- To develop skills for perceptive reading, critical thinking, summarizing, and intelligent articulation
- To develop the ability to use and conduct research in primary materials.
- To develop an awareness and appreciation for other cultures.
- To expose students to a wide variety of historical approaches.
- To help students deal with the present and future by studying the past patterns and trends of human activity.
- To analyze the ever-changing, global issues of our world.
- To become aware of their roles as citizens in society and prepare to participate actively, competently, and productively.

Model United Nations
The Model UN club at Pioneer Academy is a highly engaging and challenging forum that promotes the skills of negotiations, group dynamics, writing, and presenting views towards educating for a peaceful world.
Students, explore and master basic information about the functioning of the United Nations and understand how decisions are made in the world body of nation-states education for world peace and global conflict resolutions.
Courses
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the fundamental concepts of marketing and its role in creating and capturing value for customers.
- Analyze consumer behavior and market trends to identify opportunities and challenges.
- Conduct market research and analyze data to inform marketing decisions.
- Segment markets, target specific customer groups, and position products effectively.
- Develop and implement marketing strategies using the marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion).
- Create effective marketing campaigns that integrate various communication channels.
- Build and manage strong brands that resonate with target audiences.
- Measure and analyze marketing performance to optimize results.
- Understand the ethical considerations and social responsibility in marketing.
- Apply marketing principles in diverse contexts, including digital marketing, social media marketing, and global marketing.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the entrepreneurial mindset and its key characteristics, including creativity, risk-taking, and resilience.
• Identify and evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities in the marketplace.
• Develop innovative ideas and business models that address customer needs.
• Conduct market research and analyze competitive landscapes.
• Develop a comprehensive business plan that outlines the venture's vision, strategy, and financial projections.
• Understand the legal and regulatory aspects of starting and running a business.
• Acquire funding and manage financial resources effectively.
• Build and lead high-performing teams.
• Develop effective marketing and sales strategies.
• Navigate the challenges and uncertainties of the entrepreneurial journey.
• Embrace innovation and adapt to changing market conditions.
• Create a positive impact on society through their ventures.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Develop a personal budget and track income and expenses effectively.
• Identify and implement strategies for saving and investing for short-term and long-term goals.
• Understand the importance of credit and manage credit responsibly.
• Make informed decisions about borrowing and lending.
• Plan for major life events such as education, homeownership, and retirement.
• Protect themselves from financial fraud and identity theft.
• Understand basic financial concepts such as interest rates, inflation, and risk diversification.
• Analyze financial information and make informed financial decisions.
• Develop a personal financial plan that aligns with their values and goals.
• Become confident and informed consumers of financial products and services.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand fundamental macroeconomic concepts such as scarcity, opportunity cost, and comparative advantage.
• Analyze how key economic indicators like GDP, inflation, and unemployment are measured and interpreted.
• Explain the functions of money and the role of financial institutions in the economy.
• Apply macroeconomic models like the aggregate demand and supply model, the Phillips curve, and the loanable funds market to analyze economic phenomena.
• Evaluate the impact of fiscal and monetary policies on economic growth, inflation, and unemployment.
• Analyze the causes and consequences of economic fluctuations such as recessions and booms.
• Understand the principles of international trade and the effects of exchange rates and trade policies.
• Apply economic reasoning to real-world issues and current events.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills in the context of macroeconomics.
• Prepare for and succeed on the AP Macroeconomics exam.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand and apply geographic concepts such as location, place, scale, space, and flows.
• Analyze spatial patterns and relationships at various scales, from local to global.
• Interpret and analyze maps and other geographic data to understand spatial distributions and relationships.
• Explain the processes of globalization and their impact on cultural, economic, and political systems.
• Analyze the causes and consequences of migration and understand its impact on populations and landscapes.
• Evaluate the challenges and opportunities associated with urbanization and the growth of cities.
• Understand the spatial distribution of cultural traits and their impact on landscapes and societies.
• Analyze the spatial patterns of economic development and their impact on the environment and society.
• Apply geographic perspectives to contemporary issues such as environmental sustainability, resource management, and social justice.
• Effectively communicate geographic information through writing, presentations, and maps.
• Prepare for and succeed on the AP Human Geography exam.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand fundamental economic concepts such as scarcity, opportunity cost, and marginal analysis.
• Analyze the forces of supply and demand and their impact on market equilibrium.
• Explain how different market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition) affect price and output.
• Analyze consumer behavior and understand how consumers make choices based on utility and budget constraints.
• Explain the production and cost functions of firms and how they determine output levels.
• Evaluate the impact of government policies such as taxes, subsidies, and price controls on market outcomes.
• Apply economic reasoning to real-world issues and current events.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills in the context of microeconomics.
• Prepare for and succeed on the AP Microeconomics exam.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Identify and describe the major theories, perspectives, and research findings in psychology.
• Explain the biological bases of behavior and the interaction between the brain and behavior.
• Analyze the processes of sensation, perception, learning, and memory.
• Understand the cognitive processes involved in thinking, language, and problem-solving.
• Explain the motivations and emotions that influence human behavior.
• Describe the stages of human development from infancy to adulthood.
• Analyze different personality theories and assess individual differences in personality.
• Identify and explain various psychological disorders and their treatments.
• Understand the principles of social psychology and how social situations influence behavior.
• Apply psychological concepts and theories to real-world situations.
• Develop critical thinking and research skills in the context of psychology.
• Prepare for and succeed on the AP Psychology exam.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Define anthropology and its four subfields: biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.
• Explain the key concepts and theories used by anthropologists to study human societies and cultures.
• Understand the biological and cultural evolution of humans and the factors that have shaped human diversity.
• Analyze cultural practices and beliefs in different societies and interpret their meaning and significance.
• Compare and contrast different social structures and political systems across cultures.
• Examine the impact of globalization, migration, and technology on human societies.
• Discuss contemporary issues facing humanity such as inequality, environmental change, and cultural conflict.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills in relation to anthropological research and data.
• Appreciate the importance of cultural relativism and ethical considerations in anthropological research.
• Communicate effectively about anthropological topics through writing and presentations.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Define sociology and its key concepts, including culture, socialization, social structure, social institutions, and social change.
• Explain the major theoretical perspectives in sociology, such as functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism.
• Understand the methods used by sociologists to conduct research, including surveys, interviews, and participant observation.
• Analyze the social construction of reality and how social forces shape individual perceptions and behaviors.
• Examine the role of social institutions such as family, education, religion, and government in society.
• Discuss social issues such as inequality, deviance, and social change from a sociological perspective.
• Apply sociological concepts and theories to analyze real-world events and phenomena.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills in relation to social issues and problems.
• Communicate effectively about sociological topics through writing and presentations.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the foundations of American democracy, including the Constitution, federalism, and separation of powers.
• Analyze the structure and function of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
• Explain the role of political parties, interest groups, and public opinion in shaping political outcomes.
• Examine the complexities of civil rights and civil liberties in American society.
• Evaluate the impact of media and technology on political communication and participation.
• Apply political science concepts and theories to analyze real-world political events and issues.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills in the context of American politics.
• Communicate effectively about political issues through writing and presentations.
• Prepare for and succeed on the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Define democracy and its core principles, including popular sovereignty, political equality, and the rule of law.
• Trace the historical development of democracy from ancient Greece to modern times.
• Compare and contrast different models of democratic governance, such as direct democracy, representative democracy, and constitutional democracy.
• Analyze the role of citizens in a democracy, including voting, participating in political discourse, and holding elected officials accountable.
• Examine the challenges facing democracies, such as political polarization, inequality, and threats to civil liberties.
• Explore the importance of civic engagement in addressing social issues and promoting the common good.
• Identify and evaluate different forms of civic participation, such as volunteering, advocacy, and community organizing.
• Develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and collaboration essential for effective civic engagement.
• Understand the role of media and technology in shaping democratic discourse.
• Apply democratic principles and civic engagement strategies to real-world situations.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the core concepts of comparative politics, such as regime types, political institutions, and political culture.
• Analyze the political systems of the six core countries, including their historical development, institutions, and political processes.
• Compare and contrast different regime types, such as democracies, authoritarian regimes, and hybrid regimes.
• Examine the role of political institutions such as legislatures, executives, judiciaries, and bureaucracies in different political systems.
• Analyze the factors that influence political behavior, such as political culture, social cleavages, and economic development.
• Understand the impact of globalization on political systems and the challenges of governance in a globalized world.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of different political systems in addressing key challenges such as economic development, social justice, and political stability.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills in the context of comparative politics.
• Communicate effectively about comparative political issues through writing and presentations.
• Prepare for and succeed on the AP Comparative Government and Politics exam.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Define religion and its key components, such as beliefs, rituals, myths, and symbols.
• Identify and analyze different types of religious traditions, including monotheism, polytheism, animism, and pantheism.
• Explore the historical development of major world religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism.
• Understand the role of mythologies and narratives in shaping religious beliefs and cultural values.
• Examine the social and cultural functions of religion, such as providing meaning, community, and moral guidance.
• Analyze the relationship between religion and power, including the role of religion in social movements and political conflicts.
• Discuss the impact of globalization and secularization on religious beliefs and practices.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills in relation to religious phenomena.
• Appreciate the diversity and complexity of human religious expression.
• Promote religious literacy and interfaith understanding.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Trace the history of Asian immigration to the United States, including the push and pull factors, immigration policies, and experiences of different Asian groups.
• Analyze the social, economic, and political challenges faced by Asian Americans throughout history, including discrimination, exclusion, and stereotypes.
• Examine the diverse cultural expressions and traditions of Asian-American communities, including art, literature, music, and food.
• Understand the concept of "Asian American" as a pan-ethnic identity and its complexities and contradictions.
• Explore the contributions of Asian Americans to American society in various fields, such as science, technology, business, and the arts.
• Discuss contemporary issues facing Asian Americans, such as racial profiling, immigration reform, and affirmative action.
• Develop critical thinking skills in analyzing historical and contemporary issues related to Asian Americans.
• Appreciate the diversity and complexity of the Asian-American experience.
• Promote cultural awareness and understanding of Asian-American communities.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Define and apply key concepts in cultural studies, such as ideology, hegemony, representation, and identity.
• Analyze the relationship between culture and power, exploring how cultural forms and practices can reinforce or challenge social inequalities.
• Examine the role of media and technology in shaping cultural meanings and experiences.
• Understand the complexities of identity formation and the ways in which culture intersects with race, class, gender, sexuality, and other social categories.
• Critically analyze a variety of cultural texts and practices, including film, television, music, literature, and social media.
• Explore the impact of globalization and cultural exchange on local and global cultures.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills in relation to cultural phenomena.
• Communicate effectively about cultural issues through writing and presentations.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Define the field of sociology of the future and its key concepts, including futurism, forecasting, and social change.
• Analyze the major drivers of social change, such as technology, demographics, environment, and globalization.
• Examine different perspectives on the future, including utopian, dystopian, and transformative visions.
• Explore the potential impact of emerging technologies on society, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.
• Discuss the social implications of global challenges, such as climate change, inequality, and conflict.
• Imagine and analyze alternative futures and their potential consequences.
• Develop critical thinking and foresight skills to anticipate and respond to future challenges.
• Engage in ethical reflections on the future and the role of human agency in shaping it.
• Communicate effectively about future trends and possibilities through writing, presentations, and creative projects.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze the major historical developments in U.S. history, including colonization, the American Revolution, the Civil War, industrialization, the Progressive Era, the World Wars, the Civil Rights Movement, and contemporary issues.
- Understand the causes and consequences of major historical events and processes in U.S. history.
- Examine the interactions between different groups and individuals and the impact of social, economic, and political factors on their experiences.
- Evaluate the role of individuals, groups, and institutions in shaping historical events and processes.
- Develop historical thinking skills, including chronological reasoning, comparison, contextualization, interpretation, and synthesis.
- Analyze primary and secondary sources to construct historical arguments and interpretations.
- Communicate effectively about historical topics through writing, presentations, and discussions.
- Cultivate an appreciation for the diversity and complexity of the American experience.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Identify and analyze key global issues across various domains, including politics, economics, social issues, environment, and technology.
• Understand the interconnected nature of global issues and their impact on different regions and populations.
• Evaluate diverse perspectives and approaches to addressing global challenges.
• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze complex global issues.
• Communicate effectively about global issues through writing, presentations, and discussions.
• Cultivate global awareness and empathy for diverse cultures and perspectives.
• Become informed and engaged global citizens capable of contributing to positive change.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Identify and analyze the key characteristics of ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and other regions.
• Understand the chronological development of ancient history and the major periods and turning points.
• Evaluate the impact of geography, environment, and technology on the development of ancient societies.
• Analyze the political, social, economic, and cultural structures of ancient civilizations.
• Examine the development of philosophical and religious thought in the ancient world.
• Understand the role of mythology, literature, and art in ancient societies.
• Analyze the causes and consequences of conflict and warfare in ancient history.
• Evaluate the contributions of ancient civilizations to the development of Western and global cultures.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills in relation to historical evidence and interpretations.
• Communicate effectively about ancient history through writing and presentations.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Analyze the major historical developments in European history, including the Renaissance, Reformation, Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment, French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, World Wars, and the formation of the European Union.
• Understand the causes and consequences of major historical events and processes in European history.
• Examine the interactions between different groups and individuals and the impact of social, economic, and political factors on their experiences.
• Evaluate the role of individuals, groups, and institutions in shaping historical events and processes.
• Develop historical thinking skills, including chronological reasoning, comparison, contextualization, interpretation, and synthesis.
• Analyze primary and secondary sources to construct historical arguments and interpretations.
• Communicate effectively about historical topics through writing, presentations, and discussions.
• Cultivate an appreciation for the diversity and complexity of the European experience.
• Prepare for and succeed on the AP European History exam.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Analyze the major historical developments in U.S. history, including colonization, the American Revolution, the Civil War, industrialization, the Progressive Era, the World Wars, the Civil Rights Movement, and contemporary issues.
• Understand the causes and consequences of major historical events and processes in U.S. history.
• Examine the interactions between different groups and individuals and the impact of social, economic, and political factors on their experiences.
• Evaluate the role of individuals, groups, and institutions in shaping historical events and processes.
• Develop historical thinking skills, including chronological reasoning, comparison, contextualization, interpretation, and synthesis.
• Analyze primary and secondary sources to construct historical arguments and interpretations.
• Communicate effectively about historical topics through writing, presentations, and discussions.
• Cultivate an appreciation for the diversity and complexity of the American experience.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Identify and analyze key national and international current affairs across various domains, including politics, economics, social issues, environment, and technology.
• Understand the historical context and underlying causes of contemporary issues.
• Evaluate diverse perspectives and arguments surrounding complex global challenges.
• Develop critical thinking and analytical skills to assess information and form informed opinions.
• Communicate effectively about current affairs through writing, presentations, and discussions.
• Connect local, national, and global issues and understand their interrelationships.
• Cultivate global awareness and empathy for diverse cultures and perspectives.
• Become informed and engaged citizens capable of contributing to meaningful dialogue and action.
- Events leading up to the American Revolution
- The origins of our constitution
- Reform movements
- Manifest Destiny
- The Civil War and Reconstruction
- The impact of the frontier
- The changing nature of business and government
- World War I
- The Great Depression
- World War II
- Growth of the United States as a world power
- The Cold War
- The struggle to achieve class, ethnic, racial, and gender equality
Students will be introduced to concepts such as Futurism as Ideology, Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy, Fourth Industrial Revolution, Alternate Realities, Big Data, Machine-Learning, Emergence of Androids, Big History, Megatrends, Existentialism and Self Grounded in the Future. Students will learn to apply Skills such as brainstorming and mind-mapping, futuring via Futures Wheels, scenario-building, using big data for Predicting and Anticipatory Thinking, and Analysis of Science Fiction to inform the Future.
This course will augment two others currently taught at Pioneer Academy, "Human Geography/Diaspora/Cultural Studies". World History, and Psychology.
For the first ten weeks, students will be introduced to the field of Sociology, of studying society and its deep subdivisions as they are impacted by history, politics, economics, and education. The focus will be on what sociologists do and how they analyze society. Class, race, gender, and social advancement will be the select topics in this introductory part of the semester.
For the next ten weeks, students will apply the key concepts of sociology to the study of possible futures.
The units in the CED focus on topics including thinking geographically, population and migration, culture, political geography, agriculture, urban geography, and development and industrialization.
Students will have multiple opportunities to apply the information addressed in each unit in activities including notetaking, current events, projects, and formative and summative assessments.
“The goal for the course is for students to become more geo-literate, more engaged in contemporary global issues, and more informed about multicultural viewpoints.”
(College Board, 2019)
As students progress through the course, they develop skills to help them think geographically and make connections between content in the seven units of study.
There are 5 skill categories addressed in the course: , , Data Analysis, Source Analysis, and Scale Analysis. (College Board, 2019.) The big ideas for the course are Patterns and Spatial Organization (PSO), Impacts and Interactions (IMP), and Spatial Process and Societal Change (SPS). (College Board, 2019)
- Concepts and Processes
- Spatial Relationships
- Data Analysis
- Source Analysis
- Scale Analysis
Through extensive readings, guided by the NJ core curriculum content standards, the curriculum framework for Advanced Placement Psychology primarily, we will acquire the skills of thinking and feeling like a psychologist: mastering the art and science of understanding the human mind, the brain and consciousness, human development “from the cradle to the grave”, personality studies, human traits and the direction of behavior, discerning patterns of human action – all these so that we may understand how we can build a better world and plan for a peaceful and sustainable one, by understanding ourselves from a Western perspective of the evolution of the self and the individual.
This is a college-level course that will have a varied approach to the sections. A sequence of topics and be assessed based on a variety of expectations met.
In this course, students will explore the ideas, theories, and methods of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The following concepts will be explored:
- Science of the Human Mind
- Brain Hemispheric Laterality
- Human Learning
- Human Cognitive
- Emotional
- Social, and Spiritual Development
- Neural Networks
- Intelligences
- Society and Pschology
- The world within as we interact with the world outside of us
Through extensive readings, guided by the NJ core curriculum content standards, the curriculum framework for World History, students will acquire the skills of thinking and feeling like a historian: mastering the art and science of historicizing, discerning patterns of change, understanding “the butterfly effect” and “causal relationships in historical changes, and learning lessons from past events, so that we may understand how we can build a better world and plan for a peaceful and sustainable one.
A sequence of topics and be assessed based on a variety of expectations met. Concepts explored will be the following:
- Historicizing
- Connections
- Transformations
- Transcultural Migrations
- Causal Relationships
- Complex Systems and Human Evolution
- Chaos Theory and Human History
- Big Data, Big History
- Auto-Bio History and the Nurturing of Personal Memory
- Futurism and Alternate History
- The Four Early Civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, India)
- The Mesoamerican Civilizations
- Ancient Greece
- Ancient Rome
- Early Africa
- The Middle East
- The Middle Ages
- The Renaissance
The course will also focus heavily on cross-cultural themes and interaction between groups of people and how world history is becoming increasingly closer as we enter the age of globalization.
Pre-Requisites: “A” average in Social Studies and strong English writing skills. Teacher recommendation
This course will fulfill the United States History High School requirement.
Students achieving a successful grade on this exam may apply for college credit.
Pre-Requisites: “A” average in Social Studies and strong English writing skills. Teacher recommendation
Offered every other year
The course highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies.
This course will satisfy the High School World History requirement.
Students achieving a successful grade on this exam may apply for college credit.
Pre-Requisites: “A” average in Social Studies and strong English writing skills. Teacher recommendation
This course is taught at the college-level and culminates with the AP Exam.
Students achieving a successful grade on this exam may apply for college credit.
Pre-Requisites: “A” average in Social Studies and strong English writing skills. Teacher recommendation
Pre-Requisites: “A” average in Social Studies and strong English writing skills. Teacher recommendation
The course studies government and politics in the United States as well as examining the world’s diverse political structures and practices.
This course culminates in the student taking the AP Exam in United States Government and Politics and/or the AP Exam in Comparative Government and Politics.
A separate grade is reported for each test.
The students will learn to recognize and find meanings in a variety of religious expressions while discovering that misinterpretations of these religious expressions can lead to inaccuracies, stereotypes and distortions.
Attitudes of respect and appreciation for religious diversity are encouraged throughout the course.
The first part of the course, Social Psychology aims to help students to see an overview of the way people think about, feel, and behave in social circumstances and constructions. It provides an understanding of how people influence and are influenced by the others around them.
During the Political Psychology part, the students learn what psychology can tell us about political processes rather than examining what happened in politics. Students will be provided an overview of political processes primarily focusing on the psychology of individuals, social groups and citizens during decision making processes within both national and global perspectives.
Throughout the term, students will stay up to date on current issues and trends. Because the subject of this class is “contemporary,” topics will vary considerably depending on the current news cycle.
Students will be challenged to defend their opinions on many different issues.
Types of speeches students will be exposed include informational, persuasive, demonstration, oral interpretation, symposium, and valedictory.
Since public speaking is the number one fear of most Americans, the class provides a supportive and low-key atmosphere to help students overcome their anxiety.
During the course, the students will also be provided the most influential examples of historical orators that have used their influence and public appeal along with some of their greatest speeches to inspire and unite people during times of struggle.