INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)

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1 Overview: The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a two-year course of study designed to provide a broad liberal arts experience for the academically talented and highly motivated secondary (11 th and 12 th grade) learner. The challenging coursework in the IB curriculum helps students grow academically and become responsible members of local, national, and global communities. The characteristics we hope to instill in our IB students are listed in the IB Learner Profile. Students may opt to pursue the full IB diploma or to enroll in one of our exception courses. In order to earn an IB diploma, students must meet all course requirements (listed within this section of the course catalog), write a 4,000-word independent research dissertation (known as the Extended Essay), take the Theory of Knowledge course, and document CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) experiences. IB coursework is accepted for credit, advanced placement, or both, at colleges and universities worldwide. Students in Texas who complete IB diploma requirements and score at least a 4 on their IB exams are guaranteed a minimum of 24 hours of credit at Texas public institutions of higher education. Students who wish to join the IB program as full diploma candidates must meet with the IB Coordinator in the spring of their 10th grade year to build an IB course plan for 11 th and 12 th grades. 11 th and 12 th grade students may enroll in one or more of the following exception courses without having to complete the full IB diploma program requirements: IB Art IB Foreign Language (IB French IV and V, IB German IV, IB Spanish IV and V) IB Math Studies IB Math HL 1 (first year of two year course) IB Further Math HL 2 (open to 12 th grade students only) Page 1 of 5 Revised 11/28/16

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3 Course Choices: Higher Level (HL) Courses Standard Level (SL) Courses Art HL Art SL Biology HL Biology SL Chemistry HL Chemistry SL English HL Environmental Systems and Societies SL French HL French SL History of the Americas HL German SL 20 th Century Topics HL Math SL Math HL Math Studies SL Psychology HL Music SL Spanish HL Physics SL Psychology SL Spanish SL In addition to IB course requirements, IB full diploma candidates must also complete Texas state graduation requirements: 1. Health 2. Fine Arts 3. PE 4. Physics 5. Government (Government credit is fulfilled if the student completes the IB full diploma) 6. Economics These courses can be taken during summer school at Allen High School, via credit by exam (CBE) or through Texas Tech s correspondence course program. Please see General Information for more information about credit by exam or correspondence courses. IB Full Diploma Program Description Full IB diploma candidates are required to complete coursework and test in six (6) IB subject groups: 1. Language A (English HL) 2. Language B (French SL/HL; German SL; or Spanish SL/HL) 3. Individuals and Societies (History of the Americas/20 th Century Topics HL) 4. Experimental Sciences (Biology SL/HL; Chemistry SL/HL; Environmental Systems and Societies SL; Physics SL) 5. Mathematics (Math SL/HL; Math Studies SL) 6. Arts or Elective (Art SL/HL; Music SL; Psychology SL/HL; any other IB course not used to fulfill the requirements in Groups 1-5) Page 3 of 5 Revised 11/28/16

4 Full Diploma Course Requirements: IB courses are labeled Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). Higher Level courses require 240 hours of seat time and are taught over a two-year period. Standard Level courses require 150 hours of seat time and are taught over a one-year period, with the exception of Math SL, which is a two-year course. Art, French, German, and Spanish SL students may also opt to extend their study of those subjects for two years. At least three, and no more than four, areas of study must be done at Higher Level (HL). At Allen High School, English HL and History of the Americas/20 th Century Topics HL are mandatory courses for all full IB diploma candidates. In addition to six IB courses, IB full diploma candidates are required to complete: The Extended Essay: This is a 4,000-word research dissertation that students begin writing in the fall of 11 th grade and complete in the fall of 12 th grade. CAS: Creativity, Activity, Service is a 150-hour accrual of experiences designed to promote well-roundedness and community involvement. TOK: Theory of Knowledge is a two year course; see course description found in the Specialty Courses section of the Academic Planning Guide. IB Schedule Planning Guide We recommend that students in 9 th and 10 th grades take Pre-AP/IB courses to prepare for the rigor of the IB program. The planning guide below is meant to be used as a guide for understanding how IB courses are arranged in 11 th and 12 th grade. Students wishing to become IB full diploma candidates should meet with the IB Coordinator in the spring of their 10 th grade year to create an IB course plan. 9 th Grade 10 th Grade 1. English 1 1. English 2 2. Geometry or Algebra 1 2. Algebra 2 or Geometry 3. Biology 3. Chemistry 4. Geography 4. World History 5. Foreign Language (French, German, or Spanish) 5. Foreign Language (French, German, or Spanish) 6. Other course required for graduation 6. Other course required for graduation 7. Other course required for graduation 7. Other course required for graduation 8. Other course required for graduation Page 4 of 5 Revised 11/28/16

5 11 th Grade 12 th Grade 1. IB HL English 3 1. IB HL English 4 2. IB French, German, or Spanish 2. IB French, German, or Spanish (if needed) 3. IB History of the Americas HL 3. IB 20 th Century Topics HL 4. IB Science 4. IB Science 5. Algebra 2 or IB Math 5. IB Math SL/HL 2 or IB Math Studies SL 6. IB Elective 6. IB Elective (if needed) 7. IB Theory of Knowledge 7. IB Theory of Knowledge Page 5 of 5 Revised 11/28/16