Five Common Questions About an International Baccalaureate Program
August 23, 2023
The International Baccalaureate program is a global leader in education worldwide, with distinct programs that empower students to take ownership in their own learning and develop skills to thrive in a fast-paced, changing world.
What is an International Baccalaureate Program?
Students and families select the IB because it is recognized worldwide as one of the most challenging academic programs available.
More than 5,400 schools in 159 countries offer the highly respected and established IB program for students in preschool through grade 12. IB programs are tailored to specific age groups. Individually and together, they take a global approach, looking at big ideas across disciplines and enabling students to dig deep into their coursework.
The IB, and the faculty who are trained and experienced in its pedagogy and mission, foster lifelong learning and encourage and support students to think critically, creatively, ethically, and globally.
What is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program?
The IB Diploma Program is a two-year program for students in grades 11 and 12 that provides a strong academic framework for educating internationally-minded problem-solvers who are culturally agile, and often multilingual. It requires students to take six classes concurrently with the Core curriculum.
The Core comprises the Theory of Knowledge Course, The Extended Essay, and CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service).
Theory of Knowledge explores the nature and dimension of knowledge, and the Extended Essay requires students to write an academic research essay based on a research project on a topic of their own choosing. The Core also includes the CAS projects, which seek to develop the student through projects promoting creativity, activity, and service. An IB diploma asks students to become citizens of the world and positions students for success in today’s global marketplace.
Dwight School New York, the flagship school of the Dwight Schools worldwide network, has long been an educational pioneer, and was the first school in the Americas to offer all four IB programs. Dwight’s IB program provides an education that crosses disciplinary, cultural, national and geographical boundaries, and champions critical engagement, stimulating ideas, and meaningful relationships.
Is the IB offered online?
In 2021, Dwight was honored to launch the IB Diploma program online, through Dwight Global Online School. Dwight Global was one of the two original schools selected by the IB to offer the online IB Diploma Program in a two-year pilot program. Today, Dwight Global’s successful online IB DP is a popular and increasingly sought-out academic pathway.
With Dwight Global’s IB Diploma Program, students can personalize their selections choosing from the school’s standard level and higher level courses. In addition, students can take advantage of opportunities to conduct scholarly research in areas of personal interest.
To obtain the IB Diploma, students must take at least three standard level classes and three higher level classes. The full complement of IB course offerings online is detailed in Dwight Global’s Curriculum Guide.
What is the difference between IB and Advanced Placement?
Both the IB and Advanced Placement offer challenging academics for high school students, but the two differ in a key way. The IB is an international program that focuses on critical thinking and global perspectives. Advanced Placement offers individual classes. In some cases, IB and AP courses can earn a high school student college credit.
In addition to the International Baccalaureate and IB DP, Dwight Global Online School offers a range of challenging Advanced Placement courses. Because Dwight Global students are able to choose across standards, they receive a truly personalized education to set them up for success. Students deciding between the Advanced Placement and IB paths have a detailed meeting with their dean and college counselor, who together with their families help them choose the program that best aligns with their goals, interests, and passions.
Do Colleges Accept the IB?
Recognized worldwide as the “gold standard” in pre-university preparation, the IB focuses on skill development while preparing students to engage with a comprehensive and deeply engaging curriculum.
Dwight Global Online School students receive comprehensive college guidance from the school’s team of experienced college counselors, who are available year round to guide students and answer questions from families. Students are accepted into a wide range of colleges and universities around the globe, including Stanford, Columbia, Harvard, McGill, University College London, University of California Los Angeles, and more.
Read here for information about personalized learning and the IB program at Dwight Global.