HISTORY
History is the unfolding of God’s plan for his creation, including the redemption of mankind. From this primary truth, the study of history is taught and learned with an emphasis on the sovereignty of God. Knowledge and application of history, including related subjects more recently re-classified as “social studies”, are essential for the development of a biblical worldview, through which the believer may live a life pleasing to God as a thoughtful citizen of various levels of community, from local to national to global.
History Curriculum Goals
In accordance with the philosophy of history, and in order to understand God’s working through history, the students will:
- Develop critical-thinking skills
- Study people and their cultures
- Gain an understanding of the interrelationship of historical events
- Understand how to be good citizens
- Make full use of a variety of research and presentation tools
World History I
World History I is the first year of a two year course of study of the world outside the United States. Students will learn to analyze history critically and gain an understanding of the distinctive features of Asian history and geography. Students will learn to read critically, analyze primary sources, and present and defend their viewpoints in both written and oral form.
- Prerequisite: None
- Credit: 1.00
- Grade Level: 9th
World History II
World History II is the second year of a two year course of study of the world outside the United States. Students will learn to analyze history critically and gain an understanding of the distinctive features of African, European, and Latin American history and geography. Students will learn to read critically, analyze primary sources, and present and defend their viewpoints in both written and oral form.
- Prerequisite: World History I
- Credit: 1.00
- Grade Level: 10th
20th Century
During this semester course, the student will study the history of the United States during the twentieth century, through the use of lecture, discussion, reading, videos, and group projects. Attention will be given to both domestic and foreign affairs, focusing on those issues and events that shaped American history and solidified the United States as the dominant power of the world at the end of the century.
- Prerequisite: None
- Credit: 0.5
- Grade Level: 11th/12th
American Government
During this semester course, the student will study the origins, principles, and basic workings of the American political system and government, through the use of lecture, discussion, reading, videos, and group projects. Additional study will focus on biblical principles regarding authority and government and on the United States Constitution itself.
- Prerequisite: None
- Credit: 0.5
- Grade Level: 11th/12th
AP European History
Advanced Placement European History is an intensive survey course that covers from the early Renaissance to the present day. Students will learn to write compelling essays that focus on a thesis, and they will learn to identify and critique a thesis in the writing and thoughts of others. Students will learn to read primary sources critically and to respond to ideas with creativity and originality. The pace of the course is intended to match college level work in order to prepare students for success in taking the Advanced Placement European History exam in the spring. Only highly motivated students should apply.
- Prerequisite: Departmental Approval
- Credit: 1.00
- Grade Level: 11th/12th
AP US History
Advanced Placement United States History is an intensive survey of United States History from Columbus to the present day. Students will learn to write compelling essays that focus on a thesis, and they will learn to identify and critique a thesis in the writing and thoughts of others. Students will learn to read primary sources critically and to respond to ideas with creativity and originality. The pace of the course is intended to match college level work in order to prepare students for success in taking the Advanced Placement United States History exam in the spring. Only highly motivated students should apply.
- Prerequisite: Departmental Approval
- Credit: 1.00
- Grade Level: 11th/12th
AP Psychology
Students will study the historical development and contemporary discipline of psychology including its roots in philosophy and biology. This survey course examines biology (through studies of neuroscience, genetics, human development, and sensation and perception), cognition (through studies of learning, memory, thinking, language and intelligence), psychological functioning (through studies of motivation, personality theory, psychological disorders, and therapy), and social functioning (stress, health, and social psychology). This is a lecture and discussion-based course with a significant emphasis on reading primary source documents and contemporary philosophies, theories, and research findings of social science preparing students to analyze, critique, and respond to the aforementioned from a Christian worldview and Biblical perspective. This course prepares the student to take the AP Psychology exam.
- Prerequisite: Departmental Approval
- Credit: 1.00
- Grade Level: 12th
Psychology
Students will study the historical development and contemporary discipline of psychology including its roots in philosophy and biology. This survey course examines biology (through studies of neuroscience, genetics, human development, and sensation and perception), cognition (through studies of learning, memory, thinking, language and intelligence), psychological functioning (through studies of motivation, personality theory, psychological disorders, and therapy), and social functioning (stress, health, and social psychology). This is a lecture and discussion-based course with a significant emphasis on reading primary source documents and contemporary philosophies, theories, and research findings of social science preparing students to analyze, critique, and respond to the aforementioned from a Christian worldview and Biblical perspective.
- Prerequisite: None
- Credit: 1.00
- Grade Level: 12th
Western Civilization
Western Civilization examines the ideas and general history of the western world from the classical ideas of Greece and Rome to the relativism of post-modernism. Students learn by confronting the great thinkers of history and analyzing the ways in which their ideas have filtered down through the stages of Western History. Emphasis will be on reading and understanding the masters of Western History from every age whose ideas have endured through the years. Critical thinking will be carefully developed through Socratic dialogue and analytical critiques of the great writers.
- Prerequisite: None
- Credit: 0.5
- Grade Level: 12th