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Family Studies

In Family Studies, students learn hands-on, practical skills that they will use far beyond the classroom. Students in our courses will study nutrition and healthy living, cultural diversity, fashion and design, marketing and industry, environmental sustainability, sociology and anthropology. Most of all, they will have fun in class!  

Family Studies Course Descriptions

Grades 9-12

This course focuses on guidelines for making nutritious food choices. Students will investigate factors that
influence food choices, including beliefs, attitudes, current trends, traditional eating patterns, food
marketing strategies, and individual needs. Students will also explore the environmental impact of a
variety of food choices at the local and global level. The course provides students with opportunities to
develop food preparation skills and introduces them to the use of social science research methods in the
area of food and nutrition.

Prerequisite: None

This course explores, within the context of families, some of the fundamental challenges people face: how to meet basic needs, how to relate to others, how to manage resources, and how to become responsible members of society. Students will explore adolescent development and will have opportunities to develop interpersonal, decision-making, and practical skills related to daily life. They will learn about the diverse ways in which families function in Canada and will use research skills as they explore topics related to individual and family needs and resources.

This course focuses on the flavours, aromas, cooking techniques, foods, and cultural traditions of world
cuisines. Students will explore the origins of and developments in diverse food traditions. They will

demonstrate the ability to cook with ingredients and equipment from a variety of cultures, compare food-
related etiquette in many countries and cultures, and explain how Canadian food choices and traditions

have been influenced by other cultures. Students will develop practical skills and apply social science
research methods while investigating foods and food practices from around the world.

Prerequisite: None

This course introduces students to the world of fashion. Students will gain an understanding of theories
related to fashion trends and of how culture, media, fashion cycles, retailing, and social and environmental
factors influence fashion trends and consumer behaviour. Students will use various tools, technologies,
and techniques safely and correctly to create fashion items. They will apply knowledge of fibres, fabrics,
and the elements and principles of design when creating and assessing fashion-related products. Students
will develop research skills as they investigate topics related to fashion.

Prerequisite: None

This course introduces students to theories, questions, and issues related to anthropology, psychology,
and sociology. Students learn about approaches and research methods used by social scientists. Students
will be given opportunities to apply theories from a variety of perspectives, to conduct social science
research, and to become familiar with current issues within the three disciplines.

Prerequisite: None

This course provides students with opportunities to think critically about theories, questions, and issues
related to anthropology, psychology, and sociology. Students will develop an understanding of the
approaches and research methods used by social scientists. They will be given opportunities to explore
theories from a variety of perspectives, to conduct social science, and to become familiar with current
thinking on a range of issues within the three disciplines.

Prerequisite: The Grade 10 academic course in English or the Grade 10 Academic History course
(Canadian & World Studies)

This course examines the relationships between food, energy balance, and nutritional status; the
nutritional needs of individuals at different stages of life; and the role of nutrition in health and disease.
Students will evaluate nutrition-related trends and will determine how food choices can promote food
security and environmental responsibility. Students will learn about healthy eating, expand their repertoire
of food-preparation techniques, and develop their social science research skills by investigating issues
related to nutrition and health.

Prerequisite: Any University or University/College preparation course in Social Sciences & Humanities,
English, or Canadian & World Studies

ONLINE: This course enables students to develop an understanding of social science theories as they
apply to individual development, the development of intimate relationships, and family and parent-child
relationships. Students will explore a range of issues relating to the development of individuals and families
in contemporary Canadian society as well as in other cultures and 121 historical periods. They will develop
the investigative skills required to conduct research on individuals, intimate relationships, and parent-child
roles and relationships in Canada.

Prerequisite: Any University, College, or University/College preparation course in Social Sciences &
Humanities, English, or Canadian & World Studies

ONLINE: This course enables students to draw on sociological, psychological, and anthropological
theories and research to analyse the development of individuals, intimate relationships, and family and
parent-child relationships. Students will focus on issues and challenges facing individuals and families in
Canada’s diverse society. They will develop analytical tools that enable them to assess various factors
affecting families and to consider policies and practices intended to support families in Canada. They will
develop the investigative skills required to conduct and communicate the results of research on individuals,
intimate relationships, and parent-child relationships.

Prerequisite: Any University or University/College preparation course in Social Sciences & Humanities,
English, or Canadian & World Studies

This course gives students the opportunity to explore the world of fashion. Students will learn how to
create a fashion product using various tools, techniques and technologies while developing their practical
skills. Students will learn about various factors that affect the global fashion industry, the needs of
specialized markets, and the impact of fibre and fabric production and care. In addition, they will learn
about social and historical influences on fashion. Students will apply research skills when investigating
aspects of the fashion world.

Prerequisite: Any University, College, or University/College preparation course in Social Sciences &
Humanities, English, or Canadian & World Studies

This course examines the theories and methodologies used in anthropology, psychology, and sociology to
investigate and explain shifts in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour and their impact on society.
Students will analyse cultural, social, and biological patterns in human societies, looking at the ways in
which those patterns change over time. Students will also explore the ideas of classical and contemporary
social theorists, and will apply those ideas to the analysis of contemporary trends.

Prerequisite: Any University, University/College, or College preparation course in Social Sciences &
Humanities, English, or Canadian & World Studies

Students will explore philosophical viewpoints from the pre-Socratic period to the Existentialist era, examine different assessments of the cosmos and our sensory environments, grapple with varied ethical dilemmas, and ultimately come to understand the multifaceted features of the human mind.
Prerequisite: any Grade 11 university or university/college preparation course