Human Society and Its Environment Faculty
Below is a brief description of the courses we offer.
The Preliminary Course consists of three main areas:
· A study of the methods used by
archaeologists and historians when investigating the past.
· Case Studies which involve
investigations into past societies, events, places, people and
institutions. Students will study topics such as the Entombed Warriors
of Xian, Masada, the Trojan Wars, Ice Bodies and Tutankhamen.
· Studies of Ancient Societies, which
examines how people lived in the past and how and why their lives
changed. Possible topics of study include Greek Drama, Nineveh and
Persepolis, Thera, Santorini, Roman Britain and the Celts.
· An historical investigation into a
area of interest by either individual students or groups.
The Higher School
Certificate Course consists of four main areas:
· Through a Core Study on the
Cities of Vesuvius, students investigate a range of written and
archaeological sources to explore issues related to the destruction and
reconstruction of the cities, ownership and custodianship of the past.
· Through a study of an Ancient
Personality, students will gain an understanding of a personality in
the context of their own time. Personalities include Hatshepsut,
Akhenaten, Alexander the Great, Xerxes, Cleopatra VII, Agrippina the
Younger and Hannibal.
· Through investigating the written
and archaeological evidence of an Ancient Society, students will
learn about the key developments and forces that shaped that society.
Societies for study include Old Kingdom Egypt, Persian Society, Minoan
Society, Spartan Society and Athenian Society.
· By considering one Historical
Period, students will learn about important political and military
developments that shaped the ancient world. Topics include Egypt from
Unification to the end of Dynasty VI, The Greek World from 500 to 440 BC
and Augustus and the Julio-Claudians.
An Extension Course in History with further areas of study is available as an additional one unit course for the HSC. Good research skills and an independent approach to learning are needed to successfully study this course.
The Preliminary course consists of 3 areas of study and a skills-based approach as preparation for the major project in the HSC course. The 3 study areas look at the history and experiences of Aboriginal people from before European invasion until the 1960's. These studies will be centred around a local and a national community. The HSC course focuses on issues relating to Aboriginal people in a contemporary perspective. Social Justice and Human Rights investigates issues from a global perspective on topics such as health, education or housing.
Aboriginality and the Land or Heritage and Identity focus on contemporary issues relating to a local Aboriginal community. The major project is a research task of the student's own choice, negotiated with their teacher and Aboriginal community members.
The Preliminary Course consists of three areas of study. These must include a Core Study of the World at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century and two depth studies selected from a list recommended by the Board of Studies. As well as these core topics students must conduct an historical investigation on a topic of their own choice relevant to modern history (which is not covered in the HSC). Some of the depth studies may include Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, The Terror, East Timor, The making of modern South Africa.
The HSC course consists of three areas of study. These must include a Core Study of World War 1 and its Aftermath, A 20th Century National Study and historical personality, will be chosen from one European, Asian or African country, and one issue related to International Peace and Conflict (1930 – 1998)
An Extension Course in History with further areas of study is available as an additional one unit course for the HSC. Good research skills and an independent approach to learning are needed to successfully study this course.
At the end of the course students will be able to:
· Gather evidence from a range of
primary and secondary sources in response to specific questions about
the modern world.
· Use available information
technology, such as the World Wide Web, to conduct research
·
Analyse and evaluate information
from a variety of sources
· Communicate clearly about historical
events, both orally and in various written forms.
· Present the findings of their
research and investigations as a member of a group and as an individual.
·
Appreciate the contribution of
historical studies to an understanding of the modern world
In the Preliminary Course
students will learn about:
·
The nature of religion and beliefs
·
Australian Aboriginal beliefs and
spiritualities – The Dreaming.
·
TWO
religious traditions selected from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Islam and Judaism.
In the HSC Course
students will learn about:
·
Contemporary Aboriginal
spiritualities
·
Religious expression in Australia –
1945 to the present.
·
Significant people, ideas, ethics
and practices in TWO religious traditions.
What should I be able to do at the end of the course?
Students will be able to:
·
Understand the nature and influence
of a range of religious traditions in Australian society
·
Plan and conduct an investigation
·
Locate and select information from a
variety of sources using a range of research methods including
information technology.
·
Analyse and evaluate information for
usefulness, validity and bias
·
Communicate information and ideas
effectively in appropriate written, oral and graphic forms.
·
Work effectively with others in a
team.
In terms of career prospects,
Studies of Religion would be valuable to those interested in working
with people, including Teaching, The Police Force, Law, Social Worker,
Nursing, Medicine, Travel and Tourism.
Course:
Studies of Religion II
What will I be doing in this course?
Studies of Religion explores the diversity of religious expression and
experiences in our modern world. It promotes an awareness, understanding
and appreciation of the nature of religion and the influences of
religious traditions, beliefs and practices in societies and on the
individual, with an emphasis on the Australian context.
In the Preliminary Course
students will learn about:
·
The nature of religion and beliefs
·
Australian Aboriginal beliefs and
spiritualities – The Dreaming.
·
THREE
religious traditions selected from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Islam and Judaism.
·
TWO
ancient religions selected from Aztec, Inca, Mayan, Celts, Nordic,
Shinto, Taoism or an indigenous religion from outside Australia
·
Religious traditions in Australia
pre 1945
In the HSC Course
students will learn about:
·
Contemporary Aboriginal
spiritualities
·
Religious expression in Australia –
1945 to the present.
·
Significant people, ideas, ethics
and practices in THREE religious traditions.
·
The response of TWO religious
traditions to the issue of peace.
·
Religion and non-religion –
agnosticism, atheism, Humanism, New Age Religions.
What should I be able to do at the end of the course?
Students will be able to:
·
Understand the nature and influence
of a range of religious traditions in Australian society
·
Plan and conduct an investigation
·
Locate and select information from a
variety of sources using a range of research methods including
information technology.
·
Analyse and evaluate information for
usefulness, validity and bias
·
Communicate information and ideas
effectively in appropriate written, oral and graphic forms.
·
Work effectively with others in a
team.
In terms of career prospects, Studies of Religion would be valuable to those interested in working with people, including Teaching, The Police Force, Law, Social Worker, Nursing, Medicine, Travel and Tourism.
What will I be doing in this course?
You will study the relationship between people and the natural and built
environments. As a Geographer, you will develop skills in gathering
information about the environment from a wide range of sources. Maps
are important for Geographers and you will also use graphs, diagrams,
written and electronic media, as well as primary research involving
surveys, interviews and environmental monitoring. With our guidance,
you will plan, develop and implement your own senior Geography Project
where you research a subject that interests you. You will present your
findings in a written report which makes up 30% of your Preliminary
assessment.
You will also study the nature of the Biophysical Environment and human interaction with it, as well as some of the challenges which face us as we move through the 21st Century. The HSC course builds on the Preliminary course by examining Ecosystems at Risk, followed by a study of Urban Places and their importance as the home of most of the world’s people. We then move on to people and Economic Activity, focussing on how people earn their livelihood and how this impacts on the natural environment
What should I be able to do at the end of this course?
· Understand the interactions between factors which make up the natural
environment, and the role of people in environmental change.
· Have the skills to observe your surroundings and be able to develop
strategies for researching existing knowledge and through your own
research framework, gather new knowledge about the environment and the
people who depend on it.
· Communicate knowledge through a wide variety of methods.
What are the special requirements for this course?
Only a willingness to undertake fieldwork activities for your senior
Geography Project as well as within both Preliminary and HSC courses.
Fieldwork reports make up a considerable part of the assessment in both
years and attendance and completion of fieldwork are essential. Most
students find fieldwork to be very enjoyable and remember what they
learn on field trips.
How will this course help me in the future?
Geography gives us a broad range of skills to interpret the world around
us. It also helps us to shape our lives so that we maximise our
enjoyment of the wonders of nature while minimising our negative impact
on the systems which support life on the planet.
Any career, be it law, tourism, business or any other area, will benefit from your study of Geography. The 21st Century will be the crucial time where we must learn to work within our planet’s ability to support us. The managers of the future must think globally and act locally. Geography gives us a head start.