Social Studies is at the heart of a civil society. Our primary goal as a department is to empower students to enter our increasingly multi-cultural, diverse world as active, thoughtful, and passionate citizens. We believe that an understanding of the past is the most important means by which our students will comprehend the complex world they will someday lead.

As such, our department offers a wide variety of courses, both in history and the social sciences, and incorporates opportunities to experience history and current events throughout our four-year program of study. An emphasis on critical thinking skills and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is crucial in each of our courses. Students will engage in active learning through historical simulations, debates, and creative projects as they develop the analytical, presentation, and synthesis skills necessary to make an impact on the world. It is our firm belief that an understanding of both the past and current events will help students to find both personal and public fulfillment as they embark on their adult lives. As one of our teachers puts it best: we educate the future through the past.