2021–22 Course Catalog

Multi-disciplinary Electives Peace & Justice Studies Fall Semester—Open to Grades 11 and 12 Peace and justice studies is an interdisciplinary course which will allow students to examine the sources of peace, violence, and conflict resolution. In addressing this area students will develop practical skills in conflict resolution, mediation, and intercultural understanding. Students will have the opportunity to challenge their perspectives while formulating a more thorough understanding of social, cultural, and structural conditions both domestically and globally. The purpose of this course is to form conscientiousness, action orientated, critical global citizens. Topics over the course of the year will include the nature of peace, justice, and conflict, international politics, peacebuilding, and the United Nations role in conflict resolution. Students will look at particular case studies (e.g.

Rwanda, Northern Ireland, Policing) through the lenses of gender, race, and ethnicity, and see how politics, religion, feminism, dialogue, and mediation impact these situations.

Gender Studies Spring Semester—Open to Grades 11 and 12 Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to examining the complexity of difference. The ways in which difference is produced, culturally, politically, structurally, and philosophically will be explored through the study of sexuality, masculinity, and gender systems, which are key to understanding race, ethnicity, nationality, and class. A critical analysis of social movements and theoretical lenses relating to feminism, patriarchy, power, and queer studies will provide students with the opportunity to challenge the gendered structure of the world and the gendered stereotypes that have emerged as a result. Emphasis will be placed on independent research projects and collaboration with local organizations and movements.

Introduction to Philosophy Fall Semester--Open to grades 10-12 The word philosophy means “love of wisdom.” This one-semester elective will seek to nurture both this wisdom and this love. Philosophy can be challenging, rewarding, and even a little dangerous, since it teaches you to think for yourself.

In a sense, we’re all philosophers already, since we all ask basic and urgent questions such as: How do I know what’s true? What’s the right thing to do? How 33