Social Studies Department

Updated January 2025

Welcome to the Social Studies Department

“The primary goal of Social Studies education is to give students the knowledge, skills, and competencies to be active, informed citizens who are able to think critically.” (BC Social Studies curriculum).  Students at Burnaby North have several course options to develop those skills as they move from grade 8 to 12.

Course Offerings (updated January 2025)

All students MUST complete Social Studies 8,9 & 10 AND at least ONE senior social studies MINISTRY approved elective for graduation.
Below are a list of our Ministry Approved Courses & our Elective Courses.
Please note that Psychology 12 and ALL AP Socials courses are ELECTIVES!

Grades 8-10​

All students are required to take these courses.  Course options are offered only in grades 11 & 12.

Social Studies 8 (MSS–08)

This course explores world events from the 7th century to 1750.

Social Studies 9 (MSS–09)

This course explores world events from 1750 to 1919.

Social Studies 10 (MSS–10)

This course explores events that shaped Canada and the World from 1919 to the present.

 

Grade 9-10 Electives

NOTE:  These courses can be taking in addition to the required courses above.

Intro Leadership 9 and Intro Leadership 10-12

Designed for students who want to learn more about what it means to be an ‘Everyday Leader’ and become more connected to class, school, and community. Intro Leadership explores leadership styles, verbal and written communication skills, time management, life balance, joy and leadership, personality types, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Intro students create learning portfolios and at term end discuss, with evidence, their learning and growth, to self-assess class progress. Leaders, in pods, create, plan, implement, and reflect upon the success of a ‘Passion Project’ of their choosing. As well, they have opportunities for unique field experiences, guest speakers, training and certification. Leaders make their positive impact by being an ‘Everyday Leader’ in the class, school, and larger community, depending on needs.

Senior Leadership 10-12 (can take two years in a row)

Designed for students who have successfully completed Intro Leadership or who have obtained permission from the teacher. The course content is similar, but, of course, Senior Leaders have a different entry point into these topics. See above for structure. Structure is similar to Intro Leadership, as outlined above.

Grades 11 & 12

MINISTRY APPROVED COURSES

Students MUST take ONE of these in grade 11 or 12 to qualify for the 4-credits of senior Social Studies required for graduation.

20th Century World History 12 (MWH–12)

A study of world history in the 20th Century and examination of the developments that have profoundly affected our civilization and way of life. Topics include: World War I, World War II; the Cold War; Independence Movements; Dictators; Revolutions; Communism; Civil Rights; and Social & Cultural Developments.

BC First Peoples 12 (MBCFP12)

This course is a newer course that will allow students to study the following topics as related to Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia:
– The identities, worldviews, and languages of B.C. First Peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land.
– The impact of contact and colonialism continues to affect the political, social, and economic lives of B.C. First Peoples.
– Cultural expressions convey the richness, diversity, and resiliency of B.C. First Peoples.
– Through self-governance, leadership, and self-determination, B.C. First Peoples challenge and resist Canada’s ongoing colonialism.

Comparative Cultures 12 (MCMCL12)

This course offers a curriculum which places an emphasis on a variety of Ancient Civilizations including Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, Japan and the Maya. Students will have the opportunity to study the world’s cultural history and make connections across various societies.

Explorations in Social Studies 11 (MEPSS11)

This course is now OPTIONAL and is not a pre-requisite for other courses.

This is no longer the old Socials 11 course. Explorations is designed to provide flexibility for teachers & students while ensuring that the rigorous provincial standards are met. Students will get a sampling of senior Socials electives in this course. Note: This course is NOT a pre-requisite for any of our grade 12 offerings.

Genocide Studies 12 (MGENO12)

This course will examine various aspects of the political, legal, social, and cultural ramifications of genocide, as well as acts of protest and resistance against genocide. Genocide Studies is an important opportunity to learn about the complexities of power dynamics, geopolitics, past and current genocides using the Ten Stages of Genocide, and to strengthen a culture of genocide prevention and human rights education. It is also a course where differing, sometimes emotional perspectives will be expressed, and students will be expected to engage in important discourse with open-mindedness, respect, and facts. Anyone who has taken Socials 10 may enroll in this course.

Law Studies 12 (MLST-12)

A survey course of Canadian law and legal issues. Emphasis is on statute law, and case law, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and criminal and civil law as encountered by the average citizen. Topics include: Procedural law; human rights; contracts; torts; family law; consumer law; young offenders law; and emerging legal concerns. Field trips to the Law Courts.

Philosophy 12 (MPHIL12)

This course explores how big questions have been approached through Western thought.  Philosophers seek to answer such questions as, what is the meaning and purpose of life? How do we know what we know? Does God exist? What does it mean to possess consciousness? And, what is the value of morals?Students will be reading some of the most important works from philosophical tradition and think critically about their meaning.  Philosophy is a discipline that exercises reason & logic in an attempt to understand reality and answer fundamental questions about knowledge, life, morality and human nature.

Physical Geography 12 (MPGEO12)

A study of the forces that shape the earth’s surface, the resulting features, and how they affect people. Students will study aspects of the atmosphere, climate and weather, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Key topics include:  creation of land forms, and tectonics, and gradational forces, human impact on the environment and environmental impacts on humans, resource assessment and management and threats to the environment including issues around Climate Change. Field trips (boating, hiking, camping, and more).

Social Justice 12 (MSJ–12)

Students will use a number of sources including readings, films, music, internet sources, in-school presentations, and field trips to explore topics including: poverty, discrimination, globalization, genocide, gender, and LGBTQ issues. This course will develop students’ ethical & philosophical reasoning skills by exploring issues of injustice in a local & global context. Students will also plan their own Action Project to positively change the world according to their area of interest.

Urban Studies 12

Urban Studies will explore the development of cities in all corners of the world, and the different factors that make each one unique.   Our cities are windows into the daily life, history, culture, and community values in locations around the world. With the world rapidly changing into one concentrating industry and thus population into urban centres through mass migrations, we see our highly interconnected world transforming. Since our lives are spent here, we must concern ourselves with the nature of urban spaces.

Electives for Grade 11 & 12 Students

These optional electives do not fulfill the requirement for 4-credits of senior Social Studies, though some may contribute to the overall graduation credit count.

BAA COURSES

The following courses are considered BAA (board-approved) electives and, although it count towards graduation credits, it does not satisfy the requirement of senior Social Studies elective required after Social Studies 10.

PSYCHOLOGY 12 (YPSYC2A)

An introductory course on human behaviour and basic concepts in modern psychology. The course covers the five major psychological domains: methods, biopsychological, cognitive, developmental, socio-cultural domains. This course is recommended for those students who have an interest for Psychology and wish to pursue it further at a post-secondary institution. This course is also recommended as a prerequisite for AP Psychology 12 but not a requirement.

Senior Leadership 10-12 (can take two years in a row)

Designed for students who have successfully completed Intro Leadership or who have obtained permission from the teacher. The course content is similar, but, of course, Senior Leaders have a different entry point into these topics. See above for structure. Structure is similar to Intro Leadership, as outlined above.

Mentorship 11/12 (can take two years in a row)

Mentorship is a very self-directed, outside timetable course designed for senior students (gr 11/12) interested in working with younger people. Learning such as learning styles, personality types, public speaking, and leading groups has practical application to other classes and endeavors. They organize elementary course selection, grade 8 Retreat, and Viking for a Day, and have unique field experiences, speakers, training and certification opportunities.

Moreover, Mentors are role models who help grade 8s connect positively and provide academic support. Mentors create workshops and work with grade 8s during tutorial time (from Oct-April), improving their verbal and written communication skills as they work with individuals, small groups and an entire class in activities and lessons.

Students create learning portfolios and at the end of term provide evidence of learning and growth to self-assess progress. Mentors create, plan, implement, and reflect upon the success of a program where they connect with elementaries.

AP SOCIAL STUDIES COURSES

Advanced Placement courses in Social Studies are considered electives and DO NOT COUNT as a Ministry approved senior Social Studies courses for socials credit for graduation!!! (minimum one Ministry-approved course required after Social Studies 10) but credits do count towards graduation as elective credits. There is no pre-requisite to get into our AP Courses but an 86% or higher in Social Studies 10 is highly recommended to keep with the academic rigour that these courses demand.

AP European History 12 (AHI–12)

This course is the study of European history from 1450-2000 CE & introduces students to the Renaissance, Religious Reformation & Wars, Absolute Monarchs, Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment, French & English Revolutions, Industrial Revolution, Russian Revolution, World Wars, the Cold War, & so much more.

AP Human Geography 12  (AHG–12)

​AP Human Geography allows students to learn about world population issues, border disputes, and international conflicts. In addition, students are exposed to economic theories and models as well as world religions and the origins and diffusion of languages, urban development, industrialization, and city planning.  Field trips include: BC Mining Museum and Sailing Trips.

AP Psychology 12 (APSY-12)

This course will introduce students to the systematic and scientific study, and behaviour and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students will be exposed to psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the sub fields in psychology.
** Please note that ECONOMICS 12 will no longer be under the Social Studies Department. Social Studies still has AP Economics under our department but the Economics 12 has changed content and is now under the Business Education Department.