Humanities

Our Programme

The study of Humanities looks at and seeks out the very meaning of our human existence and experiences. The Swiss Humanities Department aims to develop in our students to understand and appreciate the complexities in human experiences and his environment. We wish to witness in our students the ability and desire to voice and act decisively to enrich our common experiences and protect the one earth that we all thrive on.

Through the study of the Humanities subjects offered in Swiss Cottage Secondary School, our students will learn to:

1. Be concerned and critical citizens;

2. Understand our past, appreciate the present and anticipate the future;

3. Be active contributor and

4. Be self-directed.

Swiss Cottage offers the following Humanities subjects at upper secondary:

Our Team

The Study of History

How important and relevant is the study of this subject in this modern age? With increasing desire of our country’s people to seek out the meaning of our existence in this VUCA world, this subject offers our students the environment to study how historical forces, events and personalities have shaped and formed the world we live in today. This in turn develops a sense of empathy, awareness and sensitivity to the diverse historical experiences that we may have. In the process, the students will also develop the ability to think, reason and write critically.

Swiss Cottage students learn History through a highly experiential curriculum. Our customised learning experiences involve games, a variety of ICT tools, and an inquiry-based approach to learn vital lessons about nation building. This knowledge then acts as the springboard for deeper conceptual learning of identity as well as citizenry at higher levels.

The Study of Geography

Our lives and experiences are shaped by forces of nature and human actions. As a subject, students learn about how their everyday experiences are geographical in nature, allowing the subject to come to life in a relevant and practical way.  Students will gain a deeper understanding of how our physical and human systems work through topics such as Water, Transportation, and Tourism. These topics are explored through a sustainability lens, ultimately developing a larger perspective of how stakeholders are interconnected and how they can contribute towards bettering the world they live in.

In Swiss Cottage, we believe in customising our curriculum for a unique learning experience for our students. From usage of various ICT tools to real-world experiences such as neighbourhood walks, we constantly refine our learning experiences to provide a richer understanding and appreciation of the subject discipline, for stronger advocacy as concerned citizens of the 21st century.

The Study of Humanities (Social Studies + Elective Subject)

Combined Humanities is a compulsory subject offered in the GCE national examinations and it is offered at the upper secondary level only.

The subject comprises of two subjects:

• Social Studies – a compulsory subject for all upper secondary students as well as an examinable subject for both the Express and Normal (Academic) streams students sitting for the GCE national examinations.

• Elective Humanities in which the students can offer any of the following subjects:

The study of Social Studies develops critical and valuable citizenship values. Students will learn current and contemporary local as well as global developments through 3 broad issues of i) Exploring Citizenship and Governance, ii) Living in a Diverse Society and iii) Being Part of a Globalised World. Through the exploration of these issues, the students will recognise the interconnectedness of Singapore and the world.

The subject will also allow the students to critically examine societal issues through an inquiry investigation. Through this process, the students can gain invaluable knowledge of research skills as well as develop constructive responses to societal issues; one of which is the integration of new citizens into our society. With these developments, our students learn to contribute responsibly as informed, concerned and participative glocal citizens.