History

US History 1, Grade 9, 1 Credit
This is an introductory course in US History from the 1760s through Reconstruction in the 1870s. Topics covered include: the influences of the American War of Independence on American government; the development and role of the Constitution and Bill of Rights in American democracy; America before the Civil War; the Civil War and its impact on the development of the country; Reconstruction, and westward expansion. Students will develop skills necessary for success later in the IB: note-taking organization; keeping a notebook; reading for comprehension; writing a thesis essay; learning research techniques, and interpreting primary documents. This course will prepare students taking the MCAS in History when it is implemented in 2007.

US History 2, Grade 10, 1 Credit
This is an introductory course in U.S. History from after Reconstruction in the 1870s to the present time. Topics covered include: the Progressive Era and American Expansionism, World War I, the Great Depression, the New Deal, World War II, Civil Rights and the Vietnam War. Special emphasis will be given to the Cold War and the causes, practices, and effects of war to prepare students for the IB History courses they will take in their Junior year. Students will develop skills necessary for success later in the IB: note-taking organization; keeping a notebook; reading for comprehension; writing a thesis essay; learning research techniques, and interpreting primary documents. This course will prepare students taking the MCAS in History when it is implemented in 2007.

 

IB 20th Century World History HL 1, Grade 11, 1 Credit
IB History HL1 is the beginning of a two-year 20th Century World History course. We start with the origins of the Arab-Israeli Crisis, the origins and nature of dictatorships in Germany and Russia, and the origins of the Cold War. We will then assess the impact of the Cold War on western Europe and the USSR and the impact of the Arab-Israeli Crisis on the Middle East. We will end the first year of the course with the Internal Assessment.

IB 20th Century World History HL 2, Grade 12, 1 Credit
This is the second and final year of a two-year course for students who plan to take the Higher Level IB exam in May 2009. Regions studied in this course include Europe, Asia the Middle East and the Americas. The grade 12, year begins with the Rise and Rule of Stalin and Hitler, followed by a study of the Depression and WWII, to conclude with an intensive study of the Cold War. Students will be prepared to answer IB exam Paper 1, which is a document-based exam on Stalin and the USSR (1924-41); they will also be prepared to answer IB exam Paper 2, which is a comparative examination of single party states, the causes, practices and effects of war and the Cold War. Students will also answer IB exam Paper 3, which assesses an intensive study of Europe from 1890-1990. Students will complete an historical investigation of 1500-2000 words in the fall of 2008.

IB History SL 1 & 2, Grades 11, & 12, 2 Credits
This is a two-year course designed for students who plan to take the Standard Level exam in IB History at the end of grade 12. IB History SL will begin with a survey of developments in the 19th Century. The grade 11, year will conclude with World War I and the causes leading up to World War II. The grade 12, year will be an intensive study of the remainder of the 20th Century, beginning with WW II and continuing through the Cold War. Students will be prepared to answer IB Exam Paper 1, which is a document-based exam on the Cold War; they will also be prepared to answer IB Exam Paper 2, which is a comparative examination of single-party states; the causes, practices, and effects of war; and the Cold War. Finally, the students will complete an historical investigation of 1,500 to 2,000 words on a topic of their choice.

IB Business and Management SL, Grade 11 or 12, 1 Credit
This is a one year elective course for students who plan to take the Standard Level IB Business and Management Exam. Students will study the following areas: Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Operations Management, and Business Organization. Students are expected to complete an extensive area of study in all five topics. Students will learn to communicate business ideas and information effectively and accurately using appropriate formats and tools. Also, they will learn to make business decisions by identifying the issue(s), selecting and interpreting appropriate data, applying proper tools and techniques, and recommending suitable solutions for solving problems in the business world.

IB Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS), SL & HL 1, Grade 11, 1 Credit
ITGS SL is a one year course designed to help students acquire an understanding of technology and its uses. In year one, ITGS students will learn the basics of IT operations and a framework for debating the ethical implications of using current and future technologies. Some of the technologies to be considered include databases, imaging, the Internet, biomedical engineering, and many others. Students will begin to analyze and assess the application of technology to real-world settings. SL Students will also complete their internal assessment – developing a functioning IT solution to a problem in the real world; students at the higher level will work on internal assessments which represent more of a theoretical approach to IT.

IB Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS) HL 2, Grade 12, 1 Credit
Year two of HL ITGS moves into more advanced technologies. Students will learn about the current state of robotics, artificial intelligence, and expert systems. Students will solidify their own framework for understanding how society may adapt to new technologies, and learn to apply or adapt their framework to any situation. Students will complete their internal assessments, which consist of a portfolio of writing samples in response to current events.

IB Psychology SL, Grade 11 or 12, 1 Credit
This one year elective course is for students who plan to take the Standard Level IB Psychology Exam. Students will be introduced to the history of the development of Psychology and three theoretical models found in the field, the Biological, Learning, and Cognitive perspectives. Students will specialize in cultural psychology. They will also study research methods and the ethics of research. Finally, students will design and conduct a partial replication of a published psychological experiment.

IB Ways of Knowing, Grade 11 or 12, 1 Credit
Ways of Knowing is a one year philosophical and practical exploration of the difficulties of attaining certainty about the things we know. The course takes time to ask questions about how knowledge is gained and what obstacles lay in the way of that knowledge in each of the subject areas that form the IB curriculum. Course assessment tasks prepare students to integrate these concepts and perspectives into their more traditional subjects. These tasks include writing three to four essays, making two oral presentations and keeping a journal of critical reflections regarding topics addressed in class.