Modern World History is the first year of a sequential Social Sciences Department curriculum and is designed to provide all entering Sacred Heart students with a common background in academic and social science skills, cultural concepts, historical appreciation, and essentials of geographic knowledge. Skills introduced and reinforced include summarizing and paraphrasing, categorization, understanding of historical perspective and bias, note taking and organization, presentation skills, introduction of research skills, and some persuasive writing. Students will write a research paper in the spring semester as well as work on collaborative and individual projects. Areas of study include Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The geography component of the course teaches the importance of geography as a historical determinant and encourages environmental stewardship. Students will also participate actively and regularly in the SHP gardens.

Prerequisite:

• This course is limited to seniors only.
• All seniors may choose to enroll in Honors or AP-level courses. 
• Teachers will provide recommendations for each student, indicating whether the  student is well-prepared for advanced coursework. Students should consult with their teachers and counselors in selecting an appropriate level of challenge. 

• Constitutional Foundations and Principles;
• Civil Rights and Civil Liberties;
• American Political Culture and Beliefs;
• Political Participation; and,
• Interaction between the Branches of Government.

Ethnic Studies & Civics
This sequence of courses is required for sophomore students in the Social Science Department. 

Fall Semester. In Ethnic Studies, students will examine the cultures, histories, and experiences of diverse peoples in the United States. The course will emphasize the often-neglected experiences of historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups, especially Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern/North African communities. Students will explore the way that racial and ethnic identities and structures of power influence people's experiences. They will analyze the mechanics of past and present forms of discrimination and oppression, and they will examine and evaluate strategies for acting toward a more just world. S

Honors Coursework. Both Ethnic Studies and Civics offer students the opportunity to embrace a higher level of academic challenge through more rigorous reading, additional writing, and a more robust research project. All students who successfully complete the work to standard will earn the Honors designation for the course at the end of the semester. Honors credit will be awarded separately in each semester, so students may choose to work toward an Honors designation in one semester but not the other.

Ethnic Studies & Civics
This sequence of courses is required for sophomore students in the Social Science Department. 

Spring Semester. In Civics, students will build knowledge and skills to empower their active participation in local, state, and federal governments. Students will examine the origins of the American democratic tradition and its evolution, evaluating the successes and challenges of democratic government in the past and present. They will practice real-world research skills by investigating concerns in their own communities and national political debates. As students discuss problems and evaluate paths to make change, they will also deepen their habits of engaging in civic discourse skills and navigating a complex media landscape.

Honors Coursework. Both Ethnic Studies and Civics offer students the opportunity to embrace a higher level of academic challenge through more rigorous reading, additional writing, and a more robust research project. All students who successfully complete the work to standard will earn the Honors designation for the course at the end of the semester. Honors credit will be awarded separately in each semester, so students may choose to work toward an Honors designation in one semester but not the other.

History Seminar - Constitutional Law 
This semester-long course focuses on the origin, nature and importance of the U.S. Bill of Rights and includes an in-depth look at specific amendments and the civil liberties they guarantee.  The course begins with an analysis of the specific philosophical and documentary roots of the U.S. Bill of Rights and examines the process by which these specific rights were added to the original U.S. Constitution.  Students then consider the historical and contemporary role of the Supreme Court in interpreting these rights.  Throughout the course, students will learn to identify historical and current examples of their fundamental liberties and the interdependence among those freedoms. Students will also learn to identify government violations of their rights and the constitutional limits on government policy making.  In addition, students will complete a six to either page research paper on a current civil liberties issue of their choice.  The overall purpose of the course is to provide students with the knowledge to identify, explain, and guard their own constitutional rights in an era of expanding government authority.

History Seminar Honors - Constitutional Law 
This semester-long course focuses on the origin, nature and importance of the U.S. Bill of Rights and includes an in-depth look at specific amendments and the civil liberties they guarantee.  The course begins with an analysis of the specific philosophical and documentary roots of the U.S. Bill of Rights and examines the process by which these specific rights were added to the original U.S. Constitution.  Students then consider the historical and contemporary role of the Supreme Court in interpreting these rights.  Throughout the course, students will learn to identify historical and current examples of their fundamental liberties and the interdependence among those freedoms. Students will also learn to identify government violations of their rights and the constitutional limits on government policy making.  In addition, students will complete a six to either page research paper on a current civil liberties issue of their choice.  The overall purpose of the course is to provide students with the knowledge to identify, explain, and guard their own constitutional rights in an era of expanding government authority.

Honors - Students taking the course for honors credit will complete additional weekly reading assignments, take part in a weekly roundtable seminar discussion, and complete an eight to ten page research paper. 

Prerequisite:

• All juniors and seniors may choose to enroll in Honors or AP-level courses. 
• Teachers will provide recommendations for each student, indicating whether the  student is well-prepared for advanced coursework. Students should consult with their teachers and counselors in selecting an appropriate level of challenge. 

History Seminar Honors - Environmental History 
This is a semester-long seminar course.

The history of human cultures has been the story of humanity’s relationship to nature. How each culture views the environment shapes the sustainability and future of the people.  Environmental collapse has caused civilizations to disappear in the past and it threatens the globe in the present.  This course will examine how the environment has played a role in human history as well as how human history has impacted the environment.  We will look at how environmental movements have played a role in contemporary politics and the various writings of environmental thinkers and authors. This interdisciplinary class will weave together aspects of anthropology, philosophy, politics, history, economics, science, and literature.  

Students taking Environmental History for Honors credit will be expected to contribute more to the class in terms of depth and thoroughness of research projects, read additional material and lead discussions about it, and write a longer, more complex research paper.  

Prerequisite:

• All juniors and seniors may choose to enroll in Honors or AP-level courses. 
• Teachers will provide recommendations for each student, indicating whether the student is well-prepared for advanced coursework. Students should consult with their teachers and counselors in selecting an appropriate level of challenge. 

History Seminar - History of Modern China 
This semester-long survey course introduces students to the historical context necessary to begin to understand the issues and challenges surrounding the Peoples Republic of China today.  The course will begin by examining the dynastic foundations of Imperial China highlighting the continuities that we will focus on in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  We will examine the social and political structures of the later imperial states leading to an examination of China’s  ‘Century of Humiliation’ and the ramifications today as the PRC attempts to control the interpretations of their own history.  Topics considered include Western Imperialism and domestic rebellion, the Opium War, the Taiping Revolution, the Republican Revolution in 1911 and Warlordism, the May 4^th Movement, the rise of the Guomindang, the Civil War, the emergence of the People’s Republic of China, Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms, the development of China as an economic superpower, and current issues such as the conflict over control of the South China Sea.  Emphasis will be placed on the political, social, and cultural transformation of China in the late 20^th century as the Chinese struggle with becoming a modern nation.  The course attempts to analyze the degree of continuity and change in China in such areas as politics, economics, social organization, foreign relations, and intellectual and cultural developments.

History Seminar Honors - History of Modern China 
This semester-long survey course introduces students to the historical context necessary to begin to understand the issues and challenges surrounding the Peoples Republic of China today.  The course will begin by examining the dynastic foundations of Imperial China highlighting the continuities that we will focus on in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  We will examine the social and political structures of the later imperial states leading to an examination of China’s  ‘Century of Humiliation’ and the ramifications today as the PRC attempts to control the interpretations of their own history.  Topics considered include Western Imperialism and domestic rebellion, the Opium War, the Taiping Revolution, the Republican Revolution in 1911 and Warlordism, the May 4^th Movement, the rise of the Guomindang, the Civil War, the emergence of the People’s Republic of China, Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms, the development of China as an economic superpower, and current issues such as the conflict over control of the South China Sea.  Emphasis will be placed on the political, social, and cultural transformation of China in the late 20^th century as the Chinese struggle with becoming a modern nation.  The course attempts to analyze the degree of continuity and change in China in such areas as politics, economics, social organization, foreign relations, and intellectual and cultural developments.

History Seminar - Russian History 
This semester-long course surveys the making of modern Russia from its earliest recorded beginnings through the reign of the Romanovs, the Communist revolution of 1917, and the Soviet period. Students will explore the diverse Eurasian heritage of Muscovite Russia, the Europeanization of Russia under Romanov rule, the conditions leading to revolution and the Soviet state. Students should express an interest in Russian history in order to enroll in this course. Major course assessments will include reading quizzes, unit exams, a research paper and a final exam.

Food and Agriculture in World History 
This semester-long course examines the impacts that food and its production have had on human history, from our hunter-gatherer past to our industrial present. Students will connect food production to broader themes across history, such as settlement patterns, cultural and economic development, land and resource use, human health and disease, famine and abundance, environmental degradation and sustainability, and climate change. This course will make extensive use of Sacred Heart’s farm, garden, and kitchens so that students gain hands-on experience with both plant and animal agriculture as well as food preparation. The experiential component will make up a significant portion of class time and will tie directly to course material. There will be a strong focus on geography, and a wide array of written and visual sources, including book chapters, news articles, films and videos, podcasts, maps, graphs, and charts.

Social & Environmental Economics 
This is a semester-long course.

The major social, political, and environmental issues of the 21^st century have economics as a common, foundational element.  Therefore, understanding, confronting, and solving these issues requires a working knowledge of that discipline. This semester-long course takes a macroeconomic perspective in analyzing the U.S. and world’s economies.  In order to put the issues of climate change, environmental sustainability, inequality, and financial crises in perspective we will begin with by examining the key economic issues of growth of Gross Domestic Product, inflation, unemployment levels, monetary policy and the roles of central banks.  We will then explore how our attention to those intersect with the “real-world” economics of social and environmental issues of interest.

Social & Environmental Economics, Honors
This is a semester-long course.

The major social, political, and environmental issues of the 21^st century have economics as a common, foundational element.  Therefore, understanding, confronting, and solving these issues requires a working knowledge of that discipline. This semester-long course takes a macroeconomic perspective in analyzing the U.S. and world’s economies.  In order to put the issues of climate change, environmental sustainability, inequality, and financial crises in perspective we will begin with by examining the key economic issues of growth of Gross Domestic Product, inflation, unemployment levels, monetary policy and the roles of central banks.  We will then explore how our attention to those intersect with the “real-world” economics of social and environmental issues of interest.