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Humanities

With a diverse faculty holding Masters degrees and doctorates from institutions like Stanford, UCLA, and USC, the Humanities Department focuses on preparing students with the skills and knowledge to confront the rigors of college and beyond. We do this through subjects often seen in a college Humanities program, such as literature, creative writing, history, geography, philosophy, psychology, law, economics, and more. The Vistamar Humanities faculty has an average of 18.5 years of classroom teaching experience. We are passionate about connecting with students and teaching them how to think, write, discuss, and analyze the world and realities that humans create in order to live and thrive. When your child graduates with a Vistamar Humanities education, they come away wiser about themselves and the world around them. 

Outcomes of Vistamar Humanities Students

Students will:

  • Prepare for the demands and rigors of college academic experiences that expect advanced reading, writing, discussion, and analytical skills.
  • "Defend their thinking" on a regular basis through a variety of activities, projects, and assignments that reflect college and real-world experiences.
  • Learn the "soft skills' required to navigate everyday human interactions and social expectations, such as communicating with tact and professionalism, reading social cues, and advocating for their interests.
  • Appreciate the diverse cultures of the world, empathize with others' experiences and differences, and develop cultural competencies.
  • Have a deep and philosophical understanding of how and why humans create cultures, ideas, environments, and institutions in order to survive, live, and thrive.

Course Information

2025-2026 Course Offerings

  • English 9: Contemporary World Literature
  • History 9: History Thinking and the Modern World
  • English 10: World Philosophy and Literature
  • History 10: World Art and the Humanities
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP English Language and Composition: Courageous and Contagious Conversations
  • English 11: American Literature
  • History 11: Honors U.S. History
  • History 11: U.S. History
  • AP Literature and Composition: Morality and Ethics in Storytelling
  • English 12: Writer's Workshop
  • AP U.S. Government and Politics
  • Psychology (with an honors option)
  • Applied Economics (with an honors option)
humanities classroom independent private school

Meet the Faculty