Society and Culture (2U)

The central goal of Society and Culture Stage 6 is the development of social and cultural literacy and a clear understanding of the interaction of persons, societies, cultures, environments and time. The influence of other aspects of societies and cultures – including power, authority, identity, gender, technologies and globalisation – is also central to the course.

Society and Culture draws on cross-disciplinary concepts and social research methods from anthropology; communication; cultural and media studies; philosophy; social psychology; and sociology. 

Society and Culture has direct relevance to the immediate needs of students and to their future lives by enabling them to develop understanding of:

• themselves 

• their own society and culture

• the societies and cultures of others. 

Students are provided with essential concepts, skills, competencies and knowledge to encourage a process of independent thinking that can be used to explain patterns of behaviour, solve problems, and engage in and actively contribute to all levels of society. 

Society and Culture is a conceptually based course that promotes students' awareness of the cultural continuities and changes within societies and cultures. It provides them with skills to critically analyse social theories and complementary and contrasting viewpoints about people, societies and cultures. Society and Culture promotes an awareness of individuals, groups and institutions and facilitates intercultural understanding and communication. 

Society and Culture encourages students to manage their own learning, including opportunities to experience working within teams. In allowing students to study in areas of direct relevance to their lives, Society and Culture contributes greatly to the promotion of lifelong learning, providing opportunities for students to acquire a range of skills to support such learning.

The study of Society and Culture prepares students for adult life by developing knowledge, understanding, skills and other qualities associated with effective citizenship at local, national, regional and global levels. In so doing, it forms a basis for moving towards a more just society through positive participation in community life and attaining social and cultural literacy.

Through the study of Society and Culture Stage 6, students will develop:

• knowledge and understanding about:

• social and cultural concepts and their application

• personal, social and cultural identity and interactions within societies and cultures

• how personal experience and public knowledge interact to develop social and cultural literacy 

• continuity and change, personal and social futures

• social and cultural research methods

• skills to:

• apply ethical social and cultural research to investigate and analyse information from a variety of sources

• communicate information, ideas and issues in appropriate forms to different audiences and in a variety of contexts

• informed and responsible values and attitudes towards:

  • a just society 

  • intercultural understanding 

  • informed and active citizenship 

  • ethical research practices 

  • lifelong learning.

Course structure

There are two courses in the Society and Culture Stage 6 Syllabus: 

Preliminary course     (120 indicative hours)

• • The Social and Cultural World (30% of course time)

  • Personal and Social Identity (40% of course time)

  • Intercultural Communication (30% of course time)

HSC course        (120 indicative hours)

Core

• Personal Interest Project (30% of course time)

• Social and Cultural Continuity and Change (30% of course time)

Depth studies (40% of course time)

TWO to be chosen from the following:

• Popular Culture

• Belief Systems and Ideologies

• Social Inclusion and Exclusion

• Social Conformity and Nonconformity

See more on NESA website