IB Curriculum

Irmo High School is an authorized member of the International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools. This world-renowned education has been headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland since 1968, where the Diploma Programme served the families of international diplomats in preparation for a rigorous pre-university course of study.  The IB Career-related Programme began in 2012 to combine the rigors of IB Diploma courses with specialized career-related studies.  The IB has expanded to four additional global offices located in Bethesda, Maryland (North America); The Hague in The Netherlands and Cardiff in Wales (Europe); and Singapore (Asia).

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES AND CURRICULA

The program is designed to give students in either the IB Diploma or Career-related programmes access to the world's leading universities and skills needed for successful research and/or employment in demanding and specialized industries. Students must complete an intense course of study that includes a special course in Theory of Knowledge (TOK) for the Diploma Programme and Personal, Professional Skills (PPS) for the Career-related Programme, as well as additional independent work such as a 4,000-word essay on a subject of each student's special interest (Diploma) or a college-level research project focusing on an ethical dilemma within the student's career field (Career-related).

Both programmes incorporate internationally graded exams from all the following subject areas:

• Language A1 (Language Arts)
• Language B (Foreign Language)
• Individuals and Societies (Social Science)
• Experimental Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc.)
• Mathematics (Pre-Calculus and Calculus)
• Arts and Electives (Music Theory, or any course from Individuals and Societies or Experimental Sciences)

While each IB Diploma and Career-related Program candidate pursues an individualized program, students share an academic experience that emphasizes critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and personal growth.

RECOGNITION OF THE DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE

In the United States, many colleges and universities offer university credit for individual IB courses. (For information about specific colleges please refer to the college’s course of study handbook.) In addition, the Diploma and Certificate are both internationally recognized. This is not to say that possession of the Diploma or Certificate will secure automatic admission to any North American university or employment with a specific company; however, universities and employers do look for evidence of demanding courses on students’ transcripts. It is in the best interest of each student wishing to be competitive at selective universities to take challenging high school courses, and IB fulfills this interest. Students wishing to enroll in the Diploma Programme or Career-related Programme, or needing further information about IB courses, should consult with Mrs. Lauren Prochak (lprochak@lexrich5.org) or the student's school counselor (School Counselor). If you are having trouble viewing the document, you may download the document. If you are having trouble viewing the document, you may download the document.