High School Programs

Start University in Year 11

America: Rebels, Heroes & Renegades

America: Rebels, Heroes & Renegades is a Board of Studies endorsed HSC course that offers Year 11 students the opportunity to develop university standard writing and thinking skills and earn credit towards a tertiary degree. Offered by the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, America: Rebels, Heroes & Renegades covers new and exciting ground outside the HSC curriculum to enrich the study of the United States in the humanities and political sciences.

About the course

The course views historical and contemporary America through the lens of its influential rebels, heroes, and renegades: female and male, ordinary and extraordinary, political and cultural, known and unsung. By studying these people, students learn about the complexity and diversity of the US and gain insight into how it has become such a powerful global force.

Download the America: Rebels, Heroes & Renegades flyer

The benefits

Knowledge and understanding of the United States and its impact on the world.
Skills in oral and written expression of conceptually difficult ideas and independent critical thinking. These skills will prove useful for other essay-based HSC subjects and debating.
After successful completion of the course, students will gain one subject (a six credit point semester-length unit of study) towards a degree in Arts or other combined degree programs at the University of Sydney.
The course fee represents approximately one-third of the full fee rate for one subject (a six credit point Arts unit of study) at the University of Sydney. Students who gain admission to a degree—which this subject can be credited toward—will not incur a HECS debt or be liable for the full fee for these six credit points.

Course outline

Who are the most significant heroes and rebels in recent American history?

Do these people fight for individual freedom or social justice?

What do American heroes, rebels and renegades reveal to us about the domestic United States and its global power?

By examining American heroes and rebels this course explores how these individuals reflect and shape the United States, with an emphasis on developing a student’s ability to think critically and develop evidence-based, well-reasoned arguments.

The course consists of the following four core sections:-

Understanding the hero, the rebel & the renegade

Who is a hero or renegade? Who defines heroes and rebels? What role does the American media play in the attribution of these labels? Can a hero be a typical citizen? How are heroes and rebels portrayed?

Heroic journeys & the US in the world

Is every hero or rebel connected with adventure or a journey? Is there a pattern to the heroic journey? Is the journey of each American hero or rebel equivalent to the journey experienced by the US as a nation in a hostile world?

Politicians & celebrities

The political landscape includes politicians, presidents, policy makers, journalists, television commentators and military heroes. Are these people celebrities? Can a celebrity be a hero? Is fame a necessary part of heroism? What part do American values and beliefs play in the formation of political heroes?

Obstacles to heroism in the US

Why are some people denied hero status? Are heroic women and people of colour ignored or forgotten? Does heroic action need to be individual or can it be collective? How does the structure of American society both block and fuel heroism?

Assessment

Assessment consists of journal entries (1500 words worth 25%); a character profile on a chosen person (1000 words worth 25%); a research essay (2000 words worth 40%); and class participation (10%).

How is this course recognised?

America: Rebels, Heroes & Renegades is endorsed as a one-unit option. The course is recognised by the Board of Studies as a Year 11 preliminary unit and forms part of a student’s final HSC record. Board Endorsed Courses are designed for high-achieving students to supplement and extend the HSC curriculum, though the results in these courses are not included in the calculation of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). The result for America: Rebels, Heroes & Renegades will appear on a student’s Record of Achievement and is worth six credit points toward an undergraduate degree at the University.

Session times

9-13 January 2012, 10am—2pm
16-20 January 2012, 10am—2pm
4 and 11 Febraury 2012, 10am—2pm

Each session includes a one-hour lunch break.

Eligibility

Any student who has an interest in the topics covered and the ability and aptitude to undertake university-level study is welcome to apply. Only students who will commence Year 11 or Year 12 in 2012 may apply to enrol in the course.

Application process

Applications are assessed by the course convener on the basis of a student’s past academic record and their school principal’s recommendation that the student has the capacity to meet the demands of the course. This takes into account a candidate’s potential to work at university-level and their ability to work both in a team and independently.

The application must be given to the student's school Principal for approval and submission to the United States Studies Centre. Students must also attach a copy of their most recent school report.

Completed applications (including all necessary attached documents) should be submitted by the school Principal to:

United States Studies
Institute Building (H03)
The University of Sydney NSW 2006

Applications are due by 25 November 2011.

Course costs

The cost of America: Heroes, Rebels & Renegades is $775. The fee is payable once you are accepted into the course.

Scholarships

The United States Studies Centre is offering two merit scholarships to students with an outstanding academic record and one equity scholarship to a student who can demonstrate financial hardship and/or educational disadvantage.

Offers

Offers will be sent out to successful applicants with fee payment details by 5 December 2011, Students will need to accept and finalise payment by 16 December 2011.

For more information

Amelia Trial
Student Affairs Officer
E: amelia.trial@sydney.edu.au