About the IB Diploma Program

• Background
• Requirements
• Registration 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 has grown to respresent a highly regarded secondary education for students with post-secondary plans in their home countries. 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 an 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  in Cardiff, Wales. The purpose of the International Baccalaureate, 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 component for Grades 9 and 10 through the school-wide IB Middle Years Program (MYP), and the IB component for grades 11 and 12. 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 as they register for 11th grade classes in their sophomore year.

Admission Requirements

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

     1) Enroll in an IB approved Foreign Language for ninth grade.
     2) Be current with MCPS graduation requirements by the end ofsophomore year.

Registration Process

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

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

Students 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 higher), or level 1 for languages not available in middle school.
Honors Geometry or Geometry (or higher)
Honors Biology
Honors U.S. History
Elective – Physical Education
Elective – Technology Education

Sophomore Year:
Honors English 10
Foreign Language (Level 3 or higher)
Honors Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 (or higher)
Honors Chemistry
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 higher)
IB Environmental Systems
IB Chemistry or IB Physics 1, Environmental Systems or Honors Chemistry
IB Math SL1 or Pre-calculus (or higher)
IB Arts and Electives (or an additional science or foreign language)

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 Math HL, AP Calculus, IB Math SL2,  or IB Math Studies
IB Arts and Electives (or an additional science or foreign language.