SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM
INTRODUCTION
IntheSixthForm,HarrowNewYorkstudentswill havetheopportunitytostudythegloballyrespected InternationalBaccalaureateDiplomaProgramme (IBDP).
Morethansimplyaqualification,theIBDPprovidesa distinctiveeducationalexperience Anumberof opportunitiesexistforstudentstodevelopspecialized knowledgeandskillsintopicsthatinterestthemthe most.Whiletheseopportunitiesarewidelyconsidered thebestpreparationforuniversityeducation,IBDP studentsalsodeveloptheabilitytotakeonnewideas fromacrossthedisciplinesthroughouttheirlives
TheIBDPishighlyregardedbyuniversitiesforits rigorousstandardsandconsistentassessment,whichare maintainedindependentlyofgovernmentinfluence. StudentswhocompletetheIBDParewell-preparedfor universitywithstrongskillsincriticalthinking, problem-solving,andcollaboration,aswellasabroad knowledgebaseacrossmultipledisciplines.The programme'semphasisoninquiryandreflection nurturesaglobalmindset,makingIBgraduatesmore attractivetotopuniversitiesandwell-equippedforthe challengesofhighereducationandthemodern workforce.
MatthewE.Sipple Principal
Subject Overview
TheIBoffersabroad,balancedprogramofstudyacrosssixsubjects;threeathigherleveland three at standard level, which must include a language and a science Students select the six subjectsbychoosingonefromeachofthefollowinggroups:
Group1,LanguageA-EnglishLanguageandLiterature,MotherTongueLanguageA Group2,LanguageAcquisition–Mandarin,Spanish,FrenchorClassicalLanguagesLatin Group3,IndividualsandSociety–Economics,Geography,History
Group 4, Experimental Sciences – Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Systems and Societies, PhysicsorComputerScience
Group 5, Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations
Group 6, Arts and Electives – Film Studies, Music, Theater Studies, Visual Arts or one from Group3
Alongside the academic subjects, students also complete the IBDP Core This comprises three essential components Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay (EE) that collectively enhance students' intellectual, personal, and interpersonal development. TOK challenges students to examine critically the nature of knowledge and its implications across various disciplines, fostering a reflective and analytical mindset. CAS encourages holistic growth through participation in artistic pursuits, physical activities, and community service, promoting well-rounded individuals The EE provides an opportunity for in-depth independent research, honing students' research, writing, and analytical skills. Together, these Core elements complement the subject-specific studies, nurturing students who are not only academically proficient but also intellectually curious, sociallyresponsible,andequippedforsuccessinhighereducationandbeyond.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE
Thiscourseoffersabroadrangeoftexts,andstudentsgrowtoappreciatea language’scomplexity,wealthandsubtletiesinavarietyofcontexts.
Throughthiscourse,studentsareabletodevelop: apersonalappreciationoflanguageandliterature critical-thinkingskillsintheirinteractionwitharangeoftextsfromdifferent periods,styles,text-typesandliteracyform anunderstandingoftheformal,stylisticandaestheticqualitiesoftexts strongpowersofexpression,bothwrittenandoral anappreciationofculturaldifferencesinperspective anunderstandingofhowlanguagechallengesandsustainswaysofthinking
Throughstudiesinlanguageandliterature,theDPaimstodevelopastudent's lifelonginterestinlanguageandliterature,andalovefortherichnessofhuman expression.
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
Thiscourseaimstoadvancestudents'languageproficiencyandintercultural awareness.Focusedondevelopingcommunicativeskillswithinaglobalcontext,the programexploresliterary,cultural,andcontemporarytexts.Offeringamultilingual perspective,studentsenhancelinguisticabilities,criticalthinking,andanalytical skillsthroughthestudyofliterature,media,andreal-worldcommunication. Emphasizingeffectiveexpressioninbothspokenandwrittenforms,thecourse cultivatesculturallyaware,confidentcommunicators,preparingthemforsuccessin aninterconnectedworld
ECONOMICS
Thiscourseprovidesstudentswithacomprehensiveunderstandingofeconomic principlesandtheirreal-worldapplications.Throughaninterdisciplinaryapproach, studentsexplorebothmicroeconomicsandmacroeconomics,analyzingeconomic theoriesandpolicies.Emphasizingcriticalthinkingandanalyticalskills,thecourse encouragesstudentstoassesseconomicissuesfrommultipleperspectivesand developinformedopinions Practicalapplicationsofeconomictheoriesare examinedwithinthecontextofcontemporaryglobalchallenges.Studentsare equippedwiththetoolstoanalyzeeconomicdata,evaluatepolicyimplications,and understandtheinterconnectednessofeconomicsystems.TheIBDPEconomics coursefostersadeepappreciationfortheroleofeconomicsinshapingsocieties, preparingstudentsforresponsiblecitizenshipandfutureacademicorprofessional pursuitsinthedynamicfieldofeconomics
GEOGRAPHY
Thiscourseisdesignedtofosteradeepunderstandingofthedynamicinteractions betweenpeopleandtheirenvironment.Throughtheexplorationofbothphysicaland humangeography,studentsengageinacomprehensivestudyofglobalissues, sustainabledevelopment,andspatialrelationships.Thecourseencouragescritical thinkingbyexaminingdiverseperspectivesongeographicalchallengesand solutions.Fieldwork,casestudies,andpracticalapplicationsareintegral components,allowingstudentstoapplytheoreticalknowledgetoreal-world scenarios Byinvestigatingtheinterconnectionsbetweensocial,economic,and environmentalfactors,studentsdevelopaholisticappreciationforthecomplexities ofourworld.
HISTORY
Thiscourseoffersarigorousandenrichingexplorationofhumansocietiesandtheir historicaldevelopments.Thisprogramencouragesstudentstodelveintodiverse historicalperiods,analyzingevents,individuals,andideologiescritically.Witha focusondevelopinghistoricalinquiryskills,studentslearntoevaluateevidence, assessperspectives,andconstructwell-reasonedarguments Thecourseemphasizes theinterconnectednessofglobalhistoricaldevelopments,fosteringanappreciation forthecomplexitiesofhumanexperiences.Throughthestudyofbothlocaland internationalhistories,studentsgaininsightsintothefactorsshapingsocieties, enablingthemtocomprehendthepresentandenvisionthefuture.
BIOLOGY
Thiscourseisdesignedtocultivateaprofoundunderstandingofthelivingworldand itsintricateprocesses.Withacomprehensivecurriculum,studentsexploreboththe theoreticalandpracticaldimensionsofbiology,coveringtopicssuchascellular biology,genetics,ecology,andhumanphysiology.Emphasizingcriticalthinking andinquiry-basedlearning,studentsengageinhands-onexperiments,investigations, andresearchprojects Thecourseencouragesanappreciationforthe interconnectednessoflivingorganismsandtheirenvironments,fosteringan awarenessoftheethicalimplicationsofbiologicaladvancements.
CHEMISTRY
Thiscourseisdesignedtoinstilladeepappreciationfortheprinciplesgoverningthe compositionandbehaviorofmatter.Througharigorouscurriculum,studentsengage intheoreticalandpracticalexplorationsofchemicalconcepts,fosteringcritical thinkingandanalyticalskills Thecourseencompassesbothtraditionaland contemporaryaspectsofchemistry,emphasizingreal-worldapplicationsandethical considerations.Studentsareencouragedtoconductexperiments,analyzedata,and drawmeaningfulconclusions,promotingahands-onunderstandingofthescientific method.TheIBDPChemistrycoursenotonlyequipsstudentswithasolid foundationinchemicaltheorybutalsonurturesaninquisitivemindset,preparing themforfutureacademicpursuitsandcareersinthedynamicfieldofchemistry
ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND SOCIETIES (ESS)
Thiscourseisadynamicinterdisciplinaryofferingthatexplorestheintricate connectionsbetweenenvironmentalsystemsandhumansocieties.ESSengages studentsinexaminingenvironmentalissuesthroughscientific,economic,andsocioculturallenses.Thiscourseequipsstudentswiththeknowledgeandskillsto criticallyevaluateandaddresscomplexenvironmentalchallenges.Byintegrating scientificprincipleswithsocial,economic,andethicalconsiderations,students developaholisticunderstandingoftherelationshipsbetweenhumanactivitiesand thenaturalworld.Practicalinvestigations,casestudies,andfieldworkenhance students'appreciationforenvironmentalsustainabilityandfosterasenseof responsibilitytowardstheplanet.TheIBDPESScoursenotonlyencourages environmentalstewardshipbutalsopreparesstudentstomakeinformeddecisionsas globalcitizensinthefaceofpressingenvironmentalissues.
Thiscourseisdesignedtounravelthefundamentalprinciplesgoverningthephysicalworld. Throughacomprehensivecurriculum,studentsdelveintoclassicalmechanics,electromagnetism, thermodynamics,quantumphysics,andmore.Thecourseemphasizesboththeoretical understandingandpracticalapplication,fosteringcriticalthinkingandproblem-solvingskills. Studentsengageinhands-onexperiments,dataanalysis,andinvestigativeprojects,promotingan experientialgraspofphysicalphenomena.Byexploringtheprofoundinterconnectionswithinthe universe,IBDPPhysicsnotonlyequipsstudentswithasolidfoundationinphysicsbutalsoinstills anappreciationforthescientificmethodanditsroleinaddressingcomplexreal-worldchallenges.
PHYSICS COMPUTER SCIENCE
Thiscourseoffersacomprehensiveexplorationofthedynamicandevolvingfieldofcomputing. Thisprogramequipsstudentswiththeknowledgeandskillsnecessaryforunderstandingthe principlesofcomputationalthinking,algorithmicproblem-solving,andtheethicalimplicationsof technology.Thecurriculumcoverstopicsrangingfromprogramminglanguagesanddata structurestosoftwaredevelopmentandcomputersystems.Emphasizingboththeoreticalconcepts andpracticalapplications,studentsengageinhands-oncodingprojects,fosteringcriticalthinking andcreativity.TheIBDPComputerSciencecoursenotonlypreparesstudentsfortherapidly advancingtechnologicallandscapebutalsoencouragesathoughtfulandresponsibleapproachto theethicalconsiderationssurroundinginformationtechnology.Studentsemergewithasolid foundationincomputerscience,readytotacklechallengesinadigitallyinterconnectedworld.
MATHEMATICS: ANALYSIS AND APPROACHES
Thiscourseprovidesstudentswitharigorousandin-depthexplorationofmathematicalconcepts andtheirapplications.Coveringtopicssuchascalculus,algebra,andstatistics,thiscourseis designedtodevelopstudents'analyticalandproblem-solvingskills.Withafocusonmathematical theoryandpracticalapplications,studentsengageinavarietyofchallengingexercisesandrealworldproblem-solvingtasks.Emphasizingbothconceptualunderstandingandcomputational proficiency,thecourseencouragesstudentstothinkcriticallyandcreativelywhenapproaching mathematicalproblems.Throughabalancedblendoftheoreticalknowledgeandhands-on application,theIBDPMathematics:AnalysisandApproachescoursepreparesstudentsforfurther studiesinmathematics,aswellasequippingthemwithessentialskillsapplicableacrossdiverse academicandprofessionaldisciplines.
MATHEMATICS: APPLICATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
Thiscourseisdesignedtoequipstudentswithapracticalandversatile understandingofmathematicalconcepts.Thiscourseexplorestopicssuchas statistics,probability,mathematicalmodeling,andfinancialmathematics, emphasizingreal-worldapplications.Studentsengageinhands-onprojectsandcase studiesthatrequiretheapplicationofmathematicaltechniquestosolveauthentic problems.Thecoursefosterscriticalthinkingandanalyticalskillsbyencouraging studentstointerpretandanalyzemathematicalinformationinvariouscontexts.With abalancebetweentheoreticalknowledgeandpracticalapplications,IBDP Mathematics:ApplicationsandInterpretationspreparesstudentsforarangeof academicandprofessionalpursuits,ensuringtheyareadeptatutilizingmathematics asapowerfultoolindiversefieldsanddecision-makingscenarios.
Thiscourseprovidesstudentswithacomprehensiveexplorationoftheartand languageofcinema.Throughtheexaminationofadiverserangeoffilmsfrom variousculturesandtimeperiods,studentsdevelopadeepunderstandingof cinematictechniques,narrativestructures,andtheimpactoffilmoncultureand society.Thecourseencouragescriticalanalysis,interpretation,andexpression, fosteringstudents'abilitiestoarticulatetheirinsightsthroughwrittenandpractical assessments.Fromscriptwritingtofilmproduction,studentsengageinhands-on projects,honingtheircreativeandtechnicalskills.
MUSIC FILM STUDIES
Thiscourseisanimmersivejourneyintotheworldofmusicalexpressionand creativity.Througharichcurriculumencompassingmusictheory,history,and performance,studentsexplorediversemusicalgenres,styles,andculturalcontexts. Thecourseemphasizesbothpracticalandtheoreticalaspectsofmusic,encouraging studentstodeveloptheirskillsasperformers,composers,andinformedlisteners.By studyingvariousmusicaltraditionsandanalyzinginfluentialcompositions,students gainadeepunderstandingoftheroleofmusicinshapingsocietiesandindividual experiences.Throughindividualandcollaborativeprojects,aswellaslive performances,studentsrefinetheirtechnicalabilitiesandexpresstheirunique musicalvoices.
THEATER STUDIES
Thiscourseisanexplorationofthetransformativepowerofdramaandtheater. Throughadynamiccurriculumthatencompassesboththeoreticalandpractical components,studentsdelveintothediverseworldoftheatricalexpression The courseencouragesstudentstoanalyzeandappreciatevariousdramaticforms,styles, andculturalcontexts,fosteringadeepunderstandingoftheimpactoftheateron individualsandsocieties.Fromscriptanalysistoperformance,studentsengagein hands-onprojectsthatdeveloptheircreativeandinterpretativeskills.TheIBDP TheaterStudiescourseencouragescriticalthinking,collaboration,andeffective communication,preparingstudentsnotonlyforfuturestudiesintheaterbutalsofor abroaderappreciationoftheperformingarts
VISUAL ARTS
Thiscourseisadynamicexplorationofartisticexpressionacrossvariousmediums. Studentsengageinamultifacetedcurriculumthatencouragescreativethinking, conceptualexploration,andtechnicalproficiency.Thecoursecoversarangeofart forms,fromdrawingandpaintingtodigitalmediaandinstallationart.Through studioworkandcriticalinvestigations,studentsdeveloptheirartisticvoices,honing skillsinbothtraditionalandcontemporarytechniques Thecourseplacesastrong emphasisontheprocessofcreatingart,encouragingstudentstoexperiment,take risks,andreflectontheirartisticchoices.TheIBDPVisualArtscoursenotonly cultivatestechnicalproficiencybutalsofostersadeepunderstandingofthecultural andhistoricalcontextsinfluencingart.
