Philosophy: What is the IB philosophy?

• Developing citizens of the world in relation to culture, language and learning to live together
• Building and reinforcing students' sense of identity and cultural awareness
• Fostering students' recognition and development of universal human values
• Stimulating curiosity and inquiry in order to foster a spirit of discovery and enjoyment of learning
• Equipping students with the skills to learn and acquire knowledge, individually or collaboratively, and to apply these skills and knowledge accordingly across a broad range of areas
• Providing international content while responding to local requirements and interests
• Encouraging diversity and flexibility in teaching methods
• Providing appropriate forms of assessment and international benchmarking

​

Page 1

How is the IB Diploma Program Different from MYP?

• The IB Diploma Program is a program of choice. Scholars are not required to participate. They must meet a given criteria to participate.

​

• The IB Diploma Program has 6 areas of study, Theory of Knowledge, CAS and Extended Essay.

​

• The IB Diploma Programs has prescribed internal and external assessments that are monitored and evaluated by IB.

Junior Year

• 3 options:
• All College Prep
• College Prep and Diploma Program Courses
• Full Diploma Program

​

Contents: What does the Diploma Programme curriculum contain? �The curriculum contains six subject groups and a core of three parts.

Page 4

• three subjects at �higher level �(240 hours each).
• three subjects at standard level�(150 hours each).
• all three parts of the core.

​

The IB Learner Profile and the core are central to the philosophy of the Diploma Programme.

​

Scholars study concurrently:

​

Subjects offered: What subjects are offered within the six groups?�The Diploma Programme has a large range of subjects and many more options

• Group 1 – Language and Literature HL
• Group 2 – Mandarin AB initio, Spanish AB initio
• Group 3 – History of the Americas and 20^th Century World History (HL), Psychology SL

​

​

• Group 4 – Environmental Systems and Societies SL and Biology HL
• Group 5 – Mathematics application and interpretation SL/HL
• Group 6 –Dance SL/HL, Theatre SL/HL, Film SL/HL

​

What do I have to do to complete the IB DP program?

• Each course has both internal and external assessments. Most courses have an exam, external assessment, at the end of the course that is evaluated by IB. Internal assessments vary by course. Scholars will be issued scores based on both the internal and external assessments.
• Full DP students also complete the Theory of Knowledge course, an Extended Essay and CAS reflections. Scores will be issued for these as well.

Coursework Expectations

• Lots of reading
• Writing
• Oral Discussions
• Labs and Independent Research
• Most core courses require about 3 hours outside of class per week in order to be prepared for class and achieve at a high level.

Contents: What does the Diploma Programme curriculum contain?�There are three core requirements

​

The extended essay:

​

• 4,000 words

​

• Offers the opportunity to investigate a research question of individual interest

​

• Familiarises scholars with the independent research and writing skills expected at university

​

​

Page 8

Contents: What does the Diploma Programme curriculum contain?

​

Creativity, action and service

(CAS):

​

• Encourages scholars to be involved in artistic pursuits, sports and community service

​

• Education outside the classroom

​

• Development of the learner profile

​

​

Page 9

Contents: What does the Diploma Programme curriculum contain?

​

Theory of knowledge:

​

• Interdisciplinary

​

• Explores the nature of knowledge across disciplines

​

• Encouraging an appreciation of other cultural perspectives

​

Page 10

Options for the IB DP Program

• Scholars have 2 options for accessing the Diploma Program courses.

​

• Option 1: Pursue the full Diploma Program. Requirements for entrance include: completion of MYP Personal Project, teacher recommendation and application.

​

• Option 2: Take individual courses in the IB DP program and earn certificates for those courses if all requirements are met, including a minimum exam score-usually a 4 or higher. Requirements for entrance: B or better in pre-requisite course and teacher recommendation.

Why should I pursue full DP program or individual courses?

You will be entering a global market place. You need to be prepared to be innovative, open-minded thinkers and adaptable. IB prepares you for that.

​

• “Microsoft and other companies will search the globe for talent, and wherever they find it—China, or India, or anywhere else—high-paying, challenging jobs will follow.” (Friedman)

​

�College Preparation: Why IB is best!�

1. Academic breadth and depth
2. Universities appreciate experiences outside the classroom
3. Creates independent learners and strong writers
4. Recognized around the world
5. International mindset
6. Teaches more than test-taking skills
7. Requires and encourages time management skills
8. Teaches critical thinking
9. Subjects are not taught in isolation
10. IB Learner Profile

​

Why do universities value IB scholars? �IB scholars are prepared for academic success.

• IB scholars are more likely than others to enroll in and graduate from selective higher education institutions.*
• Based on their experiences, IB scholars possess a broader range of skills that enhance their ability to adapt and contribute to university life.
• IB scholars demonstrate a level of emotional and intellectual maturity for managing the demands of challenging coursework and make meaningful contributions.
• They have extensive experience doing independent research and presenting what they have learned through presentations, papers and other projects.
• They think critically and draw on diverse perspectives that reflect an international outlook.
• Participation in the IB Diploma Programme shows that scholars have excelled in multiple and diverse academic challenges and is a strong predictor for success in university.*

​

University recognition: How well is the diploma recognized by universities?��The IB diploma is widely recognized by the world’s leading universities.  

​

The IB works closely with universities in all regions of the world to

gain recognition for the IB diploma:

​

​

• Direct online access for university admissions officers and government officials to syllabuses and recent examination papers
• A database of university admission policies on www.ibo.org
• Recognition in over 100 countries
• Recognition by over 2,000 universities
• Some universities offer scholarships and advanced placement for IB students

​

​

Students applying to a particular university can access their grades

directly from the IB’s secure web site.

​

Page 15

Potential college credit

Full DP Diploma

• “Students who earn the IB Diploma with a total score of 28 points or more will be awarded at least 30 hours of university credit (sophomore standing): (University of Tulsa, 2015)
• “Students enrolling at Portland State who earn their IB diploma with a score of 30 or above will receive a total of 45 college credits and sophomore class standing.” (Portland State University, 2015)
• “20 semester units of elective credit to students who earn the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a score of 30 and above, whichever is higher.” (USC, 2015)

​

​

​

​

Potential College Credit

Individual IB courses

• ASU-3 to 8 credits based on score: https://catalog.asu.edu/credit_exam#IB
• GCU-3-8 credits based on score: http://www.gcu.edu/Documents/Student-Resources/International-Baccalaureate-Info.pdf
• USC-6 semester units of elective credit for each score of 5, 6, or 7
• University of Nebraska-3-5 semester units with a score of 5 or higher. http://creditevaluation.unl.edu/credit-types/ib

​

​

​

​

Potential Scholarship

• “Grand Canyon University offers generous scholarship opportunities to qualified students. Beginning in 2014, any student graduating with an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma is eligible for our Chancellor scholarship*, valued at up to $12,000 per year for students living on campus” (GCU, 2015)
• “Once an IB student applies and is admitted to UNL, their IB Diploma may be worth a $50,000 scholarship (out-of-state and international students only). (University of Nebraska, 2015)
• “Northern Arizona University’s President’s  IB Scholarships is a $5,000 renewable scholarship for IB diploma holders.” (NAU, 2015)

​

​

​

​

​

How will OI support your scholar to achieve success in the program?

• DP students, in their junior fall semester, will take a Research studies course which will give them the tools and skills they will need to pursue high level research projects. Their senior spring semester, they will take a study skills course that provides them time to prepare for their final papers and exams for the program.
• Friday office hours. We will coordinate study hours so that scholars have time to meet with their DP teachers and work on upcoming projects.
• Online interaction. Teachers and scholars will have online study groups in which they can work together to answer questions and clarify understanding.