Faculty members in the Humanities Department seek to inspire young people to become responsible citizens of the world by exploring salient ethical, imaginative, and historical perspectives. Stressing reading, writing, speaking and researching skills at all levels, the integrated curriculum challenges students to see their place in a complex global world. As they examine Western Civilization, Globalization, and American Studies, students come to grasp the complexities of cultures in the past and present, cultures familiar and new, and how these are interrelated. They learn the power of texts—literary, film, historical, political, and economic—and ideas, and how voices both support and challenge cultural norms. In the 11th and 12th grades, students may choose AP courses, and pursue their developing interests through a rich variety of senior electives.