An MVCDS Education

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Social Studies

An MVCDS graduate will be able to draw on foundational knowledge in history, geography, economics, civics, and culture to make global connections to understand current issues and their historical underpinnings. They will ask questions, problem­ solve, and engage in civil discourse for the ethical stewardship of our democracy and our world. In their exploration, students will fluidly and analytically employ diverse sources, conveying their conclusions in a variety of ways.

  • American History and Government

    This course explores the historical and political foundations of the United States with a special focus on current events. It begins by examining competing narratives of the Colonial Era with the goal of understanding how written history arises from incomplete primary sources, and how the role of past events in historical consciousness changes over time. It then explores how different regional narratives fused in a national consciousness during the Revolutionary Era, and how the U.S. Constitution reflects a series of compromises that gave structure to the new nation. Further topics include the causes of the Civil War, the competing forces that shaped Reconstruction, the unresolved economic questions of the Progressive Era and New Deal, the national debates over American imperialism and growth of American power, and the legacies of the Civil Rights Era and Cold War. A goal is to enable students to enter current debates about the nature and value of American history on their own terms. Assessments include projects and presentations, a series of class discussions and debates, and several papers.

  • AP US History

    This course will acquaint students with the ideas, events, values, conflicts, and achievements of the United States, from its earliest beginnings to the modern period. This course is to be viewed not as an end–not as the last course in American history a student will ever take–but rather as a beginning: your first detailed look at the people and ideas that have shaped this nation. Classes consist of teacher and student-led lessons, discussions, and analyses of reading; in-class projects and activities; audio-visual materials; writing assignments; and a variety of other historical activities. Facts, names, and events are important, but they are not the sum total of history. This course is designed to move beyond that to look at other issues. The reading load is significant, and students must be motivated to keep up with the workload.

  • Applied Ethics

     
    This course explores the central questions of moral philosophy: how should we act and how should we live? We start by comparing competing theories of what makes actions right or wrong: utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. By examining arguments for and against these views, students will develop a framework for writing and reasoning about moral problems and evaluating judgments of right and wrong. Weeks 2 and 3 of the intensive are devoted to particular issues: abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide, genetic engineering, animal welfare, and criminal justice and punishment. With the help of guest speakers, field trips, and independent research, students will apply the study of moral reasoning to these problems by developing and defending moral arguments. Through this process, students will learn to ask questions, identify their own moral assumptions, raise and respond to challenges to their own points of view, and write and revise a paper that presents and defends a stance on a moral issue. At the end of the intensive students will have the opportunity to present their arguments and field questions from the wider community. 

  • Civil Rights: America’s Journey

    In this course, students will embark on a journey through America's complex history of civil rights, exploring pivotal events, influential figures, and significant milestones that have shaped the nation's pursuit of equality and justice. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the struggles, triumphs, and ongoing challenges surrounding civil rights in the United States.  In addition to understanding past struggles, students will also explore contemporary civil rights issues.  Ultimately, this course aims to empower students to become informed and engaged citizens, equipped with historical knowledge, empathy, and a commitment to promoting equality and justice in their communities and beyond.

  • Cold War

    This course will examine the different eras of the Cold War, and how recent research has impacted our historical understanding of this complex conflict. Our investigation will use a great deal of primary source documents and student led discussion. Students will be comparing the historiography of the time of the Cold War to recent research that has been made available post-Soviet Collapse.

  • Comparative Religion

    This course focuses on religion in the modern world. We start by drawing on guest speakers from Toledo’s religious communities to explore the beliefs and practices that contribute to religious diversity in the United States. We examine competing arguments about the future of religion, including recent Supreme Court decisions that deal with religious freedom and its relationship to other legal rights. Along the way, we explore questions that confront every society that values religious freedom and a separation between church and state: What is the relationship between reason and faith? How should religious convictions inform politics? Can different religious groups unite under a common national identity? By exploring competing approaches to these questions, students will develop a framework for thinking about the nature of religious pluralism in a democratic society. Writing, reading, and discussion figure heavily in this course.

  • Economics

    Economics is the social science that deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services; it has also been called the "dismal science" for its traditionally boring approach to what should be an interesting and vital part of our lives. This course will take a real-world approach to economics, using enough theory to understand why gasoline prices fluctuate as they do, how profit drives music industry decisions, why the cost of college has outrun inflation for decades, and whether baseball players are actually paid too much.
    We will cover such topics as how markets work, the relationship between business and labor, the role of the government in the economy, banks and the stock market, unemployment and inflation, and the global economy. The focus in this course is on combining readings with projects and simulations to understand the concepts that drive the economy in the world.
     

  • Evolution of Human Thought

    This course explores the development of human civilizations from the dawn of cities to the Fall of Rome. We start by comparing traditional creation myths with the account of human origins provided by modern biology and archaeology, with the goal of understanding, “What makes us human?” We then track several developments that form the backbone of ancient history: the shift from spoken language to writing systems and law codes, the development from myth and poetry to written history, the evolution of religion, the rise of empires in Rome and China, and the foundations of modernity in the Middle Ages. A major goal is to explore the question, “How do we know what we know about the past?” To this end, we examine the role of perspective in the telling of history; the relationship between primary and secondary sources; the ancient fascination with the lives of heroes; and the qualities of imagination, research, and storytelling that make someone an effective historian. Along the way, students explore foundational questions about law, art, politics, economics, and philosophy that may inspire an interest in one or more focused Social Studies classes. Assessments include several projects, a series of class discussions and debates, and a response paper portfolio. 

  • Globalization

    Whether or not you agree with Thomas Friedman that “the world is flat,” we certainly live in a world where the actions of one country send ripple effects throughout the world.  What is our responsibility to other countries, and what should we expect in return?  This question will drive our explorations on the topic of globalization.  Beginning with Middle Ages, we will analyze technological and cultural shifts that have led to globalization, its key players, as well as the political, cultural, environmental, and financial implications of globalization. Students will examine major historic events, agreements guiding international political and financial cooperation, study current events pertaining to course themes, and learn how to analyze key issues and identify the underlying values of their views.  Major assessments include debates, role playing, tests, and research.
     

  • International Relations

     
    The dynamics of international relations change constantly. Pictures of students facing down their own government’s tanks in Tiananmen Square have been replaced by images of counter terrorist operations in the Middle East. What are the historical and political causes of regional instability suggested in these images, and what can they tell us about our changing world order? Is the nation-state still the traditional power center of the international system in a world increasingly affected by globalization and humanitarian crises? How does the transnational flow of people, goods, and ideas shape some of the most pressing issues of today, such as state security and sovereignty? Students address these and other questions as they examine various geopolitical theories and the methodologies scholars use to understand and analyze world events. This course covers both the theoretical and the real world underpinning of international relations. Students learn how different actors, populations, regions, and global organizations relate to and affect one another. In addition, they examine issues such as culture, religion, environment, and technology alongside history, government, and economics. By exploring the interactions of these variables, students think critically about the complex forces that shape our world. Students will engage in debates, and run simulations to see how they would do as leaders of nations in the world today. 

  • Medieval History

    This course will examine European history from the fall of the Roman Empire up to the beginning of the Renaissance. The social, cultural, political, and economic issues facing Europe and the near East after the fall of Rome will be examined. The rise of feudalism in Europe, and the role that the church played in the lives of everyone from peasant to king will be studied. We will cover topics from the rise of Christianity and Islam, to the Crusades, to the Germanic successor states, to the Carolingian Empire. The Vikings, the Mongols, the Moors, and more will all feature a role in this course.

  • Modern Asian History

    The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the recent history, geography and civilizations of East Asia. It will focus on the time period after approximately 1700 but will necessarily touch on the earlier history of the region. One focus of the class will be the rise, fall, and rise again of China. Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, Vietnam, and other nations in the region will all be covered during this exploration of Asian history. The class will look at the influence that European domination had on the region, as well as some of the lingering effects of colonialism. Events such as the Meiji Restoration, the two world wars, the communist revolution in China, the Korean War, etc. will occupy the major portion of class time. It will also look at the future of Asia, and the potential and the problems facing the region.

  • Modern Middle East

    The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the history, geography, and civilizations of the modern Middle East. We will focus on the period after approximately 1600, but we will necessarily touch on the earlier history of the region. In particular, the origins of Islam as well as the splits in the Islamic community will need to be examined. We will then move on to the great pre-modern empires, their collapse under European pressures, the renaissance of Middle Eastern culture in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the move toward independent states in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and the newly resurgent "Islamicist" and "Pan-Arabist" ideologies of the last century. Considerable attention will be devoted to the region since 19th Grade45 and to the problems and promises of the present day. Ultimately we will try to understand where the region is heading during the 21st century, and how that path might impact the global community.

  • Problems in Philosophy

    This course explores current competing approaches to several classic problems in philosophy. We draw on guest speakers to explore five related topics: Do we have free will? What are the foundations of knowledge? What is the relationship between mind and body? Can a person survive the loss of their body and brain? Do life and death have meaning? Each question is paired with one or more current debates in law, medicine, or technology. Students will lead discussions, interview guest speakers, construct and defend their own arguments, and undertake a final project that presents a puzzle or problem in philosophy to the wider community. Writing, reading, and discussion figure heavily in this course.

  • Self Discovery and Intersectionality in America

    Understanding how Intersectionality affects every individual person differently, and how we are all dealt our own hardships and privileges. While also looking at how Race in America has also significantly shaped our society with deliberate tactics othering African Americans and other BIPOC, furthering the gap between those with privilege and those without. Debunking misconceptions and combatting insensitive and ignorant rebuttals commonly used to derail progressive conversations and learning. Giving students the tools and foundation of information needed to educate and advocate for all people. Utilizing easily researchable credible sources while also using primary sources, footage, first hand accounts, and current events to further deepen their understanding. Students will take a deeper look into themselves and understand why they have the views or beliefs that they have. After we discover this about ourselves, how do we go forward and have respectful conversations with others who may have opposing views? How do we stay open minded and continue to grow as we age? How do we take what we learn and put it back into society to make the world a better place?

  • Social Entrepeneurship

    The Social Entrepreneurship intensive is for students who are interested in learning how to set up a small business, for those who are interested in having a positive impact on the world, or both. Students will learn the theoretical underpinnings of capitalism and consider whether it can be used to improve society. They will meet with and study small business owners who have created businesses that have a positive impact on their communities. They will also learn to evaluate intercultural differences in order to enhance their global communication skills. Ultimately, students will create a pitch deck and share their ideas with a successful entrepreneur.

  • The Real World, Now: Human Geography

    This is a social studies course for map lovers, data geeks, and students who are curious about the broad forces influencing people throughout the world. Through simulations, hands-on activities, and various models, we’ll piece together a picture of humanity using various measures, from gender equality to press freedom to hospital bed density. We’ll look at the forces behind culture and its diffusion, as well as forces that shape economies, the modern nation state, and population movements. Students will apply what they learn by taking up one major world issue and analyzing it using the tools they’ve learned.

  • World Wars

    This class will study the political, economic, social and cultural developments which led to the outbreak of World War 1. We will look at the war itself, and how the consequences of World War 1 caused World War 2. The Depression, the rise of totalitarian regimes, and the unwillingness of nations to prevent German and Japanese expansion will all be discussed. Finally, we will look at WW2, and examine how and why the war was fought the way it was. How the war ended, and the lead-in to the Cold War will end the course.
1715 South Reynolds Road, Toledo, OH 43614
phone: 419-381-1313 | fax: 419-381-1314
Maumee Valley Country Day School is the only PreK-12th grade accredited, co-educational, and independent school in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.