North Shore High School: An IB World School

 

The Diploma Program is designed to engage students in a cohesive experience that hones their skills as learners, fosters interdisciplinary learning, and prepares them for global citizenship in the 21st century. Students will spend their junior and senior years immersed in studies and experiences that will ready them for college and beyond. Juniors and Seniors who engage in the Diploma Program are highly motivated students of varying educational backgrounds, abilities, and interests.

For more information and videos from the IB Organization, please visit the IB Website Here

 

Benefits of the Diploma Program:

• Unique Opportunities:
• Independent, long term research project based on personal interest
• A comprehensive, coordinated, and synergistic approach to all classes through Theory of Knowledge and the Learner Profile
• Community service that includes physical activity and creativity
• A global awareness important to a member of the 21st century world
• Thorough preparation for college work and expectations 
• Colleges recognize the Diploma Program as the most rigorous program a high school can offer its students

 

The Core:

The diploma program, or DP, is built upon a philosophy of interdisciplinary, college level course work at the heart of which is the "core": Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and CAS (Creativity - Action - Service). All diploma candidates will complete these over the course of Junior and Senior years.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK): this course centers around critical thinking.  Students inquire into the "nature of knowing".  How do you know what you know?  What affects what you know and how you know it?  This is a course unto itself as well as an integral part of all IB courses.

Extended Essay (EE): students engage in mentored independent research through an in-depth study of a self-generated question relating to one of the subjects they are studying culminating in a 4,000 word essay.

Creativity Action Service (CAS): involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic schedule. To complete this requirement, students must exhibit creative thinking, action through a healthy lifestyle, and physical activity and service with the community.  This can all be done through a well thought out community service project, or in smaller parts.

IB Options at North Shore High School:

Students have the ability to choose two paths of study within IB. They may choose to be a full Diploma Candidate or they may choose to be a Certificate Candidate.

Diploma Candidates will engage in a comprehensive program of study including their course work and "The Core" and will choose one course from each of six groups or they may choose an additional course from Groups 1-5 in lieu of a Group 6. IB courses may be offered at the Higher Level or at the Standard Level:
Higher Level: 2 year course, 240 hours
Standard Level: 1 or 2 years, 150 hours.
Diploma Candidates must take a minimum of 3, but no more than 4, at the Higher Level (HL) and 3, but no less than 2, at the Standard Level (SL). These courses culminate in an exam that may qualify the student to receive college credit.

Certificate Candidates will be exposed to individual courses of study with core aspects of the full program woven throughout the course. They may choose to take any singular course, or courses, for an individual certificate in each. This does not include the core as explained above. As with the Diploma Program, these courses culminate in an exam that may qualify the student to receive college credit.