History
Imagine the majesty of the Roman Empire, the eloquence of the Gettysburg Address, the passion of the American Civil Rights movement and the beauty of the Renaissance all brought back to life through some of the most exciting classes and with some of the most dynamic teachers you’ve ever had. Well, stop imagining. This is what history at Stevenson is all about.
In fact, passionate history students at Stevenson have the opportunity to study history in each of their four years with a variety of elective classes ranging from the History of Ideas to Chinese History. When you’re a junior or senior you can also choose from three different Advanced Placement classes. Incidentally, over 80% of Stevenson history students who took an Advanced Placement exam in the last five years earned a passing grade, which made them eligible to earn college credit.
At each step along the way, our teachers actively mentor students in developing their research and writing skills, refining their analytical reading and discussion skills, and providing positive encouragement to promote scholarly habits of mind and a lifelong love of learning.
Course Offerings
World History I – Roots of the Modern World
This global history course introduces students to the study of civilization; the course aims for student achievement of global geographic literacy, historical knowledge of selected ancient and pre-modern societies through about 1450 CE, understanding of the major world religions, and appreciation of cultural commonalities and differences across time and space. The course aims to introduce students to high school level reading and study skills, geographic literacy, analysis of primary resources, research and writing skills, and historically grounded discussion of current events. Students in World History I are introduced to the requirements of scholarly research and citation, and they are expected to complete a project that demonstrates their understanding of a research topic and the principles and mechanics of scholarly citations.
World History II – The Modern World
This global history course, intended primarily for sophomores, forms the continuation of the ninth grade course, World History I: Roots of the Modern World. After a review of the summer reading, this course begins with an examination of the European Renaissance and its historical and transregional origins. Then, starting with the dawn of interaction between Europe and the Americas in 1492, the course surveys the history of the modern world with an emphasis on instances and processes of cross-cultural interaction. Students study the political, intellectual, social, and economic developments that take place in various regions of the world, and also seek to place their regional attention into the larger context of global interconnectivity. The course aims to provide students further opportunity to develop their skills in map literacy, analysis of primary sources, research and analytical writing. Students in World History II are expected to successfully complete a major research project that includes intermediate deadlines for topic selection, research notes, outline and bibliography, and a complete, revised written paper with scholarly citations.
United States History
Junior year, students explore United States history through a team-taught survey of America from colonial times to the present. Organized in a lecture and discussion format, the course guides students through a comprehensive study of important historical trends that lend perspective on current social, economic, and political issues, as well as on competing historical interpretations. By this stage in their secondary education, students are expected to demonstrate more independence and initiative in keeping up with assigned readings, gleaning information presented only in lecture, monitoring their own progress, and seeking additional assistance from their teacher when needed. Students in US History are expected to successfully complete a major research paper with scholarly citations.
Advanced Placement United States History
This advanced study presents the equivalent of a college freshman-level survey of American history, with the goal of stimulating the most able, interested, and motivated students to achieve excellence in the study of history. In addition to mastering all of the goals and content in our US History course, teachers expect students to demonstrate considerable dedication, as the readings and additional writing assignments are sophisticated and abundant. Students enrolled in the course prepare for the Advanced Placement Examination in May. Students in AP US History are expected to successfully complete a major research paper with scholarly citations.
History IV Courses - Economics
Economics is a full-year elective which allows seniors to broaden their understanding of business: investing, finance, accounting, marketing, management, and entrepreneurial ventures. We cover the full range of domestic and international macroeconomics also so that students get the bigger picture and their place within it. This course is reserved for seniors.
Advanced Placement Economics
This course is a college-level survey of the principal economic theories and an examination of their utility in understanding current economic problems. It also incorporates a general business administration curriculum designed to familiarize students with the workings of the corporate world and portfolio management; daily reading of the Wall Street Journal is required. The course aims specifically to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Examination in microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Advanced Placement European History
This rigorous historical survey course covers the political, social, economic, artistic, and intellectual history of Europe from the Renaissance to the present. In addition to a collegelevel text, the syllabus includes the use of primary source materials, novels, art history slides, and film. This course emphasizes a student's ability to synthesize sophisticated material in essays and papers. This course is intended for seniors.
Advanced Placement World History
This global history course focuses on comparative historical and societal studies, patterns of global interaction, change over time, and the development of certain scholarly habits of mind in the students. This Advanced Placement course assumes as a prerequisite mastery of content, themes, and skills developed in our World History I course. The course begins with an intensive discussion of at least two summer reading books, and then seeks to develop certain themes, patterns, and cross-cultural comparisons through a chronological survey of global history from about 1450 CE to the present. The course concludes with an extensive review of the foundations of world history and the post-classical world (including material from World History I) prior to the national AP World History examination. This rigorous course is open only to select, advanced sophomores (in lieu of World History II) and to qualified seniors as an elective option. Students in AP World History are expected to successfully complete a major research project that includes intermediate deadlines for topic selection, research notes, outline and bibliography, and a complete, revised written paper with scholarly citiations.
History IV Electives
The following elective are trimester-long courses in history and social sciences: Celebrating Life’s Changes • History of Ideas • History of the Middle East • History of Monterey • International and Comparative Politics • Introduction to Ethics • U.S. Government and Politics • World Religions
