Canadian & World Studies/Social Sciences and Humanities: 
why it matters…

The place of Canadian & World Studies/Social Sciences in the Curriculum

The program encompasses five subjects: sociology, geography, history, law and politics.  In studying these subjects, students learn how people interact with and within their social and physical environments today, how they did so in the past, and how we can go about this in the future.

The main goals of the Canadian and World Studies/Social Sciences program are to help students to:

• gain an understanding of the basic concepts of the subjects taught at this level, as a foundation for further studies in the discipline;
• develop the knowledge and values they need to become responsible, active, and informed Canadian citizens in the twenty-first century;
• develop practical skills (such as critical-thinking, research, and communication skills), some of which are particular to a given subject in Canadian and world studies and some of which are common to all the subjects in the discipline;
• apply the knowledge and skills they acquire in Canadian and world studies courses to better understand their interactions with the natural environment; the political, economic, and cultural interactions among groups of people; the relationship between technology and society; and the factors contributing to society’s continual evolution.

These goals are all of equal importance. They can be achieved simultaneously in a concrete, practical context through learning activities that combine the acquisition of knowledge with the application of various skills, including inquiry/research, communication, and map and graphic representation skills.

Students’ learning in the various courses in this discipline will contribute significantly to their understanding of Canada’s heritage and its physical, social, cultural, governmental, legal, and economic structures and relationships. It will also help them to perceive Canada in a global context and to understand its place and role in the world community.

Students and teachers need to be aware that success in these courses is not measured simply in terms of how well students memorize a series of facts. Rather, these courses teach students to assess how events, ideas, and values affect them individually and their society as a whole.  Courses in Canadian and world studies actively involve students in research, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. They also help students develop a variety of communication skills, as well as the ability to use information technology to collect, organize, interpret, and present information. Students can apply these skills and understandings in other secondary school subjects, in their future studies, and in today’s rapidly changing workplace.

Overview of the Program

The Canadian and World Studies program offers required courses in history and geography in Grades 9 and 10.  The Geography of Canada course is compulsory in Grade 9, and Canadian History Since World War I is compulsory in Grade 10. These courses are offered in two types: academic and applied.
Students in Grades 9 and 10 make the choice between academic and applied courses primarily on the basis of their strengths, interests, and needs. The two course types are defined as follows:

Academic courses develop students’ knowledge and skills through the study of theory and abstract
problems. These courses focus on the essential concepts of a subject and explore related concepts as
well. They incorporate practical applications as appropriate.

Applied courses focus on the essential concepts of a subject, and develop students’ knowledge and skills through practical applications and concrete examples. Familiar situations are used to illustrate ideas, and students are given more opportunities to experience hands-on applications of the concepts and theories they study.

The Canadian and world studies program also includes a compulsory Grade 10 half-credit course in civics. Civics is offered as an open course – that is, a course designed to be appropriate for all students.

To proceed to any Grade 11 geography course, students must successfully complete either the academic or the applied Grade 9 geography course; to proceed to any Grade 11 course in economics, history, law, or politics, students must successfully complete either the academic or the applied Grade 10 history course.

The following is a comprehensive list of all courses offered by the Canadian and World Studies/Social Sciences and Humanities Department at OLMC:

Grade 9

• CGC1D1: Canadian Geography (Academic)
• CGC1P1: Canadian Geography (Applied)

Grade 10

• CHC2D1: Canadian History (Academic)
• CHC2P1: Canadian History (Applied)
• CHV 2O5: Civics (Open)

Grade 11

• CLU 3M1: Law
• CHA 3U1: American History
• CHW 3M1: World History to the 15th Century
• CGF 3M1: Physical Geography
• HSP 3U1: Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology
• NBV 3C1: Native Studies

Grade 12

• CLN 4U1: Canadian & International Law
• CHY 4U1: World History Since the 15th Century
• CPW 4U1: Politics
• CGR 4M1: Environmental Resources
• CGW 4U1: World Issues
• HSB 4U1: Challenge & Change in Society
• CHM 4E1: Adventures in World History
• HFA 4U1: Food & Nutrition