High School

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America: Rebels, Heroes & Renegades

America: Rebels, Heroes & Renegades is a Board of Studies endorsed HSC course that offers Year 11 and Year 12 students the opportunity to develop university-standard writing and critical 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 and understanding of the United States.

About the course

As the recent presidential election has demonstrated, the United States is a nation deeply divided by disagreements over the role and size of government; religion and the separation of church and state; foreign policy; and the balance of individual liberties with social responsibilities. In order to understand these debates, this course will examine key issues and periods of American history through influential heroes, rebels, and renegades. Students will gain knowledge fundamental to a deep understanding of US history, politics, and culture.

Download the 2013 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; skills in independent critical thinking; and skills in developing evidence-based arguments. These skills will prove useful for essay-based HSC subjects (including History and English) 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 may be counted towards a major in American Studies at the University of Sydney.
The course fee is approximately one-third of the full fee rate for one subject (a six credit point Arts unit of study) at the University. Students who gain admission to a degree—which this subject can be credited toward—will not incur a HECS-HELP debt or be liable for the full fee for this subject.

Course outline

The course consists of the following four core sections.

Understanding the hero, the rebel and the renegade
This module introduces the concepts of hero, rebel and renegade. It connects key figures in these categories to foundational and enduring myths of the United States including American exceptionalism, the American dream, and freedom and equal opportunity for all.

Heroic journeys and the US in the world
This module considers the way that wars have shaped and transformed the domestic US and its role in the world, from the Cold War and the rebellious counterculture it produced, through to the loss in Vietnam and its impact on subsequent wars including the controversial War on Terror.

Obstacles to heroism in the US
This module considers key figures from social movements, including civil rights and second wave feminism, to explore how the structure of American society both blocks and fuels heroism.

Politicians and celebrities
This module examines major political and cultural figures including:

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose New Deal impacted the size of American government;
Richard Nixon, whose involvement in the Watergate scandal changed perceptions of the presidency;
Barack Obama, who, as the first black president, is both a political and cultural icon; and
Lady Gaga who has used her success for personal profit and to campaign against bullying.

Assessment

Assessment will consist of: *

a research essay proposal with annotated bibliography (1500 words, worth 10%, due Monday 14 January)
an in-class group presentation (worth 10% on Friday 18 January)
a research essay (2000 words, worth 40%, due Saturday 2 February)
an in-class exam (1000 words, worth 30% on Saturday 2 February)
class participation (worth 10%).

* Dates subject to change

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 Admissions Rank (ATAR). The result for America: Rebels, Heroes & Renegades will appear on a student’s Record of Achievement and is worth one subject toward an undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney.

Session times

Monday 7 – Friday 11 January, 2013, 10am–2pm
Monday 14 – Friday 18 January, 2013, 10am–2pm
Saturday 2 February, 2013, 10am–2pm
Each session will include a lunch break. A graduation ceremony will be held on the University of Sydney’s Open Day, Saturday 31 August 2013.

Who should apply?

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 2013 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.

Course costs

The cost of America: Heroes, Rebels & Renegades is $775. Additionally, all students attending the University of Sydney are liable for the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSA fee) from January 2012. For this course the fee is $102.37. Detailed information on the SSA fee is available at: sydney.edu.au/current_students/student_administration/ssa_fee.shtml .
The total fee of $877.37 is payable once you are accepted into the course. See information about available scholarships below.

Scholarships

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

Submitting your application

The application form (PDF) must be given to the student’s school Principal for approval and submission to the University. Students must also attach a copy of their most recent school report. The student’s completed application will be forwarded to the course convener for assessment and offers will be sent out to successful applicants with fee payment details.

Where to send your application

Completed applications (including all necessary attached documents) should be sent by the school Principal to the following address:
United States Studies Centre
Institute Building (H03)
The University of Sydney NSW 2006.

Applications are due by Monday 10 December 2012.

Offers
Summer School 2013: Offers will be sent out to successful applicants by 12 December 2012. Students will need to accept and finalise payment by 17 December 2012.

For more information

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

iPad

Debate the Future of America

Win three iPads for your school!

The US Studies Centre's ‘Debate the Future of America’ competition is held each year in August with the grand final a feature of the University’s Open Day. The grand prize in 2012 was three iPads for the school debating team.