York Memorial Collegiate Institute

Welcome to the Social Sciences Department

The Canadian and world studies program encompasses five subjects: civics, economics, geography, history, law and politics. In studying these subjects, students learn how people interact with and within their social and physical environments today, and how they did so in the past. Students develop the knowledge and values they need to become responsible, active and informed Canadian citizens in the twenty-first century.

In addition, students develop practical skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, research, inquiry and communication skills. Courses in Canadian and world studies contribute significantly to students’ understanding of Canada’s heritage and its physical, social, cultural, governmental, legal, and economic structures and relationships. Students learn to apply and transfer these skills and understandings in other secondary school subjects, in their future studies, and in today’s rapidly changing world.

The social sciences and humanities program encompasses four areas: general social science, family studies, philosophy and world religions. While each area has its own focus, all courses share a common purpose: the study of human beings and their interaction in and around the world.

Through both hands-on experiences and the methods of inquiry applicable to the disciplines, students in the social sciences and humanities study human behaviour and society within fields such as sociology, psychology, and anthropology. Through the critical examination of the structures, processes, and relationships on which these fields shed light, students learn about the wide range of factors that have influenced and continue to affect peoples, cultures, and societies. Courses in social sciences and humanities equip students with the knowledge, dispositions, and skills to appreciate and assess humanity’s ongoing attempts to understand and articulate the meaning and purpose of life.