Humanities

The Humanities Department's interdisciplinary approach seeks to broaden students' understanding of the interdependent relationship of history, geography, politics, and cultural production. We believe human experience, witnessed through history and expressed through literature, is most effectively studied as an integrated whole. In the 9th and 10th grades, students explore contemporary and ancient societies and modern cultures from around the globe. The 11th and 12th grade courses allow deeper dives into interdisciplinary topics in American History and Letters, while also allowing for discipline specific electives such as Psychology, Applied Economics, Human Geography, US Government, and Creative Writing.

Outcomes of Vistamar Humanities Students

Empathy – they regularly seek to understand the world from multiple perspectives, with compassion and respect, and actively decenter dominant cultural narratives.
Interdisciplinary Thinkers – they see how cultural expression and aspects of social and political life -- across history and around the globe -- are interrelated and interdependent
Communicators – they present their ideas effectively, confidently, and articulately in writing, speech and creative/visual expression. They are skilled listeners, able to learn from their peers and mentors.
Constructors of Knowledge – they are savvy consumers of information, attentive to the implications of source and purpose. They recognize how knowledge is constructed and are guided to create their own narratives.
Active Learners – They have a growth mindset that informs how they interact with the world. They see learning as a process fostered by their curiosity, perseverance, and willingness to take intellectual risks.
Real World Initiative - They understand how to apply their learning to real world purposes and audiences.