The HSIE Faculty has the very important task of introducing students to arts, humanities, civics and citizenship and social education. These aspects of education are important in a school such as James Ruse AHS to ensure balance in the whole school curriculum. Our faculty is united with other faculties in the school in the pursuit of excellence. Ample opportunity exists within the faculty for gifted children to achieve their potential through a variety of extension and enrichment activities and these activities have been clearly stated in the teaching programmes developed. Teaching strategies based on the Maker, Williams or Kaplan models continue to be hyperlinked to the relevant teaching programme, which has helped develop a bank of possible teaching strategies, designed to cater for the needs of our gifted and talented students. The efforts of students  are recognised through the presentation of awards at both faculty and school level.
		Students are encouraged to develop a commitment to the welfare of the school community and environment and then extended to the wider community and its human and natural environments. As Geography is concerned with the impact of people on the natural and built environments, it follows that Geography is well placed to make environmental issues an integral part of the learning program, which occurs both within and outside the classroom and at local, national and international levels. Specific areas of emphasis are:

Technological change is occurring at a tremendous rate. Faculty members are aware of the increasing use of computers in the general administration of the school, if only because they will use this information in the normal performance of their duties, including reports on students and access to school records. Networking throughout the school has provided easy access to a variety of information related to both administration and curriculum.  The faculty has a number of computers that provide support in such areas as word processing, data bases, spreadsheets as well as specific software packages related to teaching, including interactive learning. Computers also are available for use in classrooms and faculty members also use the school's computer laboratories, including the mini-labs, for enrichment work and other classroom activities.

In addition, staff are aware of the mandatory requirements regarding the integration of ICT into classroom practice. Teaching programs have been modified to reflect these requirements so teachers are encouraged to record or link useful web sites and/or ICT based strategies to the relevant teaching programs. Beyond these requirements, teachers look for other opportunities to develop computer based technology as an integral part of lesson preparation and presentation.

James Ruse has students from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds. Particularly significant is the increasingly large proportion of students with non-English speaking backgrounds, primarily from Asian countries. HSIE teachers develop strategies to cater for the needs of these students, including attempts to increase the self esteem of all students and make them feel part of the school community. Within the classroom the emphasis is on all pupils being equal, regardless of ethnic background, gender or other differences.  Appreciation of the value of other cultures not only occurs for the reason above - it can also be a valuable teaching tool. HSIE courses necessarily involve examination of a whole range of socio-economic issues over a large number of countries. Students have been found to provide excellent primary source material in many subject areas.

Courses
The faculty offers are wide cross section of courses including:

• Mandatory Stage 4 and 5 courses in Geography and History as well as a Stage 5 course in Commerce
• 2 Unit Courses in Geography, Modern History, Ancient History and Economics for study in Stage 6 as well as a 1 Unit History Extension course.

		The faculty is committed to and recognises the value of fieldwork. Within the context of an agricultural high school, students have the opportunity throughout their studies in HSIE courses to extend their knowledge, abilities and skills by taking part in fieldwork activities. In Stages 4 and 5, fieldwork increases students' skills, concepts and awareness developed in the classroom. Opportunities exist to integrate Geography, History and Commerce fieldwork and teachers pursue this policy with each field trip, as far as it is practicable.
		At Stage 6 level, there is a Geography syllabus statement that fieldwork is mandatory while fieldwork opportunities also occur in Ancient and Modern History and these are pursued as far as possible within the context of the total school. Homework and assignments are an important component of the learning process in HSIE subjects. By completing unfinished tasks from lessons, regular revision of topics and the completion of  assignments, students develop a better understanding of their subjects and the literacy levels associated with them.

• Expecting students to speak and write with correct grammar
• Providing opportunities for all students to verbally address the class
• Requiring studentsto submit written work in the correct genre, including journal work and diaries
• Learning and using language specific to HSIE courses
• Ensuring that from Year 7 onwards, students understand appropriate essay techniques
• Encouraging students to read outside specified texts
• Encouraging students to have a dictionary in class as well as a comprehensive dictionary and atlas at home
• Developing glossaries of terms for units of work within all courses
• Setting assignment work within a framework which incorporates faculty aims on length of answers, wording of questions, referencing, plagiarism, and using the teacher as a resource.

		Besides outstanding HSC and School Certificate results there have been a number of significant highlights for the faculty in 2007. In the National Geographic Australian Geography Competition, James Ruse AHS was recognized as the second best performing school in Australia. In the under 16's division, one student was equal third in NSW while in the senior division, two students maintained their outstanding record by both receiving a prize for equal third in NSW.  One of these students was selected for the inaugural Geography's Big Week Out held in Noosa, Queensland, from which comes the opportunity to be selected for the Australian Geography Olympiad team.
		James Ruse was also the top performing school in Australia in the PwC Economics Competition. In the Year 12 division, one student was the top student in Australia and there were eight other prize winners. In the Year 11 Division, there were six prize winners, with one student coming first in NSW. Overall there were 37 high distinctions and 45 distinctions, representing over 50% of our candidature. Business Studies is a Stage 6 course, however our Year 10 Commerce students enter the competition each year. Out of a total of 86 students, James Ruse won 28 distinctions. This is a very fine result especially since students have not explicitly studied this course and are competing against Year 11 students.
		Fieldwork has always been an integral part of the HSIE curriculum. One of the many highlights this year was the inaugural history tour to Europe in April. Twelve students, one parent and two staff travelled to Italy, France and Belgium visiting the ancient sites of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome, the WW1 battlefields of Ypres and The Somme and the city of Paris. So successful was the tour that another has been organized for 2008 involving 25 students and 10 parents and staff.