THE IB CURRICULUM
WHAT IS THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME?
It is an academically challenging and balanced program of education with final examinations that prepares students, aged 15 to 18, for success at university and life beyond. It has been designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students, and it has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities. The Diploma Programme prepares students for effective participation in a rapidly evolving and increasingly global society as they:
- Develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically
- Acquire breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, studying courses from six subject groups
- Develop the skills and a positive attitude towards learning that will prepare them for higher education
- Study at least two languages and increase their understanding of cultures, including their own
- Make connections across traditional academic disciplines and explore the nature of knowledge through the programme’s unique Theory of Knowledge course
- Undertake in-depth research into an area of interest through the lens of one or more academic disciplines in the
extended essay - Enhance their personal and interpersonal development through creativity, action and service.
”It is clear that we are suffering from a global learning and teaching crisis, and COVID-19 has magnified these challenges
OLLI-PEKKA HEINONENDirector General of the International Baccalaureate
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2018
WHAT IS THE IB PROGRAM?
It is an academically challenging and balanced program of education with final examinations that prepares students, aged 15 to 18, for success at university and life beyond. It has been designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students, and it has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities. The Diploma Programme prepares students for effective participation in a rapidly evolving and increasingly global society as they:
- Develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically
- Acquire breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, studying courses from six subject groups
- Develop the skills and a positive attitude towards learning that will prepare them for higher education
- Study at least two languages and increase their understanding of cultures, including their own
- Make connections across traditional academic disciplines and explore the nature of knowledge through the programme’s unique Theory of Knowledge course
- Undertake in-depth research into an area of interest through the lens of one or more academic disciplines in the
extended essay - Enhance their personal and interpersonal development through creativity, action and service.
”It is clear that we are suffering from a global learning and teaching crisis, and COVID-19 has magnified these challenges
OLLI-PEKKA HEINONENDirector General of the International Baccalaureate
THE CURRICULUM
Students of the IB Diploma Programme select six subjects from six subject groups (Arts disciplines are elective and can be substituted by another subject from the previous groups). Three of the six subjects are studied at Higher Level (HL), each representing 240 teaching hours over two years. The remaining three subjects are studied at Standard Level (SL), each representing 150 teaching hours over two years. The subjects currently offered in The Global College are:
GROUP 1: STUDIES IN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
English Language A: Language and Literature (HL/SL)
Spanish Language A: Language and Literature (HL/SL)
French Language A: Language and Literature (HL/SL)
Spanish Literature and Performance (SL)
English Literature and Performance (SL)
GROUP 2: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
English (HL/SL)
Spanish (HL/SL/Ab initio)
French (HL/SL/Ab initio)
German (SL)
Other languages offered under arrangement with school
GROUP 3: INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES
Business Management (HL/SL)
Economics (HL/SL)
History (HL/SL)
Psychology (HL/SL)
Environmental Systems and Societies (HL/SL)
GROUP 4: SCIENCES
Biology (HL/SL)
Chemistry (HL/SL)
Environmental Systems and Societies (HL/SL)
Physics (HL)
Computer Science (HL/SL)
GROUP 5: MATHEMATICS
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL/SL)
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (HL/SL)
GROUP 6: THE ARTS
Visual Arts (HL/SL)
Film (HL/SL)
Spanish Literature and Performance (SL)
Music; Theatre; Visual arts; Dance; Film
GROUP 1: STUDIES IN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
English Language A: language and literature (HL/SL) – Spanish Language A: language and literature (HL/SL) – French Language A: language and literature (HL/SL)
GROUP 2: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
English (HL/SL/Ab initio) – Spanish (HL/SL/Ab initio) – French (HL/SL/Ab initio) – German (SL) – Mandarin (Ab initio – online). Other languages are available on an arrangement basis
GROUP 3: INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES
Business Management (HL/SL) – Economics (HL/SL) – History (HL/SL) – Psychology (HL/SL) – Environmental systems and societies (also group 4, SL)
GROUP 4: SCIENCES
Biology (HL/SL) – Chemistry (HL/SL) – Environmental systems and societies (also group 3, SL) – Physics (HL/SL) – Computer science (HL/SL)
GROUP 5: MATHEMATICS
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL) – Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (HL/SL)
GROUP 6: THE ARTS
Visual arts (HL/SL) – Film (HL/SL)
Music; Theatre; Visual arts; Dance; Film
THE IB DIPLOMA CORE
In addition to disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, the Diploma Programme includes three core elements that broaden students’ educational experience and that challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills.
THE EXTENDED ESSAY
The EE fosters high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity. It also introduces students to the independent research and writing skills expected at university. Students must complete a research essay, in a discipline area of their choice, on a topic discussed and agreed between them and the supervisor. The 14-month journey culminates in a formally presented and structured piece of writing (4,000 words), in which ideas and findings are set out in a reasoned and persuasive manner.
CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, SERVICE
CAS involves student participation in a range of activities, alongside their academic studies, throughout the Diploma Programme. Creativity encourages students to engage in the arts and creative thinking; Activity seeks to develop a healthy lifestyle through physical exercise; and Service within the community is a tool for new learning with academic value. The three areas enhance the personal and interpersonal development of students through experiential learning. Our Extended Experiences include a range of activities that facilitate the fulfilment of this core requirement.
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
This is a course unique to the IB Diploma that challenges students to ask: What counts as knowledge?, How do we know what we know?, Who defines what knowledge is? Its goal is to develop students’ critical capacity to analyse, connect and consider possibilities, and to understand that all individual and cultural perspectives have strengths and weaknesses. Like all other IB Diploma subjects, TOK is assessed: students write a 1,600-word essay and do a presentation on a TOK topic of their choice.
