Human Society and Its Environment
In Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE), both subjects of history and geography are mandatory from Kindergarten to Year 10. In HSIE, students study diverse subjects related to human society and its environment, including history, geography, people, societies, and culture, with additional opportunities to explore these topics further through electives.
A large number of individual subjects make up the key learning area of HSIE in which students:
- research, gather and analyse information
- question and make judgements
- write for a variety of purposes.
Year 7
History Mandatory
Year 8
Geography Mandatory
Years 9 and 10
- Geography Mandatory
- History Mandatory
Each year, students complete one semester of Geography and one semester of History.
Elective Study:
- Commerce
- History
Years 11 and 12
Elective Study:
Competitions & co-curricular activities
Competitions
- AEBSC Business Studies Competition for Year 10 Commerce Students
- AEBSC Economics Competition for Year 11 and 12 Economics Students
- ASX Stock Market Game
- Australian Geography Competition for Years 8, 9 and 10
- Australian History Competition
- Ethics Olympiad
- History Mastermind Competition for Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 History students
- J.A. Thompson History Debating for Year 10 and 11 History students
- Kirby Cup Western Sydney University High School Mooting Competition for Year 11 Legal Studies Students
- National History Competition
- The Law Society of NSW Mock Mediation Competition
- The Law Society of NSW Mock Trial Competition
- The Philosothon Project
- The Premier's Anzac Memorial Scholarship (PAMS) for Year 10 and 11 History students
- The Simpson Prize Competition
- Tiger Global Case Competition - Business Studies Competition for students aged 13 to 18
- WeSSSTA Geography Trivia Competition
Clubs
Past and present clubs have included:
- GeoClub
- History Club
- BOSC (Business Club)
- Ruse Politics
Incursions/Excursions
Opportunities vary from year to year, but some of the regular opportunities our students enjoy include:
- Ancient/Medieval Weapons and Armour Show for Year 7 History
- Geography Fieldwork incursions and excursions
- HSC Study Days: Modern History, Ancient History, Legal Studies, Latin and Economics
- Macquarie University Museum
- Museum exhibitions when relevant
- Rwandan Genocide survivor incursion
- Senior Classics Dinner (Years 11 and 12)
- Year 11 Modern History students visit the Sydney Jewish Museum