The History and Religion department embraces student-centered and experiential learning. Debates, simulations and mock trials are all regular occurrences in our classrooms. We de-emphasize the memorization of facts and dates and instead focus on analysis, argument and making connections between past and present.
 
As a society, we are currently wrestling with systemic racism and other forms of oppression. The History and Religion department has made a strong commitment to developing a curriculum that unearths the hidden, unheralded, and systemically excluded people who have shaped our societies - women, the poor, racial and religious minorities. We feel that we must make sure that our students can see themselves in the history we study. At Masters we have students from all backgrounds and from literally all over the world. 

All students take a two-year course in World History in ninth and tenth grade, and we strive to make it a true world history course, looking at developments and connections across every continent. Similarly, World Religions is a required course for tenth graders that allows students to focus on either Eastern or Western traditions.
 
In eleventh grade, students take American History. Though history classes are by definition focused on the past, we are eager to make links between past and present and to encourage students to see that historical events have direct relevance to modern questions of social and racial justice. We strive to make our classrooms places where students of all colors, genders and political persuasions, feel comfortable sharing their ideas. We encourage students to be critics of their societies and governments, and to use the analytical tools of the historian to identify, understand and critique structures of oppression.
 
In twelfth grade, students have a wide array of choices, including courses in political science, economics, psychology, AP European history, international relations, and other electives.* Though seniors are not required to take history or religion courses, the vast majority do - and many take two history classes in twelfth grade.

*Beginning in the fall of 2027, Advanced Study courses will take the place of AP courses. Please click here for more information.