Academic Departments
History & Social Science
he history and social science department offers courses in history, art studies, and social sciences. These courses teach close reading, analytical writing, analysis, and synthesis. They stress observation and interpretation of primary sources. They require students to assimilate ideas from the past, from their peers, and of their own. The courses challenge students to be part of the subject they study. The standard sequence of Ancient & Medieval History, Rise of the Modern World, U.S. History provides a solid foundation for the advanced study of history.
History Sequence for ESL students
Students are not required to take a history course while they are enrolled in the ESL program. However, a 10th or 11th grade student in Advanced ESL may take Ancient and Medieval History (H-222) if she has permission from the ESL instructor. Ancient and Medieval History is the only history course open to Advanced ESL students. A 10th grade ESL student taking Ancient and Medieval History may choose to be graded on a Credit/No Credit basis rather than receive letter grades for the course.All students leaving ESL must take a history course during each of their remaining years at EWS and must take U.S. History in order to graduate. Whenever possible, students should take Ancient and Medieval History (H-222) before taking Rise of the Modern World (H-232), and Rise of the Modern World before taking U.S. History (H-331 or H-333). Students who are enrolled in Advanced ESL as 9th graders take Ancient and Medieval History in 10th grade, Rise of the Modern World in 11th grade, and U.S. History in 12th grade. Students enrolled in Advanced ESL in 10th grade take Rise of the Modern World in 11th grade and U.S. History in 12th grade. Students who are in Advanced ESL in 11th grade take U.S. History in 12th grade. Students may, with permission of their advisor and the history department, take history electives concurrently with U.S. History during their senior year.
