About the IB Diploma Program

• Background
• Admission Requirements
• Admission Process
• Sample Four year Diploma Program
• IB Program Diploma Requirements
• IB Program Curriculum

Background

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program was founded in 1965 to provide a rigorous, well-rounded education for students throughout the world so they would qualify for university study no matter where they had pursued their high school education. The IB Diploma Program, therefore, has a common, broadly based curriculum. It is assessed by internationally developed and graded oral and written examinations.

The IB Diploma Program is unique in that it provides a liberal arts, interdisciplinary education leading to a diploma, which is recognized throughout the world. Students pursue studies in English, foreign language(s), experimental sciences, mathematics, social studies, and an elective. Teachers provide interdisciplinary instruction whereby students study common processes, themes, and materials within and across the subject areas.

The curriculum is based on the topics and goals identified by the curriculum board of the International Baccalaureate Office in Cardiff, Wales. The purpose of the International Baccalaureate Organisation, as stated in a document prepared in 1991 by the Director General and Senior Management, is to educate young people to act intelligently and responsibly in a complex global society. Through the high quality of its curriculum and assessment, the IB seeks to ensure knowledge of traditional academic disciplines and of the individual’s own heritage, while fostering inquisitiveness and openness to new ideas. Participation in the IB should equip students with a genuine understanding of themselves and of others, heightening the capacity for tolerance and engendering respect for different points of view.

The Bethesda-Chevy Chase (B-CC) IB Program offers an honors/pre-IB component for Grades 9 and 10, and the IB component for grades 11 and 12. The purpose of the honors/pre-IB classes is to prepare the students for the IB courses and the assessments required for the IB Diploma or the IB Certificate. All 9th and 10th grade students must participate in the IB Middle Years Program (MYP). The Diploma and Certificate programs are chosen by the students.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in participating in the IB Diploma Program must meet specified prerequisites and apply for IB during the spring of their sophomore year. If you are a freshman or sophomore interested in qualifying for the Full IB program you should:

     1) Enroll in an IB approved Foreign Language
     2) Fulfill MCPS graduation requirements by sophomore year.

Admission Process

The IB Coordinator examines the records of each student applying for the IB program in the spring of sophomore year. The following factors are considered:

     1) Academic performance (based on student’s permanent record).
     2) Teacher recommendations.
     3) Parental consent and support, and
     4) An interview with the IB Coordinator.

Once accepted, a student must maintain a high level of academic achievement. Progress will be continuously evaluated by the IB Coordinator, the teachers, and the student.

Sample Four-year Program IB Diploma

Freshman Year:
(Placement in some courses depends upon credit received for courses taken in middle school.)
Honors English 9
Foreign Language (Level 2 or 3)
Honors Geometry or Geometry
Honors Biology or Honors Matter & Energy
Honors U.S. History
Elective – Physical Education
Elective – Technology Education

Sophomore Year:
Honors English 10
Foreign Language (Level 3 or 4)
Honors Algebra 2 or Algebra 2
Honors Chemistry or Honors Biology
AP Government or Honors National, State, and Local Government
Elective – Health (One semester)
Elective – Fine Arts

Junior Year (Anticipated Candidate):
Theory of Knowledge 1/Extended Essay (Guided Research)
IB English 1
IB History 1
Foreign Language (Level 4 or 5)
IB Environmental Systems
IB Chemistry or IB Physics 1 or Honors Chemistry
IB Math SL1 or Pre-calculus
IB Arts and Electives

Senior Year (Diploma Candidate):
Theory of Knowledge 2 (one semester)
IB English 2
IB History 2
Foreign Language (Level 5 or 6)
IB Physics 2, IB Biology (double period), IB Chemistry, or IB Environmental Systems
IB Calculus, AP Calculus or IB Math Studies
IB Arts and Electives

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