This year-long course will explore the history of the United States to modern times, beginning with the discovery of the American continents and their inhabitants by European colonial powers in 1492.  Our study will emphasize the themes and common threads present in American society and culture throughout the nation’s history.  We will discuss major military conflicts, politics, social issues, economics, and the changing identity of the nation.  Subjects will be discussed in chronological order, with the Civil War ending the first semester of the course.  Work in the class will emphasize writing, source analysis, and critical examination of historical events and perspectives. 

This course will provide students with a systematic and scientific approach to the study of human behavior and mental processes. Students will explore various aspects of human behavior including biological influences, cognition, states of consciousness, memory, motivation, and emotion, and the basic areas of mental illness.

This course will be an in-depth study of the United States government and an introduction to other forms of government used around the world. Current events affecting world governments will be woven into the course material. Units of study include the foundations of American government, the Constitution and federalism, the three branches of government, elections and the rights of citizens, political ideology, and media literacy.