What does the course entail?

Who should study Modern History ATAR?

For students thinking of going to university, the study of a humanities course will help to provide you with a broader understanding of society. History offers students a way to further develop critical thinking and communication skills. It is an excellent course to prepare students for the rigours of university. Students who like interpreting the past and are capable English students should consider this course.

What doors can Modern History ATAR Open?

A study of Modern History is beneficial to a range of occupations and university courses, including, but not limited to:
  • law
  • education
  • journalism
  • psychology
  • policy making
  • administration
  • research
  • government
  • media and the arts
"Having studies both Modern History and Economics, I have learnt how real world events have impacted our lives and I now better understand how things may play out in the future."
- Callum B -

What will be covered in this course?

YEAR 11
UNITS 1 & 2

Unit 1 - Understanding the Modern World: Capitalism – the American Experience 1907-1941
This unit provides an introduction to significant developments in the modern period that have defined the modern world, and the ideas that underpinned them, such as liberty, equality and fraternity.
Topics include:
  • The impact of WWI
  • The huge social changes of the 1920s – changing role and status of women, rise of jazz, prohibition and boom in entertainment
  • The cause and social impact of the Great Depression
  • The response to the threat of communism

Unit 2 - Movements for change in the 20th Century: Nazism in Germany
This unit examines significant movements developed in response to the ideas studied in Unit 1 that brought about change in the modern world and that have been subject to political debate. The unit focuses on the ways in which individuals, groups and institutions challenge authority and transform society.
Topics include:
  • The economic and social position of Germany post WWI
  • The Weimar Republic – social, political and economic climate that allowed the rise of the Nazis
  • Hitler’s rise to power
  • WWII and the Holocaust

YEAR 12
UNITS 3 & 4

Unit 3 – Modern Nations in the 20th Century
This unit examines the ‘nation’ as the principal form of political organisation in the modern world, the crises that confronted nations in the 20th century, their responses to these crises, and the different paths they have taken to fulfil their goals.
The context of the unit is Russia and the Soviet Union 1914 to 1945 – The last days of the Tsar, entry in WWI, push for revolution, the February Revolution, the October Revolution, Lenin’s leadership, Trotsky vs Stalin, USSR under Stalin, the Great Purges, USSR and WWII.

Unit 4 – The modern world since 1945
This unit focuses on the distinctive features of the modern world that emerged in the period 1945–2001. It aims to build students’ understanding of the contemporary world – that is, why we are here at this point in time.
The context of the unit is the changing European world since 1945 - the spread of communism after WWI, the crises of the Cold War, collapse of communism.
What is the assessment structure?
There are four types of assessment in the Modern History ATAR course. The weightings of these assessments are set by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
They are:
  • Historical Inquiry
Students plan and conduct investigations and communicate their findings.
Formats can include: Research tasks with in-class validation essays, investigations, reports, oral/multimedia presentations.
  • Explanation
A response, usually in the form of an essay, to propositions, explanations, evaluations of historical evidence etc.
  • Source Analysis
Questions typically require students to use evidence from the sources when commenting on: message; origin, purpose and context; reliability, usefulness and contestability of the evidence; perspective; and relevance to the context.
Source materials can include: Photographs, cartoons, paintings, graphs, government papers, extracts from newspaper articles, letters, diaries, literary sources, and/or secondary sources.
  • Examination
The examination is formatted as to be a reflection of the WACE exam.
Head of Learning Area: Mr Jamie Paganoni
Contact Number: 9591 4219
​Contact Email: [email protected]