Fairfax County Public Schools
International Baccalaureate Program
The IB Home page
The Middle Years Program
The Diploma Program
The IB Diploma program is designed as an academically challenging and balanced program with final assessments that prepare students for success in college and life beyond. The diploma program is a two-year program for juniors and seniors. College credit may also be earned depending on the subject results and the individual university acceptance policies. The IB diploma program:
- Balances subject breadth and depth and considers the nature of knowledge across disciplines through the unique theory of knowledge course
- Encourages international-mindedness starting with a foundation in the students’ own language and culture
- Develops a positive attitude to learning that prepares students for university education
- Requires rigorous external assessments with global standards
- Emphasizes the development of the whole student – physically, emotionally, intellectually, and ethically.
IB Courses in Fairfax County Schools
IB courses can be offered at two different levels – higher (HL) or standard (SL). Most IB courses are two-year sequences with a few exceptions among the SL offerings. IB courses offered at individual Fairfax County Public Schools vary slightly. A complete listing of IB courses at each of our 8 IB diploma schools is available at http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/OHSICS/advepd/IB%20courses.pdf.
The IB Diploma and Certificates
Students can elect to seek the IB diploma by successfully completing the following requirements:
- One course in each of the six different subject areas with a minimum total score of 24 (out of 45) on the six assessments, TOK, and the extended essay
- Theory of Knowledge course
- Participation in the CAS (Creativity, Action, and Service) program
- An extended essay in an area of interest to the student
IB Diploma Coordinators
Creativity, Action, and Service
CAS requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately. Students are required to reflect upon their activities.
Theory of Knowledge
TOK is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect ion the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language, and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical, and historical).
The Extended Essay
The extended essay is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying.
For more information about the IB Diploma Program call 703-208-7706 or visit the IBO website at www.ibo.org/diploma.
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