IB Core Courses

CORE COMPONENTS FOR IB  (IB510)

Grades 10 ( 5 credits; One Year Requirement for IB Diploma Program 

This course is designed to assist students who are accepted to the IB Program to develop the habits of mind and study skills that are necessary for success in the IB Diploma Program and IB Career Pathways.  The skills that will be targeted include, but are not limited to metacognition, writing, note taking, reading comprehension and basic scientific and mathematical analysis. This course will also fulfill the New Jersey Personal and Financial Literacy requirement and the district’s Computer Literacy requirement.

IB THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE (TOK)   (SS534/SS544)

Grades 11, 12 (1.25 credits each year; Two-Year Requirement for IB Diploma Students

The major goal of the Theory of Knowledge course is to encourage students to think about their own thinking and knowledge (metacognition) and to question the nature and quality of knowledge claims in general.  Students will be asked to consider questions such as: What is Knowledge? How might you “know” a particular piece of knowledge? What does it mean to “know” something? Are there better ways of knowing? What ways are there to “know” something (Ways of Knowing)? In what areas can you know something (Areas of Knowledge)? In what relation does a “knower” stand in regard to potential knowledge (Knowledge issues)?  The interconnectedness of knowledge will also be considered (Linking questions). In summary, the ToK course will examine the areas of knowledge and the manner in which the various ways of knowing serve as interpretive lenses through which we understand them. This course has a required Summer Assignment for years 1 and 2.

IB English

IB ENGLISH HL (EN531, EN541)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two Year Requirement in the IB Diploma Program; Prerequisite: English 10 H

The IB English HL course is a rigorous, college-bound course offered at a higher level.  The course includes works of World Literature from a variety of authors, genres, historical time periods and cultures.  The reflective study of multicultural works and the international focus creates broad-minded thinkers who are sensitive to and respectful of the common canon of great World Literature.  Students are encouraged to recognize the interrelationship of cultural, political, geographical, historical, and economic aspects of the peoples to be studied and the effect of same on the literature.  Additionally, there will be a significant emphasis placed on works of British Literature through study of Shakespeare and contemporary works. Through close study and analysis of various texts, students will gain command of the language appropriate for the study of literature and a discriminating appreciation of the need for an effective choice of register and style in both written and oral communication. Even more challenging than the SL course, students in the HL program demonstrate the following: an ability to engage in independent literary criticism in a manner which reveals a personal response to literature; an ability to engage in independent textual commentary both seen and unseen; and, a wide-ranging appreciation of structure, techniques and style as employed by authors, and of their effects on the reader. IB Diploma students who enroll in this course must take the IB Exam.  Students will not be prepared to take the AP Literature and Composition and AP Language and Composition exams. This course has a required Summer Assignment and a required District-wide Summer Reading Assignment.

IB ENGLISH SL (EN530, EN540)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two Year Requirement in the IB Diploma Program; Prerequisite: English 10 H

The IB English SL course is a rigorous, college-bound course offered at the standard level.  The course includes works of World Literature from a variety of authors, genres, historical time periods and cultures.  The reflective study of multicultural works and the international focus creates broad-minded thinkers who are sensitive to and respectful of the common canon of great World Literature.  Students are encouraged to recognize the interrelationship of cultural, political, geographical, historical, and economic aspects of the peoples to be studied and the effect of same on the literature.  Additionally, there will be a significant emphasis placed on works of British Literature through study of Shakespeare and contemporary works. Through close study and analysis of various texts, students will gain command of the language appropriate for the study of literature and a discriminating appreciation of the need for an effective choice of register and style in both written and oral communication. Students in the SL program demonstrate the following: an awareness of the effects of structure, technique and style as employed by authors; an ability to comment on the language in both familiar and unfamiliar pieces of writing; and, an ability to approach works in an independent manner which reveals a personal response to literature. IB Diploma students who enroll in this course must take the IB Exam.  Students will not be prepared to take the AP Literature and Composition and AP Language and Composition exam. This course has a required Summer Assignment and a required District-wide Summer Reading Assignment.

IB History

IB HISTORY HL   (SS531/SS541)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two-Year Requirement in the IB Diploma Program; Prerequisite: U.S. History 1H

This course is designed as a survey of 20th century history.  Students will take the first year in the 11th grade, which maintains a focus on the American perspective and will fill the state requirement for a second year of United States History; however the material lends itself to studying international viewpoints. In order to prepare students to be more aware as global citizens, they will also gain a foundation for understanding the complex relationships and conditions that exist in our present-day world by approaching the material from various perspectives.  History at the HL level will then enter the second year, during which they will study the 20th century, this time with a greater focus on various European and Middle Eastern perspectives.  Students will be asked to seek themes that arise and connect events in history, in an effort to restructure their conception of time and their understanding of the relationship between past, present and future.  IB Diploma students who enroll in this course must take the IB Exam.  Students will not be prepared to take the AP U.S. History exam. This course has a required Summer Assignment for years 1 and 2. 

IB Math

IB MATHEMATICS SL: ANALYSIS & APPROACHES (MT530/540)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two-Year Requirement for the IB Diploma

Prerequisite: Algebra 2 H and Geometry H/CPA

IB Mathematics SL is a two year course sequence in the IB program.  The courses include topics in pre-calculus, statistics, probability, and fundamentals of calculus and are designed to prepare IB students to take the IB Mathematics SL exam at the end of their senior year.  In addition, the course enables students to appreciate the multicultural and historical perspectives of mathematics. Please note that this course sequence does not prepare students to take AP exams in Calculus AB, BC, or Statistics. This course has a required Summer Assignment.

IB MATHEMATICS HL: ANALYSIS & APPROACHES (MT531/541)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two-Year Requirement for the IB Diploma

Prerequisite: Algebra 2 H and Precalculus H

IB Mathematics HL is a two year course sequence in the IB program.  The course include topics in statistics, probability, and calculus and is designed to prepare IB students to take the IB Mathematics HL exam at the end of their senior year.  In addition, the course enables students to appreciate the multicultural and historical perspectives of mathematics. Please note that this class is infused in the AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics courses and will also prepare students for both the BC and Statistics AP exams. This course has a required Summer Assignment. 

IB Science

IB CHEMISTRY SL  (SC542/532)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits; One-Year Elective in the IB Diploma Program; Counts Toward Science Graduation Requirement; Prerequisite: Chemistry 1H

Chemistry SL is a one year course which will cover the basic principles of chemistry. This course is taught using an experimental approach that encourages students to be both knowledgeable and inquiring.  Chemistry SL covers both required topics and options that provide a focus into areas of chemistry not usually covered in a first-year college chemistry course. In most cases, it attempts to broaden the student’s view of chemistry as it relates to the world around them. By developing and integrating concepts in a range of situations, environmental systems, biochemistry, industry, analysis, medicine, and physiology, students explore and use chemistry in situations that matter to themselves and society as a whole.  IB Diploma students who enroll in this course must take the IB Exam. Students will not be prepared to take the AP Chemistry Exam. This course has a required Summer Assignment. 

IB PHYSICS SL  (SC543/533)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two-Year Elective in the IB Diploma Program; Counts Toward Science Graduation Requirement; Prerequisite: Chemistry 1H

This course is an offering of the district’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program taught at the IB Standard Level (SL).  The focus of IB Physics is to enable students to understand and apply the physical laws that govern the interactions of matter and energy in the universe.  Major areas will include classic Newtonian kinematics and dynamics, thermodynamics, sound and light waves, electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, energy/power and climate change, astrophysics, and modern communications.  The program will include a project that encourages students to appreciate the environmental, social and ethical implications of physics. IB Diploma students who enroll in this course must take the IB Exam. Students will not be prepared to take any of the AP Physics Exams. This course has a required Summer Assignment in years 1 and 2. This course has a required Summer Assignment.

IB World Language

IB FRENCH SL (WL530/WL540)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two Year Elective in the IB Diploma Program

In this course, students are presented opportunities for communication and interaction in the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  Emphasis is placed on the development of authentic communication skills, which are strengthened, and reinforced through exposure to a wide range of audiovisual materials and a variety of listening and speaking activities.  The aim is to acquire and integrate an active and practical French vocabulary, the essential building blocks of French grammar, and a variety of idiomatic expressions particular to the French language. Students will continue their study of francophone cultures through analysis of their respective products, practices, and perspectives.  Students will achieve an awareness of global, cultural, social, and political issues while increasing their level of fluency. Throughout the year, there is a transition to greater oral and written expression in a wide variety of situations examining both abstract and concrete ideas that lead to an appreciation of global perspectives. This course has a required Summer Assignment.   

IB GERMAN SL(WL531/WL541)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two Year Elective in the IB Diploma Program

In this course, students are presented opportunities for communication and interaction in the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  Emphasis is placed on the development of authentic communication skills, which are strengthened, and reinforced through exposure to a wide range of audiovisual materials and a variety of listening and speaking activities.  The aim is to acquire and integrate an active and practical German vocabulary, the essential building blocks of German grammar, and a variety of idiomatic expressions particular to the German language. Students will continue their study of German cultures through analysis of their respective products, practices, and perspectives.  Students will achieve an awareness of global, cultural, social, and political issues while increasing their level of fluency. Throughout the year, there is a transition to greater oral and written expression in a wide variety of situations examining both abstract and concrete ideas that lead to an appreciation of global perspectives. This course has a required Summer Assignment.    

IB SPANISH SL (WL532/WL542)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two Year Elective in the IB Diploma Program

In this course, students are presented opportunities for communication and interaction in the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  Emphasis is placed on the development of authentic communication skills, which are strengthened, and reinforced through exposure to a wide range of audiovisual materials and a variety of listening and speaking activities.  The aim is to acquire and integrate an active and practical Spanish vocabulary, the essential building blocks of Spanish grammar, and a variety of idiomatic expressions particular to the Spanish language. Students will continue their study of Spanish cultures through analysis of their respective products, practices, and perspectives.  Students will achieve an awareness of global, cultural, social, and political issues while increasing their level of fluency. Throughout the year, there is a transition to greater oral and written expression in a wide variety of situations examining both abstract and concrete ideas that lead to an appreciation of global perspectives. This course has a required Summer Assignment. 

IB Elective

IB PSYCHOLOGY HL  (SS532/SS533/SS542/SS543)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits each year; Two-Year Elective in the IB Diploma Program; Prerequisite: Department Approval

HL Psychology is a course designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals.  Students are exposed to psychological facts, principles, theories, and the phenomena associated with each of the methods psychologists use in their science and practice.  The focus areas include perspectives of biological, cognitive, and social psychology. Other topics may include for discussion and evaluation health psychology, psychology of human relationships, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and other topics appropriate to understand the biological, cognitive, and sociocultural levels of analysis. An experimental study will also be completed.  The students will present their findings to the class in order to examine the ethics of the experiment, assess and critique it. IB Diploma students who enroll in this course must take the IB Exam. Students will also be prepared to take the AP Psychology Exam after the first year of the course.