SOCIAL STUDIES
Courtroom drama and psych experiments encouraged here.
Budding entrepreneurs and war game enthusiasts are welcomed and challenged by the social studies department at De Smet Jesuit. Committed to college readiness and real-world application, our teachers focus on communication and collaboration skills both in the classroom, on trips to New York and civil war battlegrounds, and in clubs such as Mock Trial, History Club, and Ignatian Business Leaders.
Quick Links to Departments | |
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English | Social Studies |
Mathematics | Theology |
Physical Education | World Languages |
Science | Band/Choir/Studio Arts/Theatre |
Social Studies Curriculum
Sophomore Year
- AP Honors World Studies
- World Studies
Junior Year
- America Comes of Age
- AP/ACC Honors American History
- Economics
- Foundations of American Society
- Psychology
Senior Year
- AP/ACC Honors Government Studies
- ACC Honors International Studies
- AP/ACC Honors Psychology
- Economics
- Modern American Society
- Psychology
Summer Electives
- Civil War
- Modern European History
- Vietnam War
- WWII
Spartans tour New York City to enjoy the sites, network with alumni, and explore the reality of future careers in business.
Students and alumni make a case for collaboration in the courtroom.
- Class of 2019
Nick Blattel
The business classes at De Smet gave me a solid foundation for understanding the basics of accounting and economics. These concepts were pivotal for me in choosing to go to Indiana's challenging business school. I attribute my success in my first college level accounting course, which had a 30% drop rate, to taking business classes at De Smet Jesuit.
- Class of 2019
Jake Angus
If you have a passion for business, De Smet is a great place to be. I was given the opportunity to manage the concessions stand and literature retail projects where I learned a lot about the concessions business such as setting margins and keeping an inventory. Personal finance taught me the fundamentals of how to properly manage my finances and the economics course was challenging and gave me enough knowledge to easily get an A in my first college economics course.
- Class of 2021
David Stephens '21
Every history class I have taken at De Smet has given me a plethora of knowledge, not only about events and how they transpired, but also how they came to be and their implications today. They are so in-depth when discussing their relative time periods.
- Class of 2019
Thomas Hubeli
My experience with business classes at De Smet was fantastic. I took two classes in my last two years and they influenced me greatly. Both classes related the business world to everyday life giving me knowledge such as managing my own finances and starting my own small business. The classes were very hands-on and a great stepping stone to learning how to properly network and act in a professional environment. De Smet’s business classes were very influential with the knowledge and connections they gave me to the business world as well teaching me how to become a better man.
- Class of 1976
Bud Schreiber, Senior VP at Brown Brothers Harriman
Aside from family, I feel that my four-year experience at De Smet Jesuit served to solidify my value system and my relationship with God and others in my life. Any chance I have to talk about my Jesuit education and how it has helped form who I am is a chance I cannot turn down. To talk about it with fellow future alumni - priceless. Giving back is part of “Men for Others” and the chance to give back to my high school, even in this small way, was very enriching for me. I welcome the opportunity to help the seniors I met in the future in any way I can. Hopefully, the NYC trip will happen again next year and I will be part of it. Thanks again!
- Class of 1980
Dan Kramer, Managing Director at Kramer Financial Group, LLC
Hosting the De Smet Jesuit seniors and chaperones at my office this past week was a real gift to me. My memories of De Smet Jesuit have faded over the years but with these annual visits from current Spartans the memories are getting better over time. I’m thankful to God for His grace that has saved me and for the promise in Jeremiah 29 that God will give us a hope and a future. I am already looking forward to your next visit. AMDG
Social Studies Faculty

Bryan Traughber
Class of 1997
Teacher/Head Cross Country Coach/Head Track Coach, Assistant Athletic Director
MA - History, History, University of Missouri-St. Louis
BA, History, Truman State University
BA, History, Truman State University

Aidan Gillespie
Class of 2006
Social Studies Teacher, NHS Moderator
BA, University of Notre Dame
MEd, Loyola University-Chicago
MS, St. Louis University
MEd, Loyola University-Chicago
MS, St. Louis University

Josh Klein
Class of 1997
Teacher/Head Soccer Coach
MS, Sports Psychology, Florida State University
BA, Psychology, Rhodes College
BA, Psychology, Rhodes College

John Merritt
Head Football Coach and Teacher
BA, History/Education/African and African-American Studies, Washington University

Matt Mohan
Class of 1982
Teacher
BA, History, University of Missouri-St. Louis
BS, Secondary Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis
BS, Secondary Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Chris Welling
Teacher
LLM, De Paul University College of Law
JD, St. Louis University
BA, History, St. Louis University School of Law
JD, St. Louis University
BA, History, St. Louis University School of Law