IB Diploma & IB Courses

Please review the important IB Diploma and Course notes that follow the list of courses below.

This is a one-year course whose purpose is to foster the language acquisition process necessary for students to become proficient in the target language by improving the four languages skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will be able to use the language effectively and respond spontaneously according to the cultural context of a situation. They will also be able to analyze and respond critically in the target language to the topics developed in class. Students will also develop an objective appreciation of the different views of people from other cultures and their cultural legacy. The course will help students become citizens of the world.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted)
Prerequisite: Students must demonstrate proficiency through the equivalent of Spanish III.

This is a two-year course. The objective of the course is to master the receptive, productive and interactive skills through the use of daily interaction and authentic texts in Spanish. Students will develop the skills necessary to analyze and synthesize a variety of written texts as well as audios and communicate their ideas in Spanish through discussion and in writing based on the text types learned in class. Conversational skills are practiced daily while discussing assigned readings, current events, and in general classroom interactions.

This course is designed to develop English-Spanish bilingualism and to prepare students for success on the IB Spanish HL Language B examination and is conducted entirely in Spanish. An extensive study of different text types (e.g. blogs, brochures, formal and informal letter writing, etc) is also included. It is assumed that students have previously been exposed to advanced language structures in the courses leading up to the IB HL Spanish Language course; however, review of the mechanics is done within the contextual framework of each unit as needed.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted) - Year 1 & 2
Prerequisite: Students must demonstrate proficiency through the equivalent of Spanish III.

This is a one-year course that emphasizes advanced communication in all areas of the language through debates, discussions, essays, and authentic texts and situations. Emphasis is placed on connections language skills will be developed through the study and use of a range of written and spoken material. Such material will extend from everyday oral exchanges to literary texts, and be related to the culture(s) concerned. The material chosen will enable students to develop mastery of language skills and intercultural understanding.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted)
Prerequisite: Students must demonstrate proficiency through the equivalent of French III.

This is a two-year course that aims to promote an understanding of history as a discipline, including the nature and diversity of sources, methods and interpretations. Students are encouraged to comprehend the present by reflecting critically on the past. The first year of the course will focus on the causes, course, and effects of six distinct periods and events prior to the 20th century in the Americas. This means that in addition to US history, the events and periods studied will also include the experiences and histories of Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America.

The second year of the course will focus on three 20th century topics—Causes, practices, and effects of War, The Great Depression, The Cold War, and Civil Rights Movements—Post 1945. These topics will be explored from a variety of perspectives from the Western Hemisphere, as well as from two additional regions of the world (Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Middle East).

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted) - Year 1 & 2

This is a one-year course that asks the fundamental questions of “Why do people behave the way that they do in certain situations?” and “How can people change their behaviors?” The course emphasizes historically significant research and research methodology. Students are expected to develop their critical thinking and research skills throughout the course. Each student will be required to complete an “Internal Assessment.” The Internal Assessment includes researching background information, planning, and conducting a research experiment.

Part 1: Levels of Analysis—Biological, Cognitive, Socio-cultural. Students focus on understanding the biological, cognitive and socio-cultural influences on human behavior and explore alternative explanations of behavior.

Part 2: Option (but not optional)—Developmental Psychology: To what extent do Biological, Cognitive, and Socio-cultural factors influence development? Evaluate psychological research relevant to developmental psychology.

Part 3: Research Methodology—Methodology is a significant part of the course. The internal assessment is based on these topics: Introduction to research methods, ethics, and quantitative research methods. Research methodology will be ingrained and significant to each of the segments of IB Psychology, with a focus on ethics and ethical treatment of research participants.

Part 4: Simple experimental study—knowledge of research methods will be applied in the study and ethics and the use of quantitative research methods are required elements. Students will design and replicate a significant psychology research experiment.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted)

This is a two-year course that is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course. The goals of IB Biology HL are to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and an appreciation of science as a process. Students will learn about biology in an internationally relevant context. Through hands-on experiences, students will develop the skills of a scientist.

A student’s IB score for this course is based on three external assessments and one internal assessment. The external assessments are written exams comprised of multiple-choice and free-response questions; these tests are taken at the end of the second year. The internal assessment requires each student to design their own experiment related to biology concepts and report their results and conclusions in a report similar to a paper published in a scientific journal.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted) - Year 2
Prerequisite: Proficiency in Chemistry or Chemistry Honors with Teacher Recommendation

IB Chemistry takes your foundation from regular chemistry and builds upon it. This course gives you a deeper understanding of the world at a particle level which you use to make predictions of how substances interact and behave.

Topics Studied: The Nuclear Atom, Stoichiometry, Electron Configurations, Ideal Gases, Enthalpy, Chemical Bonding, Classification of Elements, Functional Groups, Rate of Reaction and Chemical Change, Redox Reactions, Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted)
Prerequisite: Proficiency in Chemistry

This is a one-year course that gives students an understanding of the relationship between the environment and society. The goal of the course is to allow students to learn about the wide range of environmental issues affecting Earth. This course will explore the scientific, ethical and political aspects of environmental issues. The course covers concepts such as human population and Earth’s resources, Earth’s carrying capacity (how much life can Earth support), conservation of wild life and natural ecosystems, pollution management, climate change, environmental values and cultures, and sustainability. This course is both lab-based and field-based, students will collect data inside and outside to make informed decisions to propose solutions to problems related to the environment.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted)
Prerequisite: Students must have completed and demonstrated proficiency in the two years of science (one year of Biology and one year of Chemistry or Physics) required under the ‘D’ category of the A-G college eligibility requirements.

This is a one-year class that challenges a student’s cultural awareness, analytical problem-solving, creative thinking and application, while expanding and building upon their technical skills. The students will be exploring and comparing different artists from various cultural backgrounds and time periods through comparative studies creating 10-15 screens.

They will also explore 2 different medias and various practices experimenting, creating and reflecting upon their work through a process portfolio creating 9-18 screens. 4-7 works that demonstrate a thematic concentration will be displayed through their own curative practices which will require them to be selective through self-reflection, well written curatorial rationales, and awareness to how viewers will engage with their themed work. The course is designed to help foster a foundation for further studies at the college level or for those seeking lifelong enrichment through visual arts.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted) - Year 1
Prerequisite: One year of any visual art class (Art I, 3D I, or Digital Photo I.) It is recommended that students enroll in an art class the year prior to enrolling in an IB Art class.

This is a two-year course that challenges a student’s cultural awareness, analytical problem-solving, creative thinking and application, while expanding and building upon their technical skills. The students will be exploring and comparing different artists from various cultural backgrounds and time periods through comparative studies creating 13-20 screens.

They will also explore 3 different medias and various practices experimenting, creating and reflecting upon their work through a process portfolio creating 13-25 screens. 8-11 works that demonstrate a thematic concentration will be displayed through their own curative practices which will require them to be selective through self-reflection, well written curatorial rationales, and awareness to how viewers will engage with their themed work. The course is designed to help foster a foundation for further studies at the college level or for those seeking lifelong enrichment through visual arts.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted) - Year 2
Prerequisite: One year of any visual art class (Art I, 3D I, or Digital Photo I.) It is recommended that students enroll in an art class the year prior to enrolling in an IB Art class.

This one-year course is embedded in the existing Symphonic Band and Concert Choir courses as part of the overall curriculum. In addition to the existing course of study, the IB students will be analyzing and creating written responses based on the Medium, Melody, Harmony, Meter, Form, Style and Context of a wide variety of music from western and non-western cultures and genres.

Students will also be prepared to analyze and respond to directed questions on the exam related to at least one major work over a two year period. Lastly, the students will hone their listening and critical thinking skills by listening and crafting written responses to examples of music from a wide variety of cultures and genres.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted)
Prerequisite: Students must demonstrate proficiency in Choir, Guitar, or Band.

This is a two-year course about critical thinking and inquiring into the process of knowing, rather than about learning a specific body of knowledge. The TOK course examines how we know what we claim to know. It does this by encouraging students to analyze knowledge claims and explore knowledge questions. There are two assessment tasks in the TOK course: an essay and an individual exhibition. In addition to the TOK curriculum, students in AVID/TOK cover the AVID curriculum as well. This includes support for the entire college application process including, but not limited to: major and career exploration, researching colleges, developing an apply list, writing college essays, completing college applications, and financial aid support.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted) - Year 1 & 2

This is a one-year course that begins the second semester of junior year and ends the first semester of senior year. It is about critical thinking and inquiring into the process of knowing, rather than about learning a specific body of knowledge. The TOK course examines how we know what we claim to know. It does this by encouraging students to analyze knowledge claims and explore knowledge questions. There are two assessment tasks in the TOK course: an essay and an exhibition. The essay is externally assessed by the IB, and must be on any one of the six prescribed titles by the IB for each examination session. The exhibition, done individually, is internally assessed by the teacher.

+ UC/CSU Honors (Weighted) - Year 1 & 2
Notes: TOK is a compulsory requirement towards earning the IB Diploma; priority registration will be given to IB Diploma Programme Candidates.

Studied throughout the Diploma Programme, CAS involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies. Students are required to undertake a CAS Project, one which challenges them to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance, develop skills such as collaboration, problem solving and decision making.

Note: CAS is a compulsory requirement towards earning the IB Diploma. A-G requirements and UC/CSU credits do not apply.
Helpful documents: 2025-26 CAS Handbook / CAS Project Form

The Extended Essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper. A practical preparation for undergraduate research, the essay is an opportunity for students to investigate a topic of special interest to them, which is also related to one of the student's six Diploma Programme subjects.

Note: This is a compulsory requirement towards earning the IB Diploma. A-G requirements and UC/CSU credits do not apply..

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