The New School of Northern Virginia offers Humanities courses in World Studies, Geography, Social Studies, US History, Government, and English. Although teachers design their own courses, certain essential questions and habits of mind shape the courses’ content and structure. The New School’s philosophy leads most teachers toward an interdisciplinary approach to the Humanities, with classes frequently combining philosophy, literature, history, and/or current events. A course’s discipline is determined by the essential question that it asks.

For additional information on our Humanities program, see the descriptions below.

U.S. History

Although the teaching of history occurs at many levels, the processes of history are of particular concern in US History classes. By requiring each student to assume the role of the historian, each class explores how evidence is evaluated and used in the construction of a narrative. As the historian connects event to event, he or she develops an understanding of the evolution of American identity. They also come to understand how the past has shaped their present identity and that of their peers.

Courses Include:

• Cultural History of the United States
• America Between the Wars: 1919-1940
• AP United States History
• Race and Gender in US History
• America Moving: Transportation in US History
• US & Central America
• Vietnam Project W/English course

Government

Government at The New School combines a study of the institutions and procedures that govern our lives as well as a discussion of the issues, ideas, and social dynamics that our government has had to deal with, and continues to deal with, throughout its history: from issues of local versus federal control to issues dealing with how best to interpret the Constitution. We also offer courses in comparative government.

Courses Include:

• AP Government
• World Economics and Government
• Ideology in American Government
• American Law

World Studies

The New School’s World Studies curriculum is comprehensive. Beginning in the Lower School, students are introduced to the meaning of different cultures throughout human history. As students move into the high school, the focus shifts. Students learn to look at individual cultural identities from the inside: on the culture’s own terms. As a result, students begin to wrestle with questions of globalization and its effect on national identity and human difference.

Courses Include:

• A two-year Junior High exploration of civilizations
• Terrorist or Freedom Fighter?
• Palestine and Israel
• The Holocaust
• Modern Japan
• Historical Controversies: An Investigation of Evidence
• The Renaissance from Baghdad to Europe
• Mythology (split with English)

Social Studies

Social Studies at The New School covers a broad range of subjects: religion, psychology, philosophy, and criminology—to name but a few. In the Social Studies, students explore the relationship of individuals and their ideas to particular societies, focusing not only on the impact of social context on the shaping of an individual’s identity, but on how ideas evolve in relationship to context.

Courses Include:

• Exploring the Self
• Perspectives in the Social Sciences
• Think Tank
• Judaism, Christianity, Islam
• Socratic Seminar: Death and Dying
• Socratic Seminar: Ethics http://www.nsnva.pvt.k12.va.us/academics/TMPyq4m8bkuq.php

Geography

In Geography, The New School examines the effect that maps and language have on the shaping of our understanding of the world. Our primary focus is the effect that geographical factors have on the shaping of political, cultural, and economic realities. How we understand those factors, and the language that we use, play a crucial role in our respect for, and appreciation of, the physical world.

Courses Include:

• Discovering the World
• Geography 2003
• Urban Geography
• The Middle East (split with World Studies)