Course Catalog

An elective course that examines Latin American culture, history, society, and geography. Students will study in-depth the cultural and ethnic distinctions that exist between Latin-American countries, both historical and contemporary. This course will emphasize critical thinking, writing, and analysis. Current events and issues in the Latin- American world will be incorporated.

A challenging elective course that examines the foundations of logic, ethics and epistemology in the classical tradition. Primary sources from the classical world, particularly Greece, constitute the main emphasis of reading and discussion along with significant works by modern authors. A high degree of competence and confidence in reading and writing is encouraged.

This course places a spotlight on the remarkable journey of women and their progress through American history. Women's Studies delves into the experiences and contributions of diverse groups of women in American society. Students will gain insights into the social roles of women and their impactful involvement in fields such as healthcare, history, and political activism.

This course will introduce the American Civil War era from the earliest seeds of disunion at the Constitutional Convention to the end of Reconstruction. Particular attention will be given to events that unfolded in Missouri and the Trans-Mississippi Theatre and the subsequent results in the region. Students will participate in simulations, group activities and individual presentations.

In this semester course, students pursue a deeper understanding of the institutions of American government. They compare systems of government in the world today and analyze the history and changing interpretations of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the current state of the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of government. An emphasis is placed on analyzing the relationship among federal, state, and local governments, with particular attention paid to important historical documents such as the Federalist Papers.

In this semester course, students will master fundamental economic concepts, applying the tools (graphs, statistics, equations) from other subject areas to the understanding of operations and institutions of economic systems. Studied in a historic context are the basic economic principles of micro- and macroeconomics, international economics, comparative economic systems, measurement, and methods.

The high school Psychology course introduces students to the study of psychology, including both historical and contemporary perspectives. Students will learn how the essential systems of the human body contribute to human thought and behavior, discuss operant and classical conditioning, review cognitive processes and human development, understand what shapes personality, discuss stress and psychological disorders, and examine the external factors that affect social psychology.

Students study major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, including the cause and course of the two world wars. They trace the rise of democratic ideas and develop an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international relations. They extrapolate from the American experience that democratic ideals are often achieved at a high price, remain vulnerable, and are not practiced everywhere in the world. Students develop an understanding of current world issues and relate them to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives.

Sociology is the study of society. In this course, students study why sociology matters, the role of the individual in their respective societies, the role of social institutions in a society, how to analyze culture and social structures, how social structures contribute to social inequality, and how the world’s changing population affects social dynamics.

Students discover the world through the lens of human geography in our course. They explore the dynamic relationships between people, places, and cultures, gaining a deep understanding of global patterns, population, migration, and the impact of human activities on our planet.

Explore the complex and interconnected world of international relations in our course, where students will delve into the dynamics of global politics, diplomacy, and international cooperation. Through in-depth analysis of international conflicts, treaties, and geopolitical trends, this course offers a profound understanding of the forces shaping our world.

The Global Geography course focuses on the national standards for social studies, as well as the College, Career, and Civic Life Framework. In this course, students discuss both physical and human geography, learn to interpret maps, analyze historical and contemporary issues from a geographical perspective, and examine the role geography plays in the development of human culture and society.