Ontario High School Curriculum

HSC4M - World Cultures

This course examines the nature of culture; how cultural identities are acquired, maintained, and transformed; and theories used to analyse cultures. Students will explore world cultures, with an emphasis on the analysis of religious and spiritual beliefs, art forms, and philosophy. They will study the contributions and influence of a range of cultural groups and will critically analyse issues facing ethnocultural groups within Canada and around the world. Students will develop and apply research skills and will design and implement a social action initiative relating to cultural diversity.

A. RESEARCH AND INQUIRY SKILLS

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
Throughout this course, students will:

  1. Exploring: explore topics related to world cultures and/or cultural groups, and formulate questions to guide their research;
  2. Investigating: create research plans, and locate and select information relevant to their chosen topics, using appropriate social science research and inquiry methods;
  3. Processing Information: assess, record, analyse, and synthesize information gathered through research and inquiry;
  4. Communicating and Reflecting: communicate the results of their research and inquiry clearly and effectively, and reflect on and evaluate their research, inquiry, and communication skills.

B. THECONCEPTOFCULTURE

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Understanding Culture: demonstrate an understanding of the elements and functions of culture and of the nature of cultural influence;
  2. Cultural Dynamics: analyse how cultural identities are socially constructed, preserved, transmitted, and transformed;
  3. Theoretical Analysis of Culture: demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts related to the study of culture, and apply these theories to analyse various cultures.

C. CULTURALEXPRESSIONS

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Art, Philosophy, and Religion: demonstrate an understanding of artistic expressions, philosophies, and religious / spiritual beliefs found within specific cultures, and of how these expressions relate to various aspects of those cultures;
  2. Cultural Expressions in Context: analyse specific cultural expressions and a range of factors that can affect them;
  3. Contributions and Influences: assess the contributions to and influence on various cultures/societies, including Canada, of a diverse range of ethnocultural groups and individuals from those groups.

D. CRITICALCULTURALISSUES

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Power Relations: demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of power relations within specific cultural groups and between minority and majority cultures;
  2. PoliciesandIssues: demonstrateanunderstandingofpastandpresentpoliciesandissuesaffecting cultural diversity in Canada, and compare approaches to such policy in Canada with those in other countries;
  3. Social Action and Personal Engagement: design, implement, and evaluate an initiative to address an issue related to cultural groups or promoting cultural diversity.

E. SOCIAL CHANGE AND QUALITY OF LIFE

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Leadership and Policy: analyse the influence of governments, groups, and individuals on the promotion and management of social change (FOCUS ON: Patterns and Trends; Geographic Perspective)
  2. Agents of Change: analyse impacts of selected agents of change on society and quality of life (FOCUS ON: Interrelationships; Geographic Perspective)
  3. Continuing Challenges: analyse issues relating to human rights, food security, health care, and other challenges to the quality of life of the world’s population (FOCUS ON: Spatial Significance; Patterns and Trends)
More on HSC4M