Overview of IB Schedule
Rowland’s IB Courses and Sequence
Students are required to choose one subject from each of the six academic groups, but they can choose the double Group 3 or Group 4 option instead of a Group 6 subject.
Group 1 – Studies in Language and Literature - English
- IB English HL (11th and 12th)
Group 2 – Language Acquisition - World Languages
- Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese (all SL, 11th or 12th)
Group 3 – Individuals and Society - History
- IB History HL – IB/AP US (11th) and IB 20th Century World (12th)
Group 3 Option
- IB Psychology SL (11th or 12th)
Group 4 - Sciences
- IB Biology HL (11th and 12th)
Group 4 Option
- IB Environmental Systems (11th or 12th)
Group 5 – Mathematics (Applications and Interpretations)
- IB Mathematics SL/HL (12th)
Group 6 - The Arts
- IB Visual Arts SL/HL (11th and/or 12th)
The Core – TOK (Theory of Knowledge), CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service), EE (Extended Essay)
- TOK (11th and 12th) - scheduled class 12th grade, Mondays in 11th grade
- CAS (11th and 12th) - performed in 11th and 12th grade
- EE (11th and 12th) - researched and completed during 11th and 12th grade
Rowland High School has developed a comprehensive four-year program to prepare students to attain the IB Diploma. Prospective candidates are provided with a sequence of honors level courses in the 9th and 10th grades that will provide a pathway for them to enter the IB Program beginning in the 11th grade. The IB Diploma Program is taught during the 11th and 12th grades. It is designed as an academically challenging, intellectually stimulating, socially rewarding balanced program of education. With examinations and assessments that prepare students for success at the university level and life beyond the IB Diploma has gained recognition and respect from the worlds’ leading universities.
IB students are required to choose one subject each from each of the six academic groups to be eligible for an IB Diploma. However, a student can choose a second subject from either Group 3 or 4 (IB Psychology or IB ESS) instead of courses in Group 6 - the Arts to earn an IB Diploma. Students will also take a TOK class their senior year.
Students must either take 4 HL and 2 SL courses or 3 HL and 3 SL courses. At least one SL course and exam must be taken in 11th grade. HL exams are only taken in 12th grade. HL courses are two-year courses taken in both the 11th and 12th grades while SL courses are one or two-year courses taken in 11th and/or 12th grades.
These courses comprise the complete Diploma Program. Each IB course requires an external assessment and an internal assessment. The external assessment is an IB written and sanctioned exam which is sent to IB for scoring. The internal assessment is a teacher-supervised, student-generated product. These assessments include essays, oral presentations, research investigations, and artistic compositions. IB also moderates internal assessments.
Students are awarded an IB Diploma after successful completion of all courses and requirements as well as receiving passing grades on the IB Exams. Students who do not successfully complete the full diploma will be issued certificates in the subjects successfully passed.
