International Baccalaureate (IB)

The Visual Arts course enables students to engage in both practical exploration and artistic production, and in independent contextual, visual and critical investigation. The course is designed to enable students to study visual arts in higher education and also welcomes those students who seek life enrichment through visual arts. All students are encouraged to develop their creative and critical abilities and to enhance their knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of visual arts. Students must complete research and writing assignments as well as hands-on work. This is an IB elective course.

Information Technology in a Global Society is the study and evaluation of the impact of information technology on individuals and society. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of the use of digitized information at the local and global level. It uses an integrated approach, encouraging students to make informed judgments and decisions about the role of information and communication technologies in contemporary society. This is an IB elective course.

The Business and Management course is designed to develop an understanding of business theory and an ability to apply business principles, practices and skills. It aims to encourage a holistic view of the world of business by promoting an awareness of social and ethical factors in the actions of organizations and individuals in those organizations. Developing international mindedness and an awareness of different cultural perspectives provides students the skills to think critically and appreciate the nature and significance of change in a local and global context. This is an IB elective course.

The Theatre course is designed to encourage students to examine theatre in its diversity of forms from around the world. This may be achieved through a critical study of the theory, history and culture of theatre and will find expression through workshops, compositions, or scripted performance. Students will come to understand that the act of imagining, creating, presenting and critically reflecting on theatre in its past and present contexts embodies the individual and social need to investigate and find explanations for the world around us. The theatre course emphasizes the importance of working individually and as a member of an ensemble. Students are encouraged to develop the organizational and technical skills needed to express themselves creatively in theatre. This is an IB elective course.

Through the study and analysis of film texts and exercises in film-making, the film course explores film history, theory, and socio-economic background. The course develops students’ critical abilities, enabling them to appreciate the multiplicity of cultural and historical perspectives in film. To achieve an international understanding within the world of film, students are taught to consider film texts, theories and ideas from the points of view of different individuals, nations and cultures. This is an IB elective course.

IB English is the study of the language of the country where the course is taught. It is a two-year course that seeks to facilitate the clear expression of ideas; to aid clear, precise presentation of argument; and to assist in the understanding of both oral and written discourse. Its aims are to promote an international perspective through the comparative study of works from the students' own culture and other cultures and to develop understanding and appreciation of the relationships between different works including detailed and critical analysis of written text. All SOL requirements are met and students take the both the English EOC Reading and the Writing SOL Test to earn verified credits toward graduation.

This two-year course recognizes the need for analytical expertise in a world where innovation is increasingly dependent on a deep understanding of mathematics. This course includes topics that are both traditionally part of a pre-university mathematics course (for example, functions, trigonometry, calculus) as well as topics that are amenable to investigation, conjecture and proof, for instance the study of sequences and series at both SL and HL, and proof by induction at HL.
The course allows the use of technology, as fluency in relevant mathematical software and hand-held technology is important regardless of choice of course. However, Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches has a strong emphasis on the ability to construct, communicate and justify correct mathematical arguments.

This two-year course recognizes the need for analytical expertise in a world where innovation is increasingly dependent on a deep understanding of mathematics. This course includes topics that are both traditionally part of a pre-university mathematics course (for example, functions, trigonometry, calculus) as well as topics that are amenable to investigation, conjecture and proof, for instance the study of sequences and series at both SL and HL, and proof by induction at HL.
The course allows the use of technology, as fluency in relevant mathematical software and hand-held technology is important regardless of choice of course. However, Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches has a strong emphasis on the ability to construct, communicate and justify correct mathematical arguments.

Theory of Knowledge is a key element in the educational philosophy of the International Baccalaureate. The course is philosophical in the sense that it is meant to encourage students to acquire a critical awareness of what they and others know through analyzing concepts and arguments and the basis of value judgments. It aims to develop a personal mode of thought based on critical examination of evidence expressed in rational arguments. This is a required course for all IB Diploma students.

The emphasis of the Philosophy course is on “doing” philosophy. It focuses on developing students’ ability to formulate arguments in a sound and purposeful way, and encourages students to develop intellectually independent and creative ways of thinking. A concern with clarity of understanding lies at the core of the philosophy course. This clarity is achieved through critical and systematic thinking, careful analysis of arguments, and the study of philosophical themes and a close reading of philosophical texts. Through this examination of themes and text the philosophy course allows students to explore fundamental questions that people have asked throughout human history. This is an IB elective course.

Through the music course students develop their knowledge and potential as musicians, both personally and collaboratively. Involving aspects of the composition, performance and critical analysis of music, the course exposes students to forms, styles and functions of music from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural contexts. Students create, participate in, and reflect upon music from their own background and those of others. They develop practical and communicative skills which provide them with the opportunity to engage in music for further study, as well as for lifetime enjoyment. This is an IB elective course.

IB Environmental Systems provides students with a coherent perspective on the environment; one that is essentially scientific and that enables them to adopt an informed and responsible stance on the wide range of pressing environmental issues that they will inevitably come to face.

IB Biology studies the fundamental characteristics of living matter from the molecular level to the vertebrate organism including cells, chemistry of life, genetics, ecology, human health and physiology, nucleic acids and proteins and plant studies.

IB Chemistry investigates stoichiometry, atomic theory, bonding, energetics, kinetics, oxidation and reduction and organic chemistry.

IB Physics is an in-depth study of the laws of physics experimental skills, mechanics, optics, sound, electricity, magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, thermodynamics and biomedical physics.

The course aims to promote the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of the past that will serve both as a basis for the development and practice of appropriate skills, and for a better understanding of the present. It seeks to develop an awareness of continuity, change, and different interpretations of the past. Emphasis is placed on studies of the Americas from Canada to South America and 20th century world topics. This course will satisfy the U.S. History credit requirement for the Standard or Advanced Studies diploma. All students take the U. S. History SOL test to earn a verified credit toward graduation.

Psychology is the systematic study of human behavior and mental processes. Students can expect to develop an understanding of how psychological knowledge is generated, developed, and applied; resulting in a greater appreciation for the diversity of human behavior. This is an IB elective course.

The Social and Cultural Anthropology course offers students the opportunity to explore and understand humankind in all its diversity through the comparative study of cultures and human societies. It places special emphasis on comparative perspectives that challenge cultural assumptions. Anthropology fosters the development of citizens who are globally aware and ethically sensitive. Students in Social and Cultural Anthropology I will come to appreciate how anthropology contributes to an understanding of contemporary issues. This is an IB elective course.

IB Language B is the study of a world language. Available languages are French, German and Spanish. The aim of the course is to develop speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in the target language and to prepare students to use the language appropriately in a range of situations and contexts.