Humanities

‘Geography has made us neighbours. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners, and necessity has made us allies.’ — John F. Kennedy

 Humanities programmes provide the knowledge, skills and values for you to participate as an active and informed citizen of the Australian and global community. You learn about human progress and how people have organised themselves into societies, and how they have interacted with their physical environments and other cultures and communities. 

Your study of Humanities covers the following areas: 

History (HIS)
History is a process of inquiry into the past that develops our curiosity, imagination and empathy. It helps you to understand how the world has changed and how it might alter in the future and enables us to develop a better understanding of ourselves; our culture, attitudes and pride. The study of history uses evidence from the past, such as documents, pictures, photographs, songs, film, speeches, buildings, artefacts, weapons, tools and spaces to interpret and analyse for views and understandings of the people who created them. 

Geography (GEO)
Geography examines the interaction between people and environments. You will learn about the current state of the environment and the costs of abusing it. You will use sources such as maps, photographs, satellite images and websites to develop skills such as map reading, interpreting and representing data. You will be expected to participate in field trips, collecting data to use in your studies. 

Economics and Business (BUS)
Economics explores the ways individuals, families, the community, businesses and governments make decisions in relation to the allocation of resources such as money, time, employment and assets. You will learn about the process of economic and business decisionmaking and the effects these decisions have on you and others, both now and in the future. By developing economics and business knowledge you will be capable of participating in business activities in the future and making decisions about your own financial well-being. 

Civics and Citizenship (LEG)
Knowledge of Civics and Citizenship enables you to become an active and informed citizen who participates in Australian democratic processes and a valuable member of the community. Through study of Civics and Citizenship you will investigate political and legal systems and explore the nature of citizenship, diversity and identity in contemporary society. 

Sociology (SOC)
Sociology focusses on the study of human behaviour; the way social groups are organised, how people interact with other groups and cultures and how they change over time. Sociologists use critical thinking and data to assess how people’s social class, gender and ethnicity affect their experiences and life-chances. In Sociology you are encouraged to question your assumptions and reflect on your own ideas about the world and social relationships. Sociologists develop explanations about the social world that are based on evidence, casestudies, surveys and observation. 

Humanities Units and Pathways

Geography

Environmental Change and Management

Global Citizens examines the Geographical challenges of our time: Environmental sustainability and Human Wellbeing. We will examine the types of environments that support all life, the major challenges to their sustainability and the environmental worldviews and how people respond to these challenges. We conduct an investigation into one environment (either land, water, coastal or urban) and collect data on a field trip to investigate and study in greater detail.

 The second aspect of Year 10 Geography; seeks to understand the way global, national and local differences in human wellbeing and how it varies from place to place. Consider the access you have to employment, education, the internet, political security and personal safety. These things are really important and indicate your personal wellbeing. In this unit you will look at factors that affect your wellbeing and how it might be different if you lived in a different place or country. 

It is advised that students who are considering Geography as a VCE subject select this course.

Important: Fieldwork is an essential part of Geography. Assignments and learning tasks will use data and information you collect on these field-trips so it is essential that you commit to participating in these field trips and paying the fees (transport and entrance fees) associated with them. Please take this into consideration when you make your selections. 

Geography

Environmental Change and Management

Global Citizens examines the Geographical challenges of our time: Environmental sustainability and Human Wellbeing. We will examine the types of environments that support all life, the major challenges to their sustainability and the environmental worldviews and how people respond to these challenges. We conduct an investigation into one environment (either land, water, coastal or urban) and collect data on a field trip to investigate and study in greater detail.

 The second aspect of Year 10 Geography; seeks to understand the way global, national and local differences in human wellbeing and how it varies from place to place. Consider the access you have to employment, education, the internet, political security and personal safety. These things are really important and indicate your personal wellbeing. In this unit you will look at factors that affect your wellbeing and how it might be different if you lived in a different place or country. 

It is advised that students who are considering Geography as a VCE subject select this course.

Important: Fieldwork is an essential part of Geography. Assignments and learning tasks will use data and information you collect on these field-trips so it is essential that you commit to participating in these field trips and paying the fees (transport and entrance fees) associated with them. Please take this into consideration when you make your selections. 

Year 10 History A: The Road to War 

How did the end of World War 1 lead to World War 2? How did warfare and conflict change during the 20th Century? We will study the political movements that developed after World War 1, the Great Depression, the rise of Hitler and the Third Reich, the Holocaust, the experiences of Australians at war and the changing roles of women on the Australian Home front. 

Year 10 History B: Rights & Revolutions 

We will discover how close the world as we knew it came to ending in the Cuban Missile Crisis during the Cold War and finally review Australia’s commitment to Peacekeeping on the eve of the 21st Century. 

This unit investigates the changes to Australian Society in the second half of the 20th Century declaration of Human Rights, the Civil Rights Movement, and leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X and the way they influenced Aboriginal Rights in Australia and leaders such as Charles Perkins and the Australian Freedom Riders. Then we look at the Globalising world and influences such as the Environmental Movement and Migration Experiences of people to Australia after WW2. 

Year 10 Economics, Business and Accounting 

There are three strands in this unit: Economics, Business and Accounting. Economics is the study of the ways people produce, consume and exchange anything that is useful or valuable. In this unit, you will examine the different parts of the economy and you will discover not only how all parts of the economy are interrelated but also what role you as an individual play in it. 

Businesses respond to the needs of consumers by providing goods and services and making a profit that enables business owners and their employees to live and spend wages and income on the economy. They consider the types of services they provide, set their prices and record their profits using accounting methods to ensure they can manage their finances and transactions.

In this inquiry unit you will have the opportunity to learn some of the principles of economics, business and accounting by planning your own business and developing a business plan and strategies to ensure its success. This unit has very strong pathways through VCE Business Management, Accounting and VET Small Business and Business Administration. 

Year 10 Legal Studies

Civics and Citizenship Citizenship and Law 

You have reached, or are reaching an age where the law and your citizenship will affect and influence your decision-making and actions. This subject will assist in your understanding of the need for rules and recognise the significance of legal and political arrangements in your life. There is a saying ‘Knowledge is Power’. This is especially true in Law and Civics. Decisions that are made by others affect your own life, possibly without you even knowing about them. In this subject you will study how the law operates for you; what rights and responsibilities it gives you as a citizen. You will also consider the laws that Australia commits to as a global citizen of nations and its responsibilities at a global level, such as through the United Nations, foreign aid and peacekeeping. 

Year 10 Sociology: 

"The Social ‘You’ 

Do you wonder how your life might be different if you had been born into a different culture or social class? Sociologists consider the impact that factors such as class, ethnicity and gender have on people and the way they interact with social groups and cultures. You will consider how history (the place and time in which you live) impact your own personal biography (your life). In this unit you will look at current issues in the media, film, theories and your own experiences to reflect critically on experiences of social groups and communities. 

What pathways can humanities units lead me to?