Vaughan Secondary offers several history courses for students in grade 10 and up. Click the links below to view the courses offered corresponding with the grade.

Grade 10

Canadian History in the Twentieth Century - Grade 10, Academic
This course explores the local, national, and global forces that have shaped Canada's national identity from World War I to the present. Students will investigate the challenges presented by economic, social, and technological changes and explore the contributions of individuals and groups to Canadian culture and society during this period. Students will use critical-thinking and communication skills to evaluate various interpretations of the issues and events of the period and to present their own points of view.

 

Canadian History in the Twentieth Century - Grade 10, ESL
This course explores the local, national, and global forces that have shaped Canada's national identity from World War I to the present. Students will investigate the challenges presented by economic, social, and technological changes and explore the contributions of individuals and groups to Canadian culture and society during this period. Students will use critical-thinking and communication skills to evaluate various interpretations of the issues and events of the period and to present their own points of view. Note: Students taking this course must have approval of a Guidance Counsellor or a Special Education teacher.

 

Canadian History in the Twentieth Century - Grade 10, Applied
This course explores some of the events and experiences that have influenced the development of Canada's identity as a nation from World War I to the present. By examining how the country has responded to economic, social, and technological changes and how individuals and groups have contributed to Canadian culture and society during this period, students will develop their ability to make connections between historical and current events. Students will have opportunities to formulate questions, locate information, develop informed opinions, and present ideas about the central issues and events of the period.

 

Civics - Grade 10, Open
This course explores what it means to be an informed, participating citizen in a democratic society. Students will learn about the elements of democracy in local, national, and global contexts, about political reactions to social change, and about political decision-making processes in Canada. They will explore their own and others' ideas about civics questions and learn how to think critically about public issues and react responsibly to them.
Note: 0.5 of a credit is offered.

 

Civics - Grade 10, Open, ESL
This course explores what it means to be an informed, participating citizen in a democratic society. Students will learn about the elements of democracy in local, national, and global contexts, about political reactions to social change, and about political decision-making processes in Canada. They will explore their own and others' ideas about civics questions and learn how to think critically about public issues and react responsibly to them.
Note: Students taking this course must have the approval of a Guidance Counsellor or ESL teacher.
Note: 0.5 of a credit is offered.

Ancient Civilizations: World History to the Sixteenth Century - Grade 11, University/College prep.
This course investigates the history of humanity from earliest times to the sixteenth century. Students will analyse diverse societies from around the world, with an emphasis on the political, cultural, and economic structures and historical forces that have shaped the modern world. They will apply historical inquiry, critical-thinking, and communication skills to evaluate the influence of selected individuals, groups, and innovations and present their conclusions. Students will learn about human evolution and the first civilizations spread across the world.

 

World Religions: Beliefs, Issues and Religious Traditions - Grade 11, University/College prep.
This course enables students to discover what others believe and how they live, and to appreciate their own unique heritage. Students will learn about the teachings and traditions of a variety of religions, the connections between religion and the development of civilizations, the place and function of religion in human experience, and the influence of a broad range of religions on contemporary society. This course also introduces students to skills used in researching and investigating world religions.

 

Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology - Grade 11, University/College prep.
This course introduces the theories, questions, and issues that are the major concerns of anthropology, psychology, and sociology. Students will develop an understanding of the way social scientists approach the topics they study and the research methods they employ. Students will be given opportunities to explore theories from a variety of perspectives and to become familiar with current thinking on a range of issues that have captured the interest of classical and contemporary social scientists in the three disciplines.

 

Philosophy: The Big Questions - Grade 11, Open
This course addresses three (or more) of the following questions: What is a person? What is a meaningful life? What are good and evil? What is a just society? What is human knowledge? How do we know what is beautiful in art, music, and literature? Students will learn critical-thinking skills in evaluating philosophical arguments related to these questions, as well as skills used in researching and investigating various topics in philosophy.

* Students taking this course must have the approval of a Guidance Counselor or a Special Education teacher.

** Any Grade 11 or 12 college preparation course in Social Sciences and Humanities, English, or Canadian and World Studies.

World History: The West and the World - Grade 12, University prep.
This course investigates the major trends in Western civilization and world history from the sixteenth century to the present. Students will learn about the interaction between the emerging West and other regions of the world and about the development of modern social, political, and economic systems. They will use critical-thinking and communication skills to investigate the historical roots of contemporary issues and present their conclusions.

 

World History: The West and the World (Modern European History) - Grade 12, University prep. (Advanced Placement)
This course investigates the major trends in Western civilization and world history from the sixteenth century to the present. Students will learn about the interaction between the emerging West and other regions of the world and about the development of modern social, political, and economic systems. They will use critical-thinking and communication skills to investigate the historical roots of contemporary issues and present their conclusions.

 

Analyzing Current Economic Issues - Grade 12, University prep.
This course investigates the nature of the competitive global economy and explores how individuals and societies can gain the information they need to make appropriate economic decisions. Students will learn about the principles of micro- and macroeconomics, apply economic models and concepts to interpret economic information, assess the validity of statistics, and investigate marketplace dynamics. Students will use economic inquiry and communication skills to analyse current economic issues, make informed judgements, and present their findings.

 

Philosophy: Questions and Theories - Grade 12, University prep.
This course addresses three (or more) of the main areas of philosophy: metaphysics, logic, epistemology, ethics, social and political philosophy, and aesthetics. Students will learn critical-thinking skills, the main ideas expressed by philosophers from a variety of the world's traditions, how to develop and explain their own philosophical ideas, and how to apply those ideas to contemporary social issues and personal experiences. The course will also help students refine skills used in researching and investigating topics in philosophy.

 

Challenge and Change in Society - Grade 12, University/College prep.
This course examines the theories and methodologies used in anthropology, psychology, and sociology to investigate and explain shifts in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour and their impact on society. Students will analyse cultural, social, and biological patterns in human societies, looking at the ways in which those patterns change over time. Students will also explore the ideas of classical and contemporary social theorists, and will apply those ideas to the analysis of contemporary trends.

 

Interdisciplinary: Genocide in the 20th Century - Grade 12, University prep.
This course involves the examination of case studies related to modern human rights issues (e.g. child labour, the treatment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, the Holocaust, Apartheid, Genoicide in Rwanda and the exploration of individual and societal rights and responsibilities. Students will use interdisciplinary approaches, resources and research methods to investigate human rights, themes in literature and media and to examine the development of national and international laws that support or negate human rights. They will also analyse real-life situations and suggest solutions that demonstrate their awareness of the social contexts of these situations.