History and Social Sciences
The history department at Hebron Academy supports the premise that students need to have an understanding of the past in order to comprehend the present.The department believes that cultural awareness is critical to future interpersonal communication skills as the world is becoming increasingly interconnected. Teachers foster student literacy within the writing and discussing of historical concepts as well as guide students as they formulate and support their opinions in all modes of communication.
At Hebron Academy, we are fortunate to offer an array of history and social science courses. The foundations of these courses, coupled with the passions of the teachers, intend to inspire students to learn about the world in which we all live and appreciate the factors which brought us to this point in time.
History and Social Science Courses
- AP PSYCHOLOGY
- AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
- ECONOMICS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
- HUMANITIES HISTORY
- INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (HONORS)
- PSYCHOLOGY
- US HISTORY
- US HISTORY (HONORS)
- WORLD HISTORY
- WORLD HISTORY (HONORS)
- WORLD RELIGIONS
AP PSYCHOLOGY
Advanced Placement Psychology is offered to seniors and post-graduate students and is designed “to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles and phenomena associated with each of the subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice” (Advanced Placement Course Description in Psychology). The course is intended for strong students who are willing to challenge themselves to think and analyze at a college level in hope of earning potential college credit by scoring well on the AP Exam in May. By nature, AP Psychology is a survey course and will cover a wide range of topics, such as research methods, the biology of behavior, cognition, personality, and abnormal behavior. In addition to content the course will work on a variety of skills including research, writing, and synthesizing information. Enrollment in this course requires departmental approval.
AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
During the first half of the course offered to juniors, themes such as the development of the Constitution out of our colonial and revolutionary past, the evolution of the political party system, westward expansion, and the tensions leading up to the Civil War will be highlighted. During the second half of the year, we will focus on the impact of industrialization and urbanization, the development of America as a world power, and the tensions and adjustments of a multicultural society. Document analysis, analytical essay writing, and class activities such as debates or simulations, will be regularly employed to develop the themes under study. Enrollment in this course requires departmental approval.
ECONOMICS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Economics & Entrepreneurship is a full-year course designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of economics as well as the challenges facing entrepreneurs when they start a business. The fall trimester will focus on microeconomics: the decisions made by consumers, firms, and governments in allocating scarce resources. Areas of study will include demand/supply curves, elasticity of demand/supply, production constraints, and consumer wants and needs. The winter trimester will be spent understanding macroeconomics, the overall economy and market systems. Our focus will be on the U. S. economy, but we will also examine other economic systems around the world. Among the topics we will cover are the role of money, the function of banks, Gross Domestic Product, and how fiscal and monetary policy shape the economy. In the spring trimester, students will embark on an entrepreneurial journey that will introduce them to the tools and skills required to develop a business plan. They will learn how to prepare financial statements, where to look for business opportunities, and what characteristics are needed to be a successful entrepreneur. Students will prepare a business plan for a product or service of their choice and present the business plan to the class at the end of the trimester.
HUMANITIES HISTORY
Ninth grade history and English classes are taught collaboratively in both combined and distinct classes. Students study the human achievements of three civilizations: China, Ancient Greece, and the European Renaissance. They delve into a variety of genres, including Tang poetry, Homer’s Odyssey, plays by Sophocles and Shakespeare, and modern Chinese fiction. Students actively participate in discussions with their peers to develop their understanding of texts, and they write in a variety of forms (personal narratives, poetry, fiction, analysis) with emphasis on clarity, voice, and detail. Students learn the skills of annotation, close reading, and explication as well as perform scenes, recite poetry, and investigate topics for MLA research papers.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
This course is designed to provide junior, senior, and post-graduate students with a broad introduction to the study of international politics and will focus on significant themes and debates in the arena of contemporary international affairs. The course will introduce students to theories and approaches that have been applied throughout history to understand contemporary issues. An emphasis will be put on case-study analysis, both as a tool for applying their knowledge of theory to the study of real-world events as well as evaluating competing political views. As so many of the topics studied in this course are the subject of ongoing debate and controversy in both national and international arenas, the course relies on active classroom discussion and debate as a means of understanding and evaluating all sides of each issue. The course uses a variety of texts and learning tools. Simulations, structured debate, documentary film analysis, and study of the daily news allow students to engage with the issues covered in this course.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (HONORS)
This course is designed to provide seniors and post-graduate students with a broad introduction to the study of international politics and will focus on significant themes and debates in the arena of contemporary international affairs. The course will introduce students to theories and approaches that have been applied throughout history to understand contemporary issues. An emphasis will be put on case-study analysis, both as a tool for applying their knowledge of theory to the study of real-world events as well as evaluating competing political views. As so many of the topics studied in this course are the subject of ongoing debate and controversy in both national and international arenas, the course relies on active classroom discussion and debate as a means of understanding and evaluating all sides of each issue. The course uses a variety of texts and learning tools. Simulations, structured debate, documentary film analysis, and study of the daily news allow students to engage with the issues covered in this course.
The honors offering challenges students who show a curiosity and aptitude that separates them from other International Relations students. The course follows a similar content curriculum as the non-honors offering, but expectations of classroom leadership, communicating knowledge through a variety of media, and depth and scope of study are set at a higher standard. Enrollment in this course requires departmental approval.
PSYCHOLOGY
This course, offered to juniors and above, will provide a broad overview of the field of psychology, a social science. This overview will include the investigation of various topics such as professions and advances in the field of psychology, psychological research, the brain and nervous system, sensation and perception, sleeping and dreams, conditioning, memory, social psychology, and abnormal psychology. The goals of the course are to explore the ever-changing world of psychology as well as encourage students to become more critical thinkers about themselves and the world around them.
US HISTORY
This course is offered to juniors and begins with a study of early America, the American Revolution, and the creation of the Constitution. The course then studies movements in U.S. history that forced the expansion of the Constitution to include all citizens of the United States: the Civil War and Reconstruction, Women’ Suffrage, the Civil Rights Movement, and Native American Movements. Students study landmark Supreme Court decisions that created modern interpretations of the Bill of Rights as well as current issues being decided in the Supreme Court. The study of current issues facing the United States as a nation is fostered by a student-centered approach to inquiry and discussion.
US HISTORY (HONORS)
This course is offered to juniors and begins with a study of early America, the American Revolution, and the creation of the Constitution. The course then studies movements in U.S. history that forced the expansion of the Constitution to include all citizens of the United States: the Civil War and Reconstruction, Women’ Suffrage, the Civil Rights Movement, and Native American Movements. Students study landmark Supreme Court decisions that created modern interpretations of the Bill of Rights as well as current issues being decided in the Supreme Court. The study of current issues facing the United States as a nation is fostered by a student-centered approach to inquiry and discussion.
This course challenges students who show a curiosity and aptitude that separates them from other U.S. History students but who have not elected to take the Advanced Placement class. The course follows the same content curriculum as the U.S. History offering, but expectations of classroom leadership, communicating knowledge through a variety of media, and depth and scope of study are set at a higher standard. Enrollment in this course requires departmental approval.
WORLD HISTORY
This sophomore course offers a range of critical topics and concepts that have shaped and influenced world history and our global society. Topics studied in the course range from revolutions and their effects on society and culture to discussions of current events and how the methods and interpretation of both the reporting and recording of global issues impact our world view. Examples of topics studied are The Holocaust and crimes against humanity in the 20th Century, a comprehensive study of The Arab World with a focus on women in Muslim societies today and the influence of the Qur’an on their daily lives, and a critical examination of imperialism and its overarching impact on international relations and cultural and political identity. Students develop an understanding of both the importance of global history and its relevance by learning how history is written, evaluating viewpoints, and understanding the force of historical expression.
WORLD HISTORY (HONORS)
This sophomore course offers a range of critical topics and concepts that have shaped and influenced world history and our global society. Topics studied in the course range from revolutions and their effects on society and culture to discussions of current events and how the methods and interpretation of both the reporting and recording of global issues impact our world view. Examples of topics studied are the Holocaust and crimes against humanity in the 20th Century, a comprehensive study of The Arab World with a focus on women in Muslim societies today and the influence of the Qur’an on their daily lives, and a critical examination of imperialism and its overarching impact on international relations, cultural, and political identity. Students develop an understanding of both the importance of global history and its relevance by learning how history is written, evaluating viewpoints, and understanding the force of historical expression. Additionally, students read from a variety of texts and primary sources that offer insights into the events as well as opposing viewpoints with which to contend. Enrollment in this course requires departmental approval.
WORLD RELIGIONS
This course introduces students to the value systems of major world religions and traditions. Students are taught to recognize key themes and universal elements of religion to identify and contemplate beliefs that are central to each tradition. Students examine a variety of experiences within each particular religion as well as the ways in which spiritual ideas from one tradition can be used to enhance our understanding of other traditions. The course values a free and open exchange of ideas. Students keep a journal in which they record and reflect on their reaction to readings and class discussion in order to continually deepen their understanding. In addition to writing critical essays, students express their comprehension of key concepts of Eastern and Western spirituality in various creative forms.