Humanities
The Humanities program at Abelard encompasses the following courses: Philosophy, World History, American History, World Religions, Canadian History, Canadian Geography, and Politics. The goal is one that is shared by all the disciplines at Abelard: an integrated approach that provides students with a comprehensive overview of world culture and history.
Abelard's unique approach to integrated courses means that information and ideas will overlap from one course to another. For example, the study of Buddhism in World Religions is contextualized by World History, which charts Buddhism's dynamic relationship with the Chinese state. Our course in Philosophy provides, among other units, a chronological perspective on the development of ethics. This understanding of ethics contributes to discussions about the Enlightenment that emerge in World History.
Our Politics course looks at contemporary conflicts around the world and provides students with a basis upon which to make informed assessments of international relations in the 21st century. This contemporary focus on world events and issues is the culmination of our Humanities program.Our Humanities program is also comprehensive. We aim to provide students with 2500 years of world culture by going back to Confucius and the birth of Western philosophy in the 5th century BCE up through the seismic events of European history, complemented by the global aspects of World Religions, World History, and Politics. By the end of grade 12, our students are able to survey the breadth of world history and culture.
“Abelard’s focus on educational diversity in the Humanities and Sciences provides a balanced and comprehensive engagement with learning, which prepares students for their encounter with university, as well as stimulates their insights into potential careers. Abelard graduates hit the ground running.”
Tim Pilgrim, M.A. M.B.A, Dipl. Analyt. Psych, Lecturer at New College, University of Toronto