Modern History

Board Developed Course - 2 Units for each of Preliminary and HSC

Exclusions: Nil

Course description

The Year 11 course provides students with opportunities to develop and apply their understanding of methods and issues involved in the investigation of modern history. Students have the opportunity to engage in the study of a range of people, ideas, movements, events and developments that have shaped the modern world.

The Year 12 course provides students with opportunities to apply their understanding of sources and relevant issues in the investigation of the modern world. Through a core study, students investigate the nature of power and authority from 1919 to 1946. They also study key features in the history of one nation, one study in peace and conflict, and one study of change in the modern world.

What students learn

Year 11 course

The Year 11 course comprises three sections.

• Investigating Modern History

  • Students undertake at least ONE option from ‘The Nature of Modern History’, and at least TWO case studies.

• Historical Investigation

• The Shaping of the Modern World

  • At least ONE study from ‘The Shaping of the Modern World’ is to be undertaken.

Historical concepts and skills are integrated with the studies undertaken in Year 11.

Year 12 course

The Year 12 course comprises four sections.

• Core Study: Power and Authority in the Modern World 1919–1946

• One ‘National Studies’ topic

• One ‘Peace and Conflict’ topic

• One ‘Change in the Modern World’ topic

Historical concepts and skills are integrated with the studies undertaken in Year 12.

Course requirements

Year 11 course

In the Year 11 course, students undertake at least TWO case studies.

• One case study must be from Europe, North America or Australia, AND

• One case study must be from Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East or Central/South America.

Year 12 course

Students are required to study at least one non-European/non-Western topic from a set list of topics provided within the syllabus.

Industries related to Modern History

The knowledge and skills developed in this course can be applied across a range of career pathways.

Industries related to this course include, but are not limited to, the following outlined on the Your Career website:

• Education and Training

• Information Media and Telecommunications

• Public Administration and Safety

Assessment: HSC course only