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Diploma Programme

Be prepared for the future.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) aims to develop students who are encouraged to think critically, solve complex problems and drive their own learning. They are culturally aware through the development of at least one second language and are able to engage with people in an increasingly globalised, rapidly changing world.


The DP curriculum

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge—students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically. The Diploma is respected by leading universities across the globe.

The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE). Diploma candidates are required to select six subjects from a broad spectrum of learning, incorporating the humanities and sciences. Three of these subjects are taken at Higher Level, the others at Standard Level. By arranging subject learning in this way, students are able to explore some subjects in depth and some subjects more broadly over a two-year period.

Please find the IB subjects offered at ISU. You can find course selection guidance and subject briefs (SL & HL) on the IB website. Through Pamoja (authorised IB online course) ISU offers Psychology.

Core

In addition to subjects chosen, IB Diploma students also undertake a core component, consisting of three courses; theory of knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE) and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).

Theory of Knowledge

TOK is an interdisciplinary course taught by a specialist teacher, designed to develop an appreciation of other academic studies and cultural perspectives. ToK encourages critical thinking with a focus on knowledge questions such as:

  • What counts as knowledge?
  • How does knowledge grow?
  • What are its limits?
  • Who owns knowledge?
  • What is the value of knowledge?

Extended Essay

The Extended Essay (EE) is an extended piece of writing of no more than 4000 words. This research based piece is one of the elements of the IB Diploma that makes it so valuable to college and university admissions because it prepares students for the kind of independent research, thinking, writing and presentation skills that are expected at higher education institutions. The Extended Essay builds on skills developed within the MYP Personal Project but is a much more formal academic piece of research. At ISU the Extended Essay involves researched ideas and proposals honed into specific and answerable questions, developed by the student with guidance from a chosen supervisor.

Creativity, Activity, Service

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) represents the core values of the Diploma Programme enabling students to demonstrate key traits of the IB learner profile in a more practical way. The CAS programme consists of three strands:

  • Creativity – exploring and extending ideas, which leads 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

As a holistic approach, CAS aims to provide opportunities for self determination, collaboration, accomplishment but most of all enjoyment. Students will develop skills through a variety of individual and group experiences whilst at the same time allowing them to explore areas of interest or develop passions, personalities and perspectives.