Unit 1: Theories of the Social Sciences

In this unit, students will learn about the concepts of anthropology, psychology and sociology. They will further inquire about the major theories of anthropology, the major theories of psychology and the major theories of sociology.

Unit 2: Changing Societies

In this unit, students examine how societies change. They will learn about the concepts of agents of change, population change and deviance and normality. They examine positive social change and the role of various social institutions and policies in promoting or impeding change. The issues of gender, racism and discrimination are analysed as barriers to full participation in Canadian society. Students research patterns of hate crimes and develop materials (e.g. video, pamphlet, school presentation) to educate and to promote positive social interaction as one unit culminating activity.

Unit 3: Trends in societies

Social trends are large-scale changes in our society such as an increase in immigration, a decrease in fertility rates, or a growth in the number of older, first-time parents. The exploration and evaluation of social trends is conducted by demographers, social scientists who study human populations and provide population data and statistics. Anthropologists, sociologists, and psychologists get involved in the action as well: anthropologists by studying the ways that social trends affect cultures; sociologists by exploring the impact on families, social institutions, and other groups; and psychologists by examining how these changes affect individuals. In the second part of this course, students will find out what some of these social scientists have discovered about social trends in Canadian society.

Unit 4: Challenges of Changing Societies

Students examine and debate different views of progress. They examine the causes and effects of contemporary positive global change in technology, medicine, social justice and human rights issues, ecological knowledge and resource management, legal and political developments, and the role Canadians have played in promoting or impeding change in these areas. The impediments to positive global change are then examined through case studies.

Final Assessment

The course-culminating task includes a final written examination worth 15% of each student’s final grade and a culminating Activity worth of 15% of the final grade. The examination covers the overall expectations of the entire course.