Global Department

Global Concentration: Cohort

In this two-year concentration, students begin working with a cohort of classmates. The cohort design is at the heart of the Global Concentration and is what makes it unique. Students will be part of this dynamic, student-driven cohort for both years of the program. This will allow students to collaborate, developing their skills and delving into a variety of topics. The cohort is designed to be purposeful, reflective, interdisciplinary and collaborative. Multiple off-campus experiences are included in the program. Students must apply to the concentration in April of their sophomore year. *This class must be taken as a 6th course. It may be taken as a 7th course. [Application required. Open only to juniors. Half credit per year.]

Global Concentration: Capstone

In the final year of the concentration, students continue to work in their cohort. They devote much of their time to their individualized capstone project, working closely with a mentor to help them develop their project. Engaging with a community outside of Lake Forest Academy is a key requirement of each student’s capstone. The Capstone Celebration, during which all students will showcase their work to the wider community, will take place in April of their senior year. *This class must be taken as a 6th course. It may be taken as a 7th course. [Prerequisite: Open only to seniors who have completed Global Concentration: Cohort. Half credit per year.]

The Good Life: An Exploration and Study of Global Happiness

According to the 2017 World Happiness Report, the United States is the “story of reduced happiness.” With an increased emphasis being placed on gratitude in our society today, why is it that so many people still find themselves searching for “happy”? The Good Life: An Exploration and Study of Global Happiness will look at cultures and countries around the world in order to discover what happiness looks like globally and uncover how so many individuals find gratitude. In direct relation to this course’s inherent focus on pluralism, topics discussed will include ownership, giving, choices, and lifestyle. [Half credit.]

Environmental Psychology

Environmental Psychology delves into the unexpected relationship between resource consumption and human happiness. The problems we face for the future sustainability of the planet are not unique to one country, and the solutions require multiple perspectives to attain. We will explore current theory and research in psychology about how connecting with the natural world in our everyday lives and communities is vital to our health and wellbeing. In this course we will also look at how various cultures and worldviews affect the psychological reaction to environmental threats. The course will also look specifically at how environmental connection and social connection alters the stress level, happiness, success, health, and mortality of people in various countries and socio-economic classes. Topics include worldviews of environmental perception, cognition, experience, values and emotion, perceived environmental quality and environmental risk, and conservation attitudes and behavior. [Half credit.]

The Art of Disagreement

In 2017, the New York Times published an opinion piece about the dying art of disagreement in response to protests and/or forced cancellations of speakers that were taking place on college and university campuses. However, it was also in response to the increased polarization of our world and our unwillingness to listen to one another. The purpose of this course will be to bring students together so that we can learn how to think critically and engage respectfully. The 2020 election will give us many things to debate about topical issues; however, this course will also look at other issues that the students enrolled in this course will suggest. Possible topics could include immigration reform, health care, climate change, gun control, euthanasia, and more. Students enrolled in this course will be assessed based on their research, written position papers, and debates. Crafting and defending an argument, along with public speaking and listening, will also be skills that all students will continue to develop in this course. [Prerequisites: None. Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors]. [Half credit] *This course will meet half-time for one year for half credit, and may be taken as a 7th class.