Modern History 11–12 focuses on developing student understanding about the history of the world in which they live, and the people, events and forces that have shaped it. The course offers students opportunities to engage with sources from the past, developing their analysis and reasoning skills.

What students learn

Through the study of Modern History 11–12, students learn to:

develop an understanding of historical causation and the ways in which human societies have changed over time
develop an understanding of the variety of perspectives that have been and are held about the past
develop skills in analysis and reasoning to make judgements about the significance of various people and events in the past and form their own conclusions about the nature of historical development
construct logical and cogent historical arguments about the past, supported by evidence.

Course structure and requirements

The course numbers and units for each year of study are set out below.

Course numbers:

Modern History (Year 11, 2 units): TBA
Modern History (Year 12, 2 units): TBA

Year 11 course structure and requirements

The Year 11 Modern History course comprises a study of:

120 indicative hours across 3 focus areas.

Year 11 focus areas	Indicative hours
Investigating modern history The nature of modern history Case studies Each case study should be a minimum of 10 indicative hours.	60
The shaping of the modern world	40 (minimum)
Historical investigation	20 (maximum)

Content may be integrated across the 3 focus areas of the course in the development of a teaching and learning program.

Investigating modern history

The nature of modern history
Case studies

Students undertake:

at least ONE option from The nature of modern history, AND
at least TWO case studies
ONE case study must be from Europe, North America or Australia
ONE case study must be from Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East or Central/South America.

The list in the Investigating modern history – Case studies focus area of this syllabus provides case study options teachers may use.

Case studies are investigations into historical features, people, groups, events or concepts in modern history. They are oriented towards the problems and issues of investigating the past.

Case studies in the Year 11 course are intended to provide students with opportunities to:

study the various ways historians investigate and construct the past, the types of questions they ask, the explanations they give and the issues they raise
question, analyse and interpret sources.

Case studies can provide a historical context in which students learn about relevant methods and issues.

Teachers may develop their own case studies. Case studies must not overlap with or duplicate significantly any option to be attempted in the Year 12 Modern History or History Extension courses.

The shaping of the modern world

Students investigate forces and ideas that shaped the modern world through a study of key events and developments and the meaning of modernity.

At least ONE option from The shaping of the modern world focus area is to be undertaken.

Options selected must not overlap with or duplicate significantly any option to be attempted in the Year 12 Modern History or History Extension courses.

Historical investigation

The Historical investigation is designed to further develop relevant investigative, research and communication skills. The investigation may be undertaken as a standalone study or integrated into any other focus area in the Year 11 course. The investigation should extend a particular area of individual student or group interest. It may be conducted individually or collaboratively.

The investigation must not overlap with or duplicate significantly any option to be attempted in the Year 12 Modern History or History Extension courses.

Historical concepts and skills

The historical concepts and skills content is to be integrated throughout the course. The various studies and options provide the contexts through which concepts and skills are to be developed. These help guide students when engaging in historical analysis and argument.

Year 12 course structure and requirements

The Year 12 Modern History course comprises a study of:

120 indicative hours across 4 focus areas.

Year 12 focus areas	Indicative hours
Core study: Democracy and dictatorship 1919–1939	30
National studies	30
Peace and conflict	30
Change in the modern world	30

The Year 12 course is structured to provide students with opportunities to apply their understanding of sources and relevant historiographical issues in the investigation of the modern world.

The course comprises 4 focus areas. Students are required to study all 4 focus areas.

The course comprises a study of:

Core study: Democracy and dictatorship 1919–1939
ONE National studies option
ONE Peace and conflict option
ONE Change in the modern world option.

Students are required to study at least ONE non-European/Western option, selected from the following list.

Focus areas	Non-European/Western options
Core study: Democracy and dictatorship 1919–1939	N/A
National studies	China 1927–1949 Cuba 1940–1991 Indonesia 1945–2004 Iran 1945–1989 Japan 1904–1937
Peace and conflict	Conflict in the Pacific 1937–1951 The Arab–Israeli conflict 1948–2000 Conflict in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos 1954–1976 Conflict in the Gulf 1980–2017
Change in the modern world	The Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa 1948–1994 The struggle for democracy in Burma 1948–2021 From the Cultural Revolution to Tiananmen Square 1966–1989

Options in the Year 12 course contain a Context content group. This content group should be taught in a maximum of 3 hours.

Historical concepts and skills

The historical concepts and skills content is to be integrated throughout the course. The options provide the contexts through which concepts and skills are to be developed. These help guide students when engaging in historical analysis and argument.

Welcome to the NSW Curriculum website

11–12Modern History 11–12 Syllabus

Assessment