Diploma Program

To be eligible for the full diploma program students must have successfully completed a Personal Project at the end of grade 10.  The Personal Project is the culiminating project in the Middle Years Program.  The skills required to be successful in the Personal Project will be the same skills that are required in the Diploma Program.  "Successful" completion of the MYP Personal Project is viewed as earning at least an IB score of 3 out of 8 on the project.

The CAS Program is at the heart of IB and is a requirement for successful completion of the IB Diploma Program. CAS enables students to enhance their personal development through a meaningful experience that fosters self-discovery and community-mindedness. For many, CAS is profound and life-changing. Each individual student has a different starting point, different needs, and goals. A CAS program is, therefore, individualized according to student interests, skills, values and background.

CAS is organized around the three strands of creativity, activity and service defined as:.

• Creativity—exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance
• Activity—physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle
• Service—collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need

Through the pursuit of the three CAS strands, students maintain a portfolio as evidence of their experiences. Over 18 months, coinciding with the start of the DP Program, CAS students are expected to demonstrate seven specific learning outcomes, compose written reflections on their experiences and undertake a substantial CAS project of at least a month’s duration that addresses one or more CAS strands

MUHS offers all of the DP courses listed below. View the subject briefs to get an understanding of the topics covered in each course and the IB assessment requirements.  All DP courses at MUHS run for two years.  Students may select a DP course for MUHS credit only, in that case they are not required to complete the IB external assessments.  Students interested in earning an IB certificate in a course, or the IB Diploma, must complete all required DP assessments.

 

Group 1: Language A	Group 2: Language Acquisition (Language B)	Group 3: Individuals & Societies
Language & Literature SL	Spanish Ab initio	Global Politics SL
Language & Literature HL	Spanish SL	Global Politics HL
Literature SL	Spanish HL	History (of the Americas) SL (not offered 2024-2025)
Literature HL	French SL	History (of the Americas) HL (not offered 2024-2025)
	French HL	Environmental Systems & Societies SL
Group 4: Sciences	Classical Language - Latin SL
Biology SL
Biology HL	Group 5: Mathematics	Group 6: The Arts
Chemistry SL	Applications & Interpretations SL	Music SL
Physics SL (not offered 2024-2025)	Analysis & Approaches SL	Music HL
Physics HL	Analysis & Approaches HL (not offered 2024-2025)	Visual Art SL
Environmental Systems & Societies SL		Visual Art HL
The Core
Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)	Theory of Knowledge (TOK)	Extended Essay (EE)

Extended Essay

The extended essay is an academic-style research paper.  The extended essay; theory of knowledge (TOK); and creativity, activity, and service (CAS) combine to form the core of the IB Diploma Program.

A student-led endeavor, the extended essay allows for personal expression and creative thinking in the choice of subject and the formation of a research question, as well as critical thinking in the analysis and synthesis of the research. Self-management is an important skill that is cultivated throughout the process.

You may view the extended essay handbook here.

Essay Requirements

Externally assessed:

Additionally, there will be periodic, school-based assignments of a formative nature, designed to ensure students are maintaining forward momentum and are on track to successfully complete the extended essay by the deadline.

• An essay of no more than 4,000 words
• A bibliography
• Reflections throughout the process

How is it assessed?

The extended essay is externally assessed by the IB.  Students are given a letter grade based on marks received.  As part of the DP core, TOK, the EE, and CAS are compulsory; students must achieve a D grade or higher in the EE to be awarded a Diploma.  Additionally, TOK and the EE are awarded individual grades and can contribute up to three additional points toward the overall Diploma score.  

How is it supervised?

Each student is assigned an essay supervisor who is trained in the same IB DP subject as the essay topic.  Supervision will include three formal meetings and informal check-ins. Time spent working directly with the supervisor should range from 3-5 hours over the course of one year.  Supervisors are assigned in December, after topic subjects have been confirmed.

Timeline:

	Junior Year	Senior Year
August
September	EE information night for students and parents	First draft due & submitted for supervisor feedback
October	Core skills workshops/competency check
November	Core skills workshops/competency check	Final draft due Viva voce interview
December	EE feasibility report (5-10 correctly referenced sources) Subject confirmation Supervisors assigned 1st meeting with supervisor
January	EE thesis and preliminary research due
February
March	Research due
April	Outline due 2nd meeting with supervisor
May	EE colloquium
June
July

 

 

Diploma Program - Frequently Asked Questions

1) How many subjects do I need to study as a full DP candidate? 

Full Diploma Program (DP) students take six subjects, three at the higher level (HL) and three at the standard level (SL). Students must choose one subject from each of groups 1 to 5, thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics. The sixth subject may be an arts subject chosen from group 6, or the student may choose another subject from groups 1 to 5. Higher Level (HL) subjects have 240 teaching hours approximately which give students the opportunity to study these subjects in great depth, while standard level (SL) courses cover 150 teaching hours.  At MUHS the full DP candidates are also required to enroll in Research & Writing during the first semester of the Grade 11 year.  IB also requires the full DP candidates take Theory of Knowledge (TOK) second semester of Grade 11 and first semester of Grade 12.

 

2) If I don't want to, or can't complete the full Diploma, what can I do? 

First of all, at MUHS there are many different pathways a student may select to earn an MUHS diploma; the full IB diploma is just one, of many, pathways. Students may choose to be in DP courses simply to earn MUHS credit, these students are not required to complete year 2 of the course.   If a student is interested in being a full DP candidate but finds that the full program is too demanding, they may choose to drop from the program.  This eliminates the extended essay and CAS from their course load.  These students may select to change a few classes, they may select to earn IB certificates in a few of their classes.

 

3) How are DP students assessed by IB? (This only applies to Certificate Candidates and Full DP Candidates) 

An essential principle of IB assessment is that standards are the same worldwide. IB examiners represent many cultural and academic traditions, yet the organization measures student performance according to established standards and criteria that are consistent from place to place and year to year. Over the two‑year teaching period, a variety of assessment methods are used to acknowledge both the content and the process of academic achievement and to take into account different learning styles. Students’ work is assessed by international teams of examiners, who are themselves trained and monitored by the IBO. Each DP course has required internal assessments (IAs), these are assessed by the class room teacher, using DP rubrics.  In May of the second year each course also has two to three external assessments, these are assessed by IB. 

 

4) How is a diploma awarded to a candidate?  

Marks on external assessments are awarded for each subject range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Students can also be awarded up to three additional points for their combined results on Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE). The full diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points (out of a possible 45), and have satisfactory participation in Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS). The highest total that a Diploma Program student can be awarded is 45 points. (There are parameters on the distribution of points earned in classes, see the MUHS Diploma Handbook for more information.)

 

5) Will I get college credit for IB courses? 

Virtually all colleges and universities offer advanced standing or course credit to students with strong IB examination results. You can check out the policies of over 800 colleges and universities by going to www.ibo.org, and then to "Services" and "University Recognition." You will find that both IB and AP courses are rewarded - in the same ways - with advanced standing and college credit. You will also find that admissions offices take the Diploma Program and its courses very seriously.

 

6) Does MUHS have entry requirements for the IB Diploma program? 

We call our IB Diploma program an ‘open access’ or ‘open to all’ program. The single most important requirement for us is a positive attitude. Students will need to have demonstrated continued growth throughout their MYP Year 4 and Year 5 courses,  along with successful completion of their Personal Project, and have a reasonable academic foundation, otherwise it will feel overwhelming.

 

7) When are students “accepted” into the DP Program?  

Students will notify their school counselor and the DP Coordinator of their intent to enter the Diploma Program as a full diploma candidate at the end of their Grade 10 year. This is a decision that students should consider with their parents/guardians, school counselor, and if necessary, the DP Coordinator.

 

8) Do IB teachers receive special training?  

All IB Diploma Program (DP) teachers receive regular professional development in the IB’s approaches to teaching, and approaches to learning, by certified IB workshop leaders. This is a requirement of the IB World Organization implementing the DP.

 

9) When are the IB assessments?  

Once a student enters the Grade 11 year, IB assessments will happen over the two-year period. Internal assessments (IAs) begin in January of the Grade 11 year and conclude in February/March of the Grade 12 year. The external assessments (the IB exams) take place in May of theGrade 12 year.  The IB sets the exam schedule for all external assessments.

 

10) The IB Program sounds like a lot of extra work. What are the advantages of enrolling in the IB Program? 

Students with IB Diplomas, who now attend universities, report that their involvement with IB has given them the tools needed to succeed at the university level and to make the most of their post-secondary education. In particular, students comment on their sense of preparedness, their self-confidence, their research skills, their ability to manage their time, and their willingness to be actively engaged in their own learning. Even more importantly, they have developed a sense of the world around them, their responsibility to it, and the skills with which to embrace the complexities of life. 

 

11) Is it a graduation requirement at MUHS to be in DP courses?  

The only required DP courses are Theory of Knowledge.  But, most of the Grade 11 and Grade 12 offerings at MUHS are DP courses so students will most likely be taking many DP courses, they just may choose to not earn a certificate or be a full candidate.

 

12) What are the other requirements for an IB Diploma besides taking DP courses?

At the core of the IB Program are three central elements called Theory of Knowledge

(TOK), Creativity-Activity-Service (CAS), and Extended Essay (EE). Students who seek

to earn an IB Diploma must complete the requirements of these three parts of the IB

Program.

 

13)  If the external exams are not until the end of the second year, how is a student’s semester or quarter grade determined?  

Grades in DP courses are determined the same way they have been in the past.  The teachers of DP courses will make it clear in their course expectations the contribution that the internal assessment gives to a students overall grade.  What is different is that teachers will be using the appropriate DP rubrics when possible throughout the course so students receive feedback on their work, using these criterion-based rubrics.

 

14) Must all students at MUHS be enrolled in the Diploma Program?  

No, students will self-select the degree to which they would like to be enrolled in the diploma program by the end of their Grade 10 year.  There are three options available to students, the chart below outlines each of the possible options.

 

Three Possible Ways to be Involved in the Diploma Program at MUHS
Option 1 Take Courses for MUHS Credit Only	Option 2 Earn a Few IB Certificates	Option 3 Full DP Candidate
Complete Midd Core TOK (in Grade 11 or 12)	Complete Midd Core TOK (in Grade 11 or 12)	Complete IB TOK and required assessment (begins second semester of Grade 11 and continues through first semester Grade 12).
		Successfully complete CAS, must have 21 experiences with required reflections.
Earn MUHS credits in some DP courses as well as Midd Core classes (non-DP classes) and/or other pathways (HCC, VHS Learning, Dual Enrollment).	Earn credits in some DP courses and some Midd Core (non-DP) classes.  Declare oneself a DP certificate candidate in some of the DP courses (either SL or HL). Note: Many colleges only give credit to HL certificates.	Enroll in the required six DP courses, along with TOK and Research & Writing, to earn MUHS credit and potentially an IB diploma.
Not required to take IB assessments because not looking to earn a certificate.  Taking a few DP classes for MUHS credit only.	Must complete all IB assessments in the DP courses that the student is interested in earning an IB certificate.	Must be enrolled in three standard level (SL) courses and three higher level (HL) courses. Must complete IB assessments in all six DP courses.
		Must complete an extended essay by early in the Grade 12 year.  Also required to enroll in the Research & Writing course first semester of Grade 11 to support the EE process.

 

15) What is Theory of Knowledge (TOK)?

Midd Core TOK is a course that is open to Juniors and Seniors. It is an interdisciplinary course

designed to help students question and understand how they know what they know.

Students study how individuals from various disciplines view the world to develop their

own ways of thinking. By stimulating critical reflection and analysis of knowledge and

experience across disciplines, TOK seeks to bridge and unify the academic subjects, in

essence, to help students make sense of school and the world. Diploma Candidates must

take TOK in the second semester of their junior and first semester of their senior year.

 

16) What is Creativity-Activity-Service (CAS)?

CAS is an experiential learning component of the IB. Students seeking to earn an IB

Diploma must participate in CAS over their junior and senior years. A wide variety of

activities fulfill this requirement including many extracurricular, community service, and

athletic activities.  This is the only component of the DP in which students do not submit an original piece of work to IB, or take an exam.  DP students must successfully complete their CAS project, they must have a journal, reflection, on 21 different experiences.  The CAS Coordinator will be in touch with students completing CAS for the IB diploma.

 

17) What is the Extended Essay (EE)?

The Extended Essay introduces students to the demands and rewards of independent

work. Emphasis is placed on engaging in personal research and communicating ideas

effectively in order to write a 4,000-word essay (about 18 pages) in an area of personal

interest to the student within a subject taught at MUHS. Each student seeking to earn an IB Diploma must write an extended essay over the course of their junior and senior years. A guide to the Extended Essay will be available on our website.  The Extended Essay Coordinator will be in touch with all students who have declared themselves a DP candidate.

 

18) How do students get evaluated in the IB Program?

Students enrolled in DP courses still get grades from their classroom teachers, still take

tests, do homework, complete projects, etc. In addition, students enrolled in DP courses take formal exams in May. Working in partnership with teachers, the IB Organization works to ensure that students have ample opportunity to demonstrate what they know and are able to do. The IB arrives at a final score based on the internal and external assessments that the student completes.  A final score for the course is determined using the IB 1 to 7 scale. Diploma students need a total of at least 24 points to earn the full diploma.

 

19) What do students do if they find a DP class too challenging?

Numerous support services are offered to help students gain confidence and learn the

required skills to manage their work and responsibilities. Support services include

conferences with teachers, individual counseling and guidance, peer tutoring, and various

levels of academic support (Learning Lab and Flex Time). Although DP classes are more challenging than non-DP classes, colleges recognize IB course-work, admire the rigor and challenge of the DP Program, and regard successful completion of a DP course as a credential of exceptional merit. Also DP course-work can lead to college credit. Given the right support, students should consider the advantages of staying in a DP class for a certificate, or the full program.

 

20) What is the benefit of taking individual IB courses?

While the IB Organization suggests that students attempt a full diploma, not all students

will take the full IB course load leading to an IB Diploma. Some students may choose

selected courses where they have particular interests or strengths. Students who

satisfactorily complete an IB course will earn a certificate from IB, and the course will be

noted on their permanent transcript.

 

21) How widely accepted is the IB Diploma?

The IB Diploma is an internationally accepted standard of excellence, accepted by

universities and other institutions in over eighty countries. Besides global recognition,

most schools to which MUHS graduates have been admitted recognize the IB

Program. The IB web site lists colleges and universities that grant credit, scholarships,

and/or advanced standing for IB diplomas and certificates. When students are applying

to universities, decisions about admissions will be partially based on their high school

transcripts, not on whether they earn the Diploma. The most important factor in

admissions will be the work in IB classes, not scores on the IB exams. However, IB exam

scores will be important in decisions about placement and credit, so it is important to do

well on IB exams, too.

 

22) Will students who take an IB course have to take the exam?

Yes. Students who are enrolled in an DP course, as a certificate or full diploma candidate, will be expected to prepare for and take the exam at the end of the course.  Students taking DP courses for MUHS credit only will not be required to take the external assessments in May of the Grade 12 year.  

 

References:

"FAQ - IB Diploma Programme (IBDP)." Renaissance College, www.rchk.edu.hk/#. Accessed 4 Feb. 2018.

"DFHS IB World School Handbook." Dobbs Ferry High School, Independent Thinkers Change the World,

    www.dfsd.org/hs. Accessed 4 Dec. 2017.

 

"FAQ." International Baccalaureate Programme, IBO, www.ibo.org/programmes/

    diploma-programme/dp-online/faq/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2018.