Humanities

Bay’s Humanities program helps students become skilled and talented thinkers, speakers, and writers who are driven and prepared to engage in their communities, small and large, to actively address contemporary and future challenges. Our Humanities program encompasses multiple subject areas: literature and English, history and social studies, philosophy and religion. We collect them under the umbrella of Humanities because we believe that the study of human societies and cultures is much richer when we examine them through a variety of lenses.

The 9th and 10th grade core courses develop analytical and writing skills through the broad study of identity. The coursework moves from concrete questions about how identity is formed within the context of culture, community, and family to more abstract questions about societal values and how individuals relate to those values.

Course materials are chosen for how well they highlight a particular topic: Literature, poetry, historical documents, and works of visual or performing art all contribute to how students learn to build meaning, understand context, and effectively communicate their ideas. In 10th through 12th grades, students branch out into electives that go deep into specialized topics. Courses offered in 2024–2025 are listed below.

Courses Offered

Bay requires students to complete seven semesters that comprise the core Humanities courses, including Humanities 1, Humanities 2, Civics, and American Studies. Additionally, students must complete three terms in an English elective or Immersive, one term in a Social Studies elective or Immersive, and one term in a Religion and Philosophy elective or Immersive.

Students must also complete one term of an elective or Immersive with the Ethnic Studies designation.