Humanities

The Department believes that the teaching of values is an essential part of the education of each TASIS England student. The Senior Humanities and IB Theory of Knowledge (ToK) courses cover the central themes of both culture and values as a way of exploring the highest achievements of civilization. These core values are discussed and explored through a variety of subject areas, including art, literature, and philosophy. It is recommended that students participate in appropriate Humanities course-related field trips during October Travel Week as indicated below. Department requirement: 1 credit (in Grade 12) of Senior Humanities or Advanced Placement Art History (see course description in the Arts section) or satisfactory completion of the two-year IB Theory of Knowledge course in Grades 11 and 12 (for IB Diploma Program candidates only). Senior Humanities 1 Credit This course is a chronological and thematic study of cultural values and moral issues in Western Civilization and beyond. The units of study include Truth (Ancient Greece and Rome); Beauty (Renaissance and Contemporary Art); the Sacred (world religions); and revolutions (Modern European history and literature). Students take field trips to the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Brompton Oratory, the British Museum, and the Tate Modern Art Museum in London. The October Travel Week excursion is to Greece.

Theory of Knowledge 1 Credit Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is an interdisciplinary course taken by all IB Diploma students in the world. At TASIS, this course meets twice a week in grades 11 and 12 and satisfies the Senior Humanities requirement for graduation. TOK encourages students to compare and contrast different subject areas with one another. There are eight Areas of Knowledge: Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, History, The Arts, Ethics, Religious Knowledge Systems, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. The TOK course also studies up to eight Ways of Knowing: language, reason, emotion, sense perception, memory, intuition, imagination, and faith. Students take field trips to the Ashmolean Museum and the Pitt-Rivers Museum in Oxford, and the Tate Modern Art Museum in London. The October Travel Week excursion is to Crete and Athens.