Length: Full Year (20 SACE credits)
Contact: HASS Leader

Recommended Background
Grade C or higher in ANY stage 1 HASS class or General English or English Literary Studies.

Course Description
Students study 2 topics over 4 assignments.
Topic 1: The Changing World Order (1945-present)
Topic 2: Nation Study (in 2025 the topic was China but could be any one of Russia, Germany or the United States.)
Topic 3: Independent Choice

A 2025 Stage 2 Student reflection
I want to be a lawyer. I put Modern History as a reserve to still develop HASS skills such as critical thinking and have really enjoyed it. It sounded a bit dry but once I was in the class, learning about China and the Cold War was actually really interesting and the Independent essay was also interesting as I got to learn about an era in History that I wanted to.

Assessment
Students’ performance will be determined according to the subject’s Performance Standards, as outlined by the SACE Board. Grades A+ to E- will be used for reporting purposes.

School-based Assessment:

• Folio (50%): Four historical-skills tasks. 2 for Topic 1 and 2 for Topic 2.
• Inquiry (20%): An historical study into an aspect of the world since c1750. Students will choose what topic they wish to investigate. 

External Assessment:

• Examination (30%). A combination of a source analysis and an essay response.