Albany Senior High School/Coursebook/2SAN

What is this course about?
Social Psychology is a study of the human condition. Social Anthropology aids and encourages self-reflection, which in turn helps develop personal consciousness and active citizenship. Students who understand experiences outside their own individual social and cultural context develop a conscience more suited to the multicultural world in which we live. They also develop an understanding of organisational behaviour.

Social anthropology brings together a little sociology, a little psychology, a little history, media studies, economics, politics, in order to attempt to make sense of society, why and how people act in the way they do and why this is important to know.

What will students learn?
Students will ponder questions such as: How do societies work? How have ideas about human behaviour and society in general developed over time? What are the causes and effects of social issues that relate to identity, culture, and organisation? How does culture influence behaviour? How do individuals, communities, and societies respond to change? What is the nature of intelligence? What is truth? Why do good people do bad things? What actions can we personally take that might bring about social improvement? How can we become informed, critical, active, and responsible citizens?

What sorts of things will students do?
Students will learn how to use the Community of Inquiry model to explore philosophical ideas. With teacher guidance, students will follow the social inquiry cycle to explore an area of social justice or cultural change.

Students will explore approaches in sociology and psychology to explaining behaviour, and learn to communicate these ideas.

Students will be introduced to the features of psychological and sociological research and then carry out and report on their own psychological research activity.

Students will apply the sociological and psychological concepts they have learned to explore how conflict can occur through different ideological standpoints on beliefs and culture.

What structure will the year take?
Ideologies, issues and actions (introduction), Term 1, weeks 1-3. Foundation skills for whole course, not independently assessed.

Philosophy and Inquiry, remainder of Term 1. AS91280 (Conduct a reflective social inquiry), 5 credits internal.

Critical social research, first half of Term 2. US8990 (Examine sociological theories), 4 credits internal.

Critical psychological research, second half of Term 2. AS91844 (Examine different psychological approaches used to explain a behaviour), 6 credits internal.

Psychological research, Term 3. AS91846 (Conduct psychological research with guidance), 4 credits internal.

Cultural conflict, Term 4 (also covered throughout year). AS91279 (Demonstrate understanding of conflict(s) arising from different cultural beliefs & ideas ), 4 credits external.

MAXIMUM 23 CREDITS in course