.  This elective course will focus largely on the “American” period the conflict in Vietnam but will also include a brief summaries of Vietnamese military history with an emphasis on the many successful guerilla wars the Vietnamese waged against foreign occupiers, the French colonial period, World War II, and the French-Indochina War.  American involvement in the conflict will be covered from the beginnings of the Cold War during the Truman Administration and conclude with the “Vietnamization” of the war under the Nixon Administration.  Particular emphasis will be focused on the years of the Johnson Administration and the reasons for the failures of the Johnson Administration to develop an effective strategy for the conflict as well as the domestic and international reasons that led the Johnson Administration to feel the need to Americanize the conflict in Vietnam.  Also to be covered will be the role the domestic political decisions of the Johnson Administration played in shaping the military strategy and tactics the American forces used in the conflict.  The impact of the war on American domestic politics will be examined through the lens of the Civil Rights Movement and the War Protests.  Lastly the war will be examined within the broader context of the Cold War and the Nixon Administration’s efforts in opening relations with Communist China.