History Department

H.160/ European History

AP European History or European History is required for all 11th Graders

European History is an introductory course in the historical and cultural developments of the European continent and, by extension, the rest of the world insofar as it has been impacted by Europeans. Students engage the intellectual, political, economic, religious, and social aspects of European civilization from the Renaissance to the present. Along the way, they delve deeply into topics like the rise of the nation-state, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the World Wars, and the Cold War. Classroom practices and assessments, including tests, independent research papers, seminar discussions, and student presentations, all aim to help students understand human history and to impart to them the intellectual virtues needed for historical inquiry into truth, goodness, and beauty. (1 credit)

H.300/ AP European History

Prerequisites: B+ in previous History course; B+ in previous English course

AP European History or European History is required for all 11th Graders

Taught at a more demanding level than European History, Advanced Placement European History is designed for those students wishing to do collegelevel work in preparation for the AP Examination in May. The course begins with the Renaissance and Reformation and ends in the present, delving deeply along the way into topics like the rise of the nationstate, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the World Wars, and the Cold War. We stress intellectual and cultural history while tracing the political, economic, religious, and social themes through the centuries. Added emphasis is placed on critical reading, writing, and point of view analysis in primary source documents. As in European History, classroom practices and assessments aim to help students understand human history and to impart to them the intellectual virtues they need for historical inquiry into truth, goodness, and beauty. (1 credit)

H.180/ United States History

AP United States History or United States History is required for all 12th Graders

United States History provides an economic, political, religious, and sociological perspective into the foundations of the United States and the subsequent successes and failures of the Republic through the past three centuries. Students are challenged to examine and critique modern America with respect to her historical foundations. Emphasis is placed on the understanding of the Americans in their major conflicts beginning with the Revolutionary War and ending in the present war on terrorism. This course seeks to use history as a medium to teach critical thinking, analytical writing, and rhetorical presentation in preparation for college. (1 credit)

H.301/ AP United States History

Prerequisites: B+ in previous History course, or B in previous History Honors course. AP United States History or United States History is required for all 12th Graders.

This course is designed for those students wishing to do college-level work and prepare for the AP Examination in May. In addition to the content and virtues taught in the United States History course, the Advanced Placement course looks more broadly at the whole of United States history, from precolonial times to the present, with an added emphasis placed on working with primary source materials. For those students who are interested, this course also provides students with the opportunity to earn up to six college credits through Stony Brook University’s ACE program. There is, however, an associated cost of $300 per three credits for those students who wish to enroll. (1 credit)

H.303/ College-Level History of Philosophy

[Not offered in 2023-24]

Prerequisites: Open to 10-12th graders with a B+ in previous Honors English or A- in previous Regular English course

This elective course focuses on the history of metaphysics and epistemology from the PreSocratics to the present. Students engage the great philosophers by reading primary sources, discussing their ideas, writing and presenting papers, and engaging in debates. The course investigates topics of God’s existence and nature, the nature of reality, the nature of human beings, and freedom and determinism. The course culminates with students writing a Medieval disputatio on the key questions we have studied throughout the year. For an extra fee, students may receive college credit for their work in this course through Molloy University. (1 credit)

H.302/ College-Level Ethics and Politics

Prerequisites: Open to 10-12th graders with a B+ in previous Honors English or A- in previous Regular English course

This dual credit course examines ancient and modern traditions of moral and political philosophy, focusing on the simple question: "What is Good?" Students will begin by studying modern attempts to rationally answer this question from Immanuel Kant to the present day, alongside the critics of this Enlightenment tradition, most notably Friedrich Nietzsche. In the second half of the course, the class will consider alternatives to this tradition, especially ancient and modern virtue theories. For an extra fee, students may receive college credit for their work in this course through Molloy University. (1 credit)

BE.345/ AP Macroeconomics (Fall Semester)

Prerequisites: Open to 10-12th graders with a B+ in previous History course and B+ in Geometry AP Macroeconomics is an introductory collegelevel macroeconomics course. Students cultivate their understanding of the principles that apply to an economic system as a whole by using principles and models to describe economic situations and predict and explain outcomes with graphs, charts, and data as they explore concepts like economic measurements, markets, macroeconomic models, and macroeconomic policies. (0.5 credits)

H.343/ AP Microeconomics (Spring Semester)

Prerequisites: Open to 10-12th graders with a B+ in previous History course and B+ in Geometry. The purpose of the AP course in microeconomics is to give students a thorough understanding of the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the economic system. It places primary emphasis on the nature and functions of product markets and includes the study of factor markets and of the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. (0.5 credits)

H.200 / Contemporary Global History I (Fall Semester)

Prerequisite: Open to 10-12th Graders

Contemporary Global History investigates the formation of the modern world by examining major historical trends and factors since the Second World War. With a focus on the nonWestern world, the course investigates decolonization, globalization, technology, social movements and revolutions, and modern geopolitics. The course examines a range of historical perspectives and developments that constitute modern and global history from Asia, Africa, the Americas, Oceania and the Middle East. This semester primarily covers decolonization, the Cold War, and Modern Africa. (0.5 credits)

H.201 / Contemporary Global History II (Spring Semester)

Prerequisite: Open to 10-12th Graders

Contemporary Global History investigates the formation of the modern world by examining major historical trends and factors since the Second World War. With a focus on the nonWestern world, the course investigates decolonization, globalization, technology, social movements and revolutions, and modern geopolitics. The course examines a range of historical perspectives and developments that constitute modern and global history from Asia, Africa, the Americas, Oceania and the Middle East. This semester primarily covers the implications of the Cold War, the Modern Middle East, political developments in Latin America, and globalization since 1991. Students do not need to have taken Contemporary Global History I to enroll in Contemporary Global History II. (0.5 credits)

H.183/Law and Government Honors (Spring Semester)

Prerequisite: Open to 10-12th Graders

This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of the American political and legal system. The course will cover the structure and key issues of contemporary American politics, and discuss the essentials of being an informed and responsible citizen. In addition, students will participate in a high school mock trial competition sponsored by the New York State Bar: “high school students have the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of civil/criminal law and courtroom procedures. Objectives of the tournament are to: Teach students ethics, civility and professionalism; further students’ understanding of the law, court procedures and the legal system; improve proficiency in basic life skills, such as listening, speaking, reading and reasoning; promote better communication and cooperation among the school community, teachers and students and members of the legal profession, and heighten appreciation for academic studies and stimulate interest in lawrelated careers.” Space in this course is limited and may be subject to a try-out. (1 credit)