History

Open to: 9th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  N/A 

Course and Grade Prerequisites: None

World History traces the history of the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe with an emphasis on the modern era. Skill development includes geography, note-taking, test preparation, and formal composition writing. Students will research and write a formal history essay. This course fulfills the 9th grade History graduation requirement.

Open to: 9th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval? N/A

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Placement Exam Score 170+ on National Percentile HSPT.

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Advanced Placement World History: Modern is an introductory college-level modern world history course. Students cultivate their understanding of world history from c. 1200 CE to the present through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation. This course follows the College Board standards to prepare students for the AP World History Exam in May. This course fulfills the 9th grade History graduation requirement.

Open to: 11th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  None

Course and Grade Prerequisites: None

United States History explores the nation’s political, economic, and social development from colonial to modern times. Teachers supplement the course text, The Americans, with extensive primary sources that students learn to analyze and interpret. Skills build on those introduced in World History, with an emphasis on analytical writing and the historical narrative. This course fulfills the 11th grade History graduation requirement.

Open to: 11th Grade

Course Length: Two semesters

Teacher approval? Yes 

Course and Grade Prerequisites: ‘A’ in World History or ‘B+’ in AP World History , ‘A’ in English I and II for full year or ‘A-’ in English I(H) and II(H) for full year. An 'A" in AVLI AP World History or AP European History can replace the required 'A' from freshman year.

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Advanced Placement United States History provides motivated students with superior reading, writing, and research skills in a comprehensive study of U.S. history from pre-contact to modern times. In addition to studying advanced factual content, students learn to work with primary and secondary materials. This course follows the College Board standards to prepare students for the AP United States History Exam in May. This course fulfills the 11th grade History graduation requirement.

Open to: 12th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval? None 

Course and Grade Prerequisites: None 

Civil Rights and Constitutional Law examines the struggle to fulfill our nation’s founding principles of freedom and equality. The course traces movements to expand civil rights to a greater portion of the American population. The class provides students with a historical, legal, political, and economic understanding of the ongoing struggle in our country to create a “more perfect union” for all. This course fulfills the 12th grade History graduation requirement.

Open to: 12th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Must have ‘B+’ in U.S. History or ‘B-’ in U.S. History (AP) for both semesters

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Politics introduces concepts used by political scientists to study politics in a variety of settings. The course covers the diversity of political life in order to show available institutional alternatives; to explain differences in processes and policy outcomes; and to illustrate the importance of global political and economic changes. To interpret political phenomena, the course focuses on six nations: China, Great Britain, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and Iran. Studying these six nations requires an understanding and application of political theories, recognizing that not all theories are equally useful in analyzing all countries. This course follows the College Board standards to prepare students for the AP Comparative Government and Politics Exam in May. This course fulfills the 12th grade History graduation requirement.

Open to: 12th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Must have ‘B+’ in U.S. History or ‘B-’ in U.S. History (AP) for both semesters

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics is a college-level introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students read and analyze US foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions between political institutions and behavior. Students read and interpret data, develop evidence-based arguments, and engage in an applied civics or politics research-based project.  This course follows the College Board standards to prepare students for the AP United States Government and Politics Exam in May. This course fulfills the 12th grade History graduation requirement.

Open to: 12th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval?  Yes

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Must have ‘B+’ in U.S. History or ‘B-’ in U.S. History (AP) for both semesters

*See “Requirements for Taking Honors and Advanced Placement Courses” at the beginning of this Catalog. AP Macroeconomics examines economics from the macroeconomic, or broad overview, standpoint. The key areas covered are basic economic principles, how national economic performance is measured, what determines national income (GDP) and price levels, how money is created and controlled, how government spending, taxing, and monetary policies impact the economy, and how international trade and finance impact the economy. Success in AP Macroeconomics predicates itself on strong reading and reasoning skills along with a solid background and understanding of algebra. This course follows the College Board standards to prepare students for the AP Macroeconomics Exam in May. This course fulfills the 12th grade History graduation requirement.

Open to: 10th, 11th, or 12th Grade

Course Length: One Semester: Fall or Spring

Teacher approval? Yes 

Course and Grade Prerequisites: Application required

The course focuses on the principal geopolitical issues in five regions critical to the 21st Century: Asia, South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The course explores political, religious, and cultural life. International Studies addresses differences in governmental and non-governmental agencies, helping students to understand global political and economic transitions. The course also examines the critical regional and international conflicts that challenge global stability. This course fulfills an elective graduation requirement.

Open to: 10th, 11th, and 12th Grade

Course Length: Two Semesters

Teacher approval? Yes

Couse and Grade Prerequisites: Application Required

This course provides students with public speaking practice and explores the nature of leadership, group dynamics, and communication in many forms. Students will gain an understanding of the American legal system and will compete interscholastically as members of Jesuit’s Mock Trial Team. Students make a number of formal speeches which are critiqued by the teacher and classmates. In addition, students develop writing and listening skills, practice critical thinking, and learn to use presentation technology. Students who register for this course should have an interest in current events and must be willing to attend weekend Mock Trial scrimmages and competitions. This course fulfills an elective graduation requirement.