The Humanities are an essential guide to navigating the globalised world. As students explore and celebrate the human experience and diversity that connects us locally, nationally and globally, Humanities students develop a sense of empathy and appreciation for all cultures - past, present and future - while at the same time encouraging participation in a global community as active, ethical and informed citizens. Our school’s area comprises a broad range of disciplines, allowing students to understand human society from numerous perspectives: Economics, Business, Sociology, Geography, Legal Studies and Civics and Citizenship.

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Humanities teachers at Pakenham believe we can change lives by helping our students to grow ideas and develop skills that best prepare them for VCE and the world beyond. Humanities teachers are encouraged to build on what students are learning in the classroom by going on educationally relevant, real-world excursions and bring-in guest speakers and run special days around topics that we are teaching, where the students are learning through real world experiences.

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Some of the highlights of our year include:

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• In Year 8 Humanities classes synthesise social class and practices in Medieval Japan and compare these to European practices at the time.

• In Year 9 Humanities students visit the Holocaust Centre, and the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance.

• Year 12 Business Management students tour the Yakult factory in Dandenong where they learnt about operations management, a key outcome in their VCE studies.

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Another feature of our Humanities courses includes Life Skills at Year 9 and Futures in Year 10 which helps to provide our students with the ideas and skills to prepare for University, TAFE and afterwards, the world of work. The courses focus on career exploration, personal development and practical skills for an ever-changing world.

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We also complement our core program with Humanities electives in Years 9 and 10. In Year 9, these electives include subjects relating to Business, Geography and History. In Year 10, the choice of electives includes Money (aligning with VCE Business Management and VCE Accounting), Crime and Punishment (aligning with VCE Legal Studies and VCE Sociology), and History (aligning with VCE History subjects).

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All students in Year 9 complete a compulsory 2-hour self-assessment test on possible career pathways called the Morrisby test and receive a detailed career counselling session examining their results.

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Year 10 students, led by their Futures teachers, complete one week’s work experience placements in a variety of locations throughout Melbourne.

 

The introduction of Cultural Studies in Years 7-10 focuses on exploring diverse cultures, traditions, beliefs, and histories that shape societies, both in Australia and globally. This subject enhances students' understanding of cultural diversity, social identities, and the effects of globalization, complementing their studies in Humanities, Social Sciences, Media, Communications, Education, and Law. Cultural Studies equips students with skills such as empathy, communication, and critical analysis, essential for navigating Australia’s multicultural society and the interconnected world.

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For students pursuing VCE, we offer a wide range of subjects, including:

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• VCE Accounting

• VCE Business Management

• VCE Modern History / Australian History

• VCE Geography

• VCE Legal Studies

• VCE Sociology

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Further information on these subjects can be obtained by reading our Senior School Handbook.

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All classes in Humanities incorporate Literacy for Learning approaches to help improve the learning outcomes for all students across the College.

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Our diverse curriculum ensures that students are well-prepared for both their academic futures and their roles as active, informed citizens.