Students must successfully complete a minimum of one social studies credit in Grade 9, Grade 10, and Grade 11, as listed in the following table.
| Grade 9 (Senior 1) |
Grade 10 * (Senior 2) |
Grade 11 * (Senior 3) |
Grade 12 * (Senior 4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Studies: Contemporary Canada (10G) |
Social
Studies: Geography of Canada (20G) |
Social
Studies: History of Canada (30G) and (30S) |
Optional Course |
* In Grade 12, Social Studies - Le monde contemporain (World Issues) is an optional course.
Further information about graduation requirements is available
Students in Senior Years social studies develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to people's ways of life, past and present, in Canada and elsewhere in the world. Through social studies students gain a better understanding of the society in which they live, and their roles within society.
A new social studies curriculum is under development. Schools will continue to use the existing curriculum until notified by the Department to use the new one.
Contemporary Canada
Grade 9 Social Studies focuses on contemporary Canada. Students will explore the concepts of time, space, and society in the context of a historical and geographical study of Canada. The five units are:
- Personal identity
- Needs
- Canadian identity
- Multiculturalism and the Canadian mosaic
- Democracy in Canada
Grade 9 students are required to achieve one credit in Grade 9 (Senior 1) Social Studies (10G).
Geography of Canada
Grade 10 Social Studies focuses on the characteristics of the physical and social environments of Canada. Students will explore the concepts of space and society in the context of a geographical study. They will develop attitudes, skills, and knowledge allowing them to contribute to society effectively and responsibly through the following themes:
- Canada's geographical situation
- The physical environment
- Population
- Natural resources
- Industry
- Energy
Grade 10 students are required to achieve one credit in Grade 10 (Senior 2) Social Studies (20G).
Canada: A Social and Political History
Grade 11 Social Studies focuses on the historical development of Canada. Students will develop attitudes, skills, and knowledge allowing them to appreciate diverse ways of life and societies in Canada's past and present. They will explore the concepts of time, space, and societies in Canada in the context of a historical study of the following periods:
- The French Empire in America
- The French Regime
- The Conquest and the British Regime
- Canada's Confederation
- Modern times
Grade 11 students are required to achieve one credit in either Grade 11 (Senior 3) Social Studies (30G) or Grade 11 (Senior 3) Social Studies (30S).
In Grade 12, social studies is an optional course.
