SOCIAL STUDIES I | Credit: 1

Grade 9 Prerequisite: None

This course examines individuals in a variety of fictional and actual situations and explores the personal, psychological, societal and economic influencers that shape their perception and behavior. Topics studied in this course include Individual in Society, Twentieth Century Russia, World War I, the Rise of Hitler and the Holocaust, Gandhi and India's Struggle for Independence, and "Brave New World."

During the course, each student will discuss or write about the following concepts: Ethics, Status, Role and Norms, Rationalization, Prejudice and Racism, Feudalism, Capitalism and Imperialism, Democracy, Revolution, Fascism, Communism and Totalitarianism, Faith and Freedom.

U.S. HISTORY | Credit: 1

Grade 10 Prerequisite: None

This course examines individuals in a variety of fictional and actual situations from the American past and explores the personal, psychological, societal, economic and political influences that shaped their perception and behavior. The majority of units in the course focus on United States History after 1865, although attention is given to essential aspects of the American Revolution, the Constitution and the Civil War.

FACT AND FICTION: THE HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF AMERICA | Credits: 1 English, 1 Social Studies

Grade 10 Prerequisite: English I, Social Studies I

Fact and Fiction is a team-taught, double-period course staffed by one English teacher and one Social Studies teacher. It offers an integrated approach to the study of American history and literature from the colonial period up through contemporary times—focusing primarily on the study of historical texts, essays, short stories, novels, poems, and plays, and including film, the fine arts, music, television, emerging media, and the performing arts. The topics are organized chronologically, beginning with the colonial experience, followed by a study of the revolutionary era, antebellum America, the Civil War and Reconstruction period, the modernization of America that took place in the late 19^th century, and ending with a comprehensive examination of 20^th century American history, society, and culture. The particular materials, texts, and approaches will be distributed in a balanced manner so that the students are able to examine and explore the American experience and condition from a wide variety of perspectives.

POLITICS | Credit: .5

Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: None

Politics looks at the effects of human interactions within our government. These essential questions for students as we go through the semester is: Why does my vote matter? Students will focus on this question as they progress through units including Elections, the Electoral College, and the Federal Budget. The course culminates in a project that encourages young people to be lifelong voters.

SOCIOLOGY | Credit: .5

Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: None

The course focuses on the study of human social behavior: how individuals and groups of individuals behave in relation to one another, what sociological forces influence their behavior, and why those forces have such a strong influence on our individual and collective ways of being. The course opens with a introduction to sociology and those that shaped it as a social science. We will examine theorists such as Durkheim, Marx, Weber and Du Bois and how each shaped the study of sociology. The next unit focuses on the individual and society and we will cover topics such as culture, socialization, norms, crime and deviance. Social institutions and social inequalities will be the focus of the second half of the course. Issues such as race, gender, and inequality will be covered through a variety of texts and documentaries. Throughout the course, students will have the option to pursue an aspect of sociology of their choice and write a research paper to present for their final projects.

PSYCHOLOGY I | Credit: .5

Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: None

This course deals with a variety of psychological subjects that will increase the student's self-awareness. This is a hands- on class in which we explore the foundations of psychology and how they relate to everyday life. Our topics will include:

• A brief history of psychology and introduction to the various perspectives
• States of Consciousness
• Sleep and Dreams
• Sensation and Perception
• Personality
• Emotions
• Motivation
• Inner workings of the Brain
   

PSYCHOLOGY II | Credit: .5

Grades 11-12

Prerequisite: Psychology I or permission of the teacher. Also open to sophomores with the permission of the instructor.

This course goes beyond what was taught in Psych I and explores, on a deeper level, the neuroscience and theories behind our greatest and worst actions. Throughout the course, students will read the book Subliminal by Leonard Mlodinow, which offers a detailed and fascinating examination of how much of an impact our unconscious has on our behavior. We begin the course with an examination of how we become the people that we are, and the influence of nature and nurture on development. This leads us into our unit on developmental psychology, as we learn the theories of Erikson, Kohlberg, Piaget and others. Social psychology and morality will then be studied and we will answer questions such as why do we do what we do and why do those around us have such a major impact on our actions. We then examine abnormal psychology, including mental illness, personality disorders and psychopathy. To conclude the year, students conduct their own research and experiments on a psychological topic of their choice.

CURRENT ISSUES | Credit: .5 or 1. (May be taken one or two semesters)

Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: None

This course is designed to further one’s understanding of the world as it is today. It is structured as an examination of “current issues” through various lenses, which will vary depending on the region of the world we are covering. We will spend time discussing current events, but will also delve deeper into global affairs through an examination of the international stage. Themes we will use to examine the world will include inequality, nationalism, conflict, overpopulation, environmental degradation, religion, climate change and others as they arise. As we learn about the world, the basics of each region’s geography, economics, and history will be covered, as it is impossible to separate these entities from current affairs.

LIFE and DEATH | Credit: .5

Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: None

Life and Death asks two questions: How do we value life? How do we add value to our lives and the lives of others? Throughout the course, students are asked to consider these essential questions as we move through units such as Assisted Suicide, Suicide Prevention, Cultural Attitudes of Life and Death. Ultimately, students are asked to demonstrate their knowledge about their own beliefs and form a plan to move toward the people and practices that will add value to their lives and the lives of others based on what they have learned about themselves.

BERKSHIRE HISTORY | Credit: .5

Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: None

This course will focus on Berkshire County, past and present, particularly its people and its many "claims to fame." Students will learn how to use as "tools" not only books but also interviews, old records, newspapers, cemeteries and buildings.

The goal is to develop the ability to understand and evaluate the economic, geographic, and historical background of Berkshire County.

Units will be covered pertaining to Native Americans, the Shakers, early settlers, Monument Mills, and the development of the South Berkshire area.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT US HISTORY | Credits: 1

Grades 11 – 12 Honors

Prerequisite: Successful completion of US History

AP US History is designed to be a yearlong, college level course exploring American history from 1491 to the present. In this course, students will be taught historical thinking skills such as chronological reasoning, comparison and contextualization, historical interpretation and synthesis, and the creation of historical arguments from historical evidence.

Students will focus on seven themes as the course travels through time. These themes and their central questions are:

• Identity—what does it mean to be an American? How has American identity changed over time? How have gender, class, religion, and other group identities changed in different eras?
• Work, Exchange, and Technology—how have changes in markets, transportation, and technology affected American society over time? Why have different labor systems developed in Canada and the United States? How have debates over economic values and the role of government in the U.S. economy affected politics, society, the economy and the environment?
• Peopling—why have people migrated to, from, and within North America? How have changes in migration and population patterns affected American life?
• Politics and Power—how and why have different political and social groups competed for influence over society and government in what would become the United States? How have Americans agreed on or argued over the values that guide the political system, as well as who is a part of the political process?
• America in the World—how have events in North America and the United States related to contemporary developments in the rest of the world? How have different factors influenced U.S. military, diplomatic, and economic involvement in international affairs and foreign conflicts, both in North America and overseas?
• Environment and Geography—how did interactions with the natural environment shape the institutions and values of various groups living on the North American continent? How did economic and demographic changes affect the environment and lead to debates over use and control of the environment and natural resources?
• Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture—how and why have moral, philosophical, and cultural values changed in what would become the United States? How and why have changes in moral, philosophical, and cultural values affected U.S. history?

This course is recommended for juniors and seniors who were highly successful in Fact and Fiction or Honors US History.

MODERN EUROPEAN HISTORY | Credit: 1

Grades 11-12 Prerequisite: 88 or higher average in Honors U.S. History or Fact and Fiction

“Modern Euro” deals with Philosophy and Revolution in Modern Europe. It is an intensive course designed for people who are interested in great ideas and great revolutions. Students will explore the ideas of major philosophers including Descartes, Rousseau, Hegel, and Sartre, great authors including Dostoyevsky and Camus, and major revolutionary leaders such as Danton, Robespierre, and Lenin. The final unit in the course will focus on World War II.

PHILOSOPHY | Credit: .5

Grades 10-12 Prerequisite: None

This course will serve as an introduction to the study of philosophy. Philosophy is the study of commonly asked questions about our experience as human beings, questions about the nature of existence, the boundaries of knowledge, the origin of values, the limits of freedom of the will, and the bases of moral responsibility. Those who practice philosophy are simply attempting to put into words that which they intuitively sense are the best answers to those questions—and to then test the accuracy and trustworthiness of those answers through collective critical discourse and rational thought. The course will offer students the opportunity to engage in such work, to explore the ideas of leading ancient, modern, and contemporary philosophers, and to assess their answers to these common and fundamental questions about the human condition. Students can take the class for either an honors or a college preparatory credit. All students will be expected to complete the reading assignments, write a number of analytical essays, and be prepared to participate in class discussions. Students seeking honors credit will be expected to write essays that meet more demanding criteria, and to write a final paper at the end of the semester.

CIVICS | Credit: .5

Grades 10 – 12 Prerequisite: None

Civics considers the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship through the essential question: What does it mean to be an engaged citizen? Citizenship is considered at all levels: federal, state, and local with a focus on our immediate communities. Every effort is made to get students out into the community several times during the semester for the purpose of engaging with different people and groups who are active in the local community. The goal of Civics is to help students see themselves as participating, engaged citizens when they leave MMHRS.

PSYCHOLOGY III | Credit .5

Grades 11 & 12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Psych I and II & recommendation by the teacher.

The objectives of the course are to continue the study of psychology beyond topics taught in Psych I and II, to allow students to pursue psychology topics of their choice, and to challenge students to think as teachers as well as learners. The course will begin with the study of a recently published psychology text, such as The Righteous Mind, by Jonathan Haidt, combined with a study of Bloom’s taxonomy and theories about teaching and learning. After this unit, students will choose their own topics for study and presentation, with pairs of students teaching and assessing the class. Past topics have included lie detection, forensic psychology, psychopathy, sports psychology, and language acquisition.

PEOPLE AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT | Credit .5

Grades 11-12 P.E. or Social Studies Elective

See: People & Their Environment

SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECTS | Credit .5

Grades: 11-12 Prerequisite: Successful completion of 9th and 10th grade Social Studies requirements

See: Independent Education