To be in HISP means a student is placed in specific literature,
composition, and social science courses that have been designed
by HISP faculty and focus on the humanities and global
perspectives. HISP students join students from CKM’s other small
learning communities in their mathematics, science, language,
physical education, and elective classes.
HISP is structured in a four-year sequence which includes a
literature/ composition course, a complementary social science
course, and a humanities or liberal arts elective each year. See
the Course Sequence listed below for an outline of HISP class
schedules by grade-level.
Students take a minimum of three years of foreign language. Over
the four years, HISP students read at least 40 complete books in
literature classes. In addition, students prepare during each
summer for the coming school year by reading and responding in
writing to fiction and non-fiction works chosen from specific
lists relevant to their studies.
During the freshman year, students explore the history and
literature of Western civilization and its influence on the 20th
century. The freshman year lays a strong foundation of Western
history and philosophy that prepares students for their sophomore
year when they expand their world view to encompass the cultural
richness of all nations and all continents.
The sophomore year curriculum includes four nine-week blocks on
Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Special
emphasis is placed on geography, comparative cultures, and
religions; these are compared and contrasted with those of the
West.
HISP sophomores take seven classes per semester instead of the
regular six. The extra class is one semester of Ethnic Studies
and one semester of Writer’s Workshop.
Junior coursework includes HISP U.S. History 11 and HISP American
Literature 11—both honors courses. Senior courses are comprised
of English 12 World Literature/Composition (AP), one semester of
U.S. Government (AP), and a final semester of Comparative World
Governments (AP), the culminating course for seniors which
explores international relations through a variety of approaches
including the Model United Nations.
Junior and senior courses are designed to complement each other
in structure and content. Materials include classic and
contemporary literature; students study complete texts which are
often only excerpted in other college preparatory classes. Issues
of local, national, and international concern are analyzed and
discussed.
