The Modern History ATAR course enables you to study the forces that have shaped today’s world and provides you with a broader and deeper comprehension of the world in which you live. History encourages students to make connections with the changing world of the 21st century and it will enhance your curiosity and imagination and their appreciation of larger themes, individuals, movements, events and ideas that have shaped the contemporary world.
Unit 1 This unit examines developments of significance in the modern era, including the ideas that inspired them and their far-reaching consequences. You will examine the American Experience 1907–1941 which has helped to define the modern world. The key conceptual understandings covered in this unit are: what makes an historical development significant; the changing nature and usefulness of sources; the changing representations and interpretations of the past; and the historical legacy of these developments for the Western world and beyond.
Unit 2 This unit examines significant movements for change in the 20th century that led to change in society, including people’s attitudes and circumstances. Through a detailed examination of Nazism in Germany, we will investigate the ways in which individuals, groups and institutions have challenged existing political structures, accepted social organisation, and prevailing economic models, to transform societies.
The studies in Year 12 may include: Australia in the 20th Century and The Modern World since 1945
Prerequisites: Strong B grade or higher in Year 10 HASS.
The Modern History General course will provide you with an understanding of the driving forces behind present local and global issues. Investigating the past helps us to understand why and how groups and/or societies changed or resisted change. You will be encouraged to use the evidence from sources to formulate and support your own interpretations and to communicate your findings in a variety of ways. This knowledge is crucial to the development of active and informed citizens in any society. The study of history ensures that you gain essential knowledge of the past – its legacy and heritage.
Unit 1 This unit allows you to become aware of the broad sweep of history and your place within the historical narrative. You will become aware of the values, beliefs and traditions within a society, the continuity between different societies and different time periods, and the importance of individuals within a time period through the study of Nelson Mandela and the fight to end apartheid in South Africa.
Unit 2 We will learn that societies consist of individuals and institutions that have various types of power and authority and that these interact with each other. You learn how power and authority is distributed throughout a group or society, that individuals and groups seek to influence the structures of power and authority and the difficulties of using these structures in a just or equitable manner. We will make comparisons and judgments about other societies and our own society. The Authoritarian state studied will be either Communist Russia (1917 – 1953) OR Cuba (1952 – 1990s).
The studies in Year 12 may include: Australia (1914-1949) and Nazi Germany or American Civil Rights.
Prerequisites: None
This course is really important as it enables you to increase your knowledge of work and career choices and to identify a network of people and organisations that can help with their school-to-work transition. It will also give you the skills and confidence to establish your own pathway plan.
The Career and Enterprise General course engages you in learning about developing their career in a constantly changing digital and globalised world. Careers are now considered to be about work, learning and life. Individuals need to be proactive, enterprising career managers who engage in lifelong learning. It also aims to provide you with the knowledge, skills and understanding to enable you to be enterprising and to proactively manage your own careers.
Work, including unpaid voluntary work, is fundamentally important in defining the way we live, relate to others and in determining the opportunities we have throughout life. The world of work is complex and constantly changing. The course recognises that work both reflects and shapes the culture and values of our society.
The Career and Enterprise General course has been constructed using, and is strongly aligned to, the knowledge, skills and understandings from the Core Skills for Work Development Framework (2013) and the Australian Blueprint for Career Development (the Blueprint).
Prerequisites: None
The study of geography draws on your curiosity about the diversity of the world’s places and their peoples, cultures and environments. It enables you to appreciate the complexity of our world and the diversity of its environments, economies and cultures and use this knowledge to promote a more sustainable way of life and awareness of social and spatial inequalities.
The Geography General course is an non ATAR course which investigates and analyses a range of challenges and associated opportunities facing Australia and the global community. These challenges include rapid change in biophysical environments, the sustainability of places (Yanchep National Park), dealing with environmental risks and the consequences of international integration.
You will also explore the natural and cultural characteristics of a region (Perth), the processes that have enabled it to change over time and the challenges it may face in the future.
You will develop the knowledge, understandings and skills that are relevant to the world in which you live and which are also appropriate to careers in the environmental protection/rehabilitation, urban and regional development, and tourism industries.
Prerequisites: Complete the Year 10 HASS Course
