The Department of History believes that the study of history is a cornerstone of a liberal arts education. History provides an appreciation of the past, its peoples and its cultures. The study of history offers unique opportunities to understand the human condition and the processes of change. These skills are necessary for the development of citizenship in a democratic republic. History allows for the development of a range of skills including reading, writing, interpretative analysis, and critical thinking. Research is an integral part of historical scholarship and requires familiarity with current technologies for investigation and communication.
Grade 9: Ancient World History
A survey course tracing the development of civilization from its prehistoric origins to the emergence of the modern world around 1500 AD. Emphasis is placed on an examination of the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China, Greece, Rome & the medieval Mediterranean. Skill development and global awareness are emphasized.
Grade 10: Modern European
The course begins with the Renaissance and Reformation and continues to the present. Topics include the rise of nation-states, social and intellectual development, the great revolutions, World Wars I and II and changes in society and family life. Critical reading is expected and analytical writing is developed. Students learn to work with primary documents and refine research skills.
Grade 11 or 12: United States History
Students take a course with two major components. The first is a chronological coverage of American history from the Colonial period to the '80s. In the second component, students examine in depth critical themes of American history. Critical writing and analytical skills are emphasized. So, too, is historiography, the analysis of how historians have viewed controversial events, trends, or people in history. In May, a major 2,000 to 3,000-word research paper is required. Topics are introduced in March and the process of completing a major research paper becomes the focus of the fourth marking period.
History Electives:
Grade 12: Contemporary World Issues (Semester)
This course is designed for students to study current political issues and international crises from a historical point of view. The course examines global issues concerning terrorism, world political developments, and nuclear weapons. In all cases, emphasis is on historical background and students are urged to probe for solutions. The students are required to read current periodicals in addition to the regular reading assignments.
Economics (full year)
This course introduces the students to the basic concepts of macro- and microeconomics and examines the operations of the market through case studies. Students write several papers and become acquainted with economic theories from Adam Smith to John Kenneth Galbraith. Discussion of public policy and government intervention in the economy is included. Students may do additional work in order to take the Advanced Placement exam in Economics in May.
AP Art History (full Year)A.P. Art History is designed to foster an understanding and enjoyment of architecture, sculpture, painting, and other art forms within diverse historical and cultural contexts.
In the course, students will examine major forms of artistic expression from the past and present, as well as from a variety of cultures. They will learn to look at works of art critically, with intelligence and sensitivity, and to articulate what they see or experience.
During the year, class time will be spent roughly as follows: 40-50% painting and drawing, 25% architecture, 25% sculpture, and 5-10% other media. Students will be required to understand the basic elements of art, fundamental art historical terminology, and the technical processes used in the production of art. Finally, as Art History increasingly emphasizes understanding works in context, issues such as patronage, gender, and the functions and effects of works of art, will also be examined
AP United States Government and Politics (Semester)
This course begins with a general study of the American political system, taking a look at the constitutional and federal context of the national government as well as the cultural and ideological backdrop against which this system operates. In the belief that theory and practice cannot be separated, it shows how the system works using current politics.
Urban Studies (Semester)
What is a city? How did Buffalo evolve from a region of Native American villages to a booming metropolis at the end of the 19th century? How did the rise of large industrial companies, including the steel industry, contribute to the rise and fall of Buffalo in the 20th century? How can urban history, politics, sociology, anthropology and other social science disciplines help us understand cities? How have cities responded to immigration, poverty, fiscal crisis, race and gender inequality, technological change, population growth, transportation, and housing? What might alternative urban futures be like? What should they be like? Combining discussion with weekly field trips into the city, these questions will be asked and answered in Urban Studies this semester.
Psychology (Semester)
The purpose of this course in Psychology is to introduce students to the study of the behavior and mental processes of humans. Students will be exposed to topics including, but not exclusive to, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, motivation and emotion, developmental psychology, social psychology and personality. This course is not designed to be a methods course in scientific psychology, but rather a theoretical introduction to the study of a variety of psychological topics.
China and Japan (Semester)
This course looks comparatively at the histories of two countries inhabiting the Confucian cultural sphere - Japan and China from the late 18th century to the present. It examines the struggles of these countries to preserve or regain their independence and establish their national identities in a rapidly emerging and often violent modern world order. We will examine East Asia's emergence as a dominant economic region in the world as well as looking at cultural and artistic movements. While each of these countries has its own distinctive identity, their overlapping histories (and dilemmas) give the historian interesting points of comparison.