The Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) Learning Area at Ocean Reef Senior High School engages students in the study of human behaviour and interaction in social, cultural, environmental, economic and political contexts.
Students develop the ability to question, think critically, and make evidence-based decisions, equipping them with the knowledge, and skills they need to actively participate as informed citizens in the 21st century.
Courses offered by the Humanities and Social Sciences Learning Area:
Lower School
- Humanities and Social Sciences: Year 7 – 10
- Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Extension: Year 7 – 10
- Year 10 Electives:
- Psychology
- Shark Tank eSchool/Just Start It for Entrepreneurs
Senior School
- Business Management and Enterprise – General
- Careers and Employability – General and Workplace Learning (Endorsed Program)
- Certificate II in Community Services
- Economics – ATAR
- Geography – ATAR
- Modern History – ATAR
- Psychology – ATAR
- Psychology – General
Humanities and Social Sciences (Years 7 – 10) comprises four core subjects: History, Geography, Economics and Business, Civics and Citizenship. With the addition of Year 10 Psychology and Shark Tank eSchools/Just Start It for Entrepreneurs as selected.
History
Our History courses develop students’ curiosity and imagination. Through the study of a range of topics spanning ancient to modern times. The course promotes the understanding of societies, events, movements, and developments that have shaped our world.
Geography
Our Geography courses explore, analyse, and encourage an understanding of the characteristics of the places that make up our world. With a focus on people and places, students study local, national, and global issues.
Economics and Business
Our Economics and Business courses explore the way individuals, families, businesses and the wider community make decisions in relation to the allocation of resources. The course enables students to understand the process of economic, and business decision making, and their effect on themselves and others, both now and in the future.
Civics and Citizenship
Our Civics and Citizenship courses develop students into active and informed citizens who participate in, and sustain Australia’s democracy. Students have the opportunity to investigate political and legal systems, explore the nature of citizenship, diversity, and identity, on a local, national, and global context.
Shark Tank eSchool/Just Start It for Entrepreneurs
Shark Tank eSchool (STeS) is an educational program supported by UWA, designed to immerse students in entrepreneurial mindset and innovative thinking. It is a project-based learning course with students working through an entrepreneurial process including identify existing problems, generating a solution (in the form of a product, service, or user experience), designing and testing a prototype, building a business model, and pitching the idea, possibly in venture showcase events. ORSHS has been given the exciting opportunity in 2026 to complement STeS with ‘Just Start It’, an initiative run by Joondalup Shire. This incorporates the class being allocated an expert ‘Mentor’ who runs a weekly workshop during Semester One, focused upon igniting entrepreneurial skills.
Senior Secondary Humanities and Social Sciences (Years 11 & 12) includes the following as selected:
Modern History ATAR
Studying the Modern History ATAR course enables students to become critical thinkers and helps inform their judgements and actions in a rapidly changing world. Students are exposed to a variety of historical sources, including government papers, extracts from newspapers, letters, diaries, photographs, cartoons, paintings, graphs and secondary sources, in order to determine the cause and effect, and the motives and forces influencing people and events. Through the process of historical inquiry, students are encouraged to question and evaluate historical sources; identify various representations and versions of history; use evidence to formulate and support their own interpretations; and communicate their findings in a variety of ways.
Geography ATAR
The study of the Geography ATAR course draws on students’ curiosity about the diversity of the world’s places and their peoples, cultures and environments. It provides students with the knowledge and understanding of the nature, causes and consequences of natural and ecological hazards, international integration in a range of spatial contexts, land cover transformations, and the challenges affecting the sustainability of places. In the ATAR course, students learn how to collect information from primary and secondary sources, such as field observation and data collection, mapping, monitoring, remote sensing, case studies and reports.
Economics ATAR
Economics investigates the choices that individuals, groups and societies face as they attempt to resolve the ongoing problem of satisfying unlimited wants with limited resources. It seeks to understand and analyse the allocation, utilisation and distribution of scarce resources that determine wealth and wellbeing. Economics develops the knowledge, reasoning and interpretive skills that form an important foundation for understanding individual, business and government behaviour at local, national and global levels. The Economics ATAR course further strengthens reasoning, logical thinking and analytical skills that are highly valued in the world of work, business and government. Economic literacy developed through this course enables students to actively participate in economic and financial decision-making, promoting both individual and societal wealth and wellbeing. The course places particular emphasis on the Australian economy.
Psychology ATAR
In the Psychology ATAR course students will be introduced to psychological knowledge which supports an understanding of the way individuals function in groups. Students learn about major psychological models and theories, and the methods used to conduct scientific investigations in the discipline of Psychology. Students apply research methods and ethical principles as they analyse data to illustrate how empirical procedures are used to examine phenomena, such as memory, attention, attitudes, personality and group behaviour. Acquiring this foundation of scientific method and critical thinking is a valuable skill which students can apply throughout their study, work and everyday lives.
Psychology General
In the Psychology General course students will be introduced to psychological knowledge which supports an understanding of the way individuals function in groups. Students learn about well-known psychological models and theories, and the methods used to conduct scientific investigations in the discipline of psychology. Acquiring this foundation of scientific method and critical thinking is a valuable skill which students can apply throughout their study, work and everyday lives.
Certificate II in Community Services
Designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the community services sector. It provides a broad foundation of knowledge and skills required for entry-level roles. The certificate enables students to develop the skills and understanding needed to undertake community services work, including providing support and assistance to a range of clients such as children, the elderly and people with disability. This program is well suited to students seeking pathways into the community services sector and provides a strong foundation for further study or employment in one of Australia’s fastest-growing industries.
Business Management and Enterprise General
The Business Management and Enterprise General course focuses on establishing and operating a small business in Australia and aims to provide students with an understanding of the knowledge and skills of the processes and procedures required for generating business ideas and turning them into a viable business venture. Factors that impact on business innovation and success, business planning, and legal aspects of running a small business are examined. Students engage in the running of a small business, or participate in business simulations, to develop practical business skills and to develop financial and business literacy. Through the consideration of real businesses and scenarios, students develop knowledge, understanding and skills that enable them to analyse business opportunities, develop proposals and make sound, ethical business decisions. The course equips students to participate proactively in the world of business, behave responsibly and demonstrate integrity in business activities.
Careers and Employability General & Workplace Learning (Endorsed Program)
Career education involves learning to manage and take responsibility for personal career development. The Careers and Employability General course involves recognising one’s individual skills and talents, and using this understanding to assist in gaining and keeping work. The course develops a range of work skills and an understanding of the nature of work. Key components of the course include: the development of an understanding of different personality types and their link to career choices; entrepreneurial behaviours; learning to learn; and the exploration of social, cultural and environmental issues that affect work, workplaces and careers. The course equips students to participate proactively in the world of business, behave responsibly and demonstrate integrity in business activities. This course is combined with Workplace Learning (Endorsed Program), which gives students the opportunity to participate directly in workplace situations. Students complete two work placements (55 hours each) in Year 11 and one work placement (55 hours) in Year 12.
See our HASS students in action through excursions, projects, awards ceremonies, first aid activities and other hands-on learning experiences.
