IB Courses at Elgin High School
Throughout their junior and senior years, students will engage in one course from each of the following areas. When registering for courses with their school counselor, students should ensure they are registering for courses that meet their post-secondary plans, as well as the full Diploma Program requirements. Students must also remember that all IB courses are a two-year experience, and should plan their Junior and Senior class schedules accordingly.
Group 1: Language and Literature |
Group 4: Sciences |
Language A: English Literature
The course is organized into three areas of exploration with seven central concepts and focuses on the study of literary works. Together, the three areas of exploration of the course add up to a comprehensive exploration of literature from a variety of cultures, literary forms, and time periods. Students learn to appreciate the artistry of literature and develop the ability to reflect critically on their reading, presenting literary analysis powerfully through both oral and written communication.
Group 2: Language AcquisitionLanguage ab initio (Spanish)
IB Language ab Initio—Spanish course focuses on developing the linguistic abilities of students with little or no experience with the language of study. Course content includes the study of individuals and society, leisure and work, and urban and rural environments. The course also provides students with the opportunity to practice and explore this language.
Language B (French or Spanish) In the language B courses, students further develop their ability to communicate in Spanish or French through the study of language, themes, and texts. Course content is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and intercultural understanding to enable them to communicate successfully in an environment where Spanish or French is spoken. This process allows the learner to go beyond the confines of the classroom, expanding their awareness of the world and fostering respect for cultural diversity
Group 3: Individuals & SocietiesGlobal Politics
The Global Politics course allows students to develop an understanding of the local, national, international, and global dimensions of political activity, as well as allows them the opportunity to explore political issues affecting their own lives. Global politics draws on a variety of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. It helps students to understand abstract political concepts by grounding them in real-world examples and case studies, and also By design, the course encourages dialogue and debate, nurturing the capacity to interpret competing and contestable claims.
Social and Cultural Anthropology In studying this course students will come to appreciate how the discipline of anthropology contributes to an understanding of contemporary issues such as war and conflict, the environment, poverty, injustice, inequality, and human and cultural rights. The study of social and cultural anthropology offers critical insight into the continuities and dynamics of social change and the development of societies as well as challenges cultural assumptions. The course also allows students to develop the capacity to recognize misconceptions and assumptions of their own social and cultural environments through an exploration of both the familiar and unfamiliar worlds of other people.
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Chemistry
IB Chemistry promotes an understanding of the facts, patterns, and principles underlying the field of chemistry; critical analysis, evaluation, prediction, and generation of scientific information and hypotheses; improved ability to communicate scientific ideas; and an awareness of the impact of chemistry and scientific advances in chemistry upon both society and issues of ethical, philosophical, and political importance. Course content varies, but includes the study of quantitative and organic chemistry; atomic structure, periodicity, bonding, energetics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, oxidations and reduction, and measurement and data processing. Laboratory experimentation is an essential part of these courses.
Physics IB Physics promotes an understanding of the facts, patterns, and principles underlying the field of physics; critical analysis, prediction, and application of scientific information and hypotheses; improved ability to communicate scientific ideas; and an awareness of the impact of scientific advances in physics upon both society and issues of ethical, philosophical, and political importance. Course content varies, but includes the study of physical measurement; mechanics; thermal, atomic, and nuclear physics; oscillations and waves; electric currents; fields and forces; and energy, power, and climate change. Laboratory experimentation is essential; calculus may be used in some courses.
Environmental Systems and Societies IB Environmental Systems courses prepare students to take the International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems exam by providing them with hands-on project-based learning in our EHS Nature Trail to understand the nature and functioning of natural systems, the relationships that affect environmental equilibrium, and human impact on the biosphere. Students will conduct scientific studies and investigate topics like ecological relationships, human impact, sustainability, pollution, population studies, and climate change.
Group 5: MathematicsIB Mathematics: Analysis and Approach
The IB DP Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches course recognizes the need for analytical expertise in a world where innovation is increasingly dependent on a deep understanding of mathematics. The focus is on developing important mathematical concepts in a comprehensible, coherent and rigorous way, achieved by a carefully balanced approach. Students are encouraged to apply their mathematical knowledge to solve abstract problems as well as those set in a variety of meaningful contexts. During this two-year course, students can expect to study Geometry, Trigonometry, Advanced Algebra, Statistics and Probability, and Calculus.
Group 6: The ArtsIB Music
The IB Music course exposes students to forms, styles, and functions of music from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural contexts. Students create, participate in, and reflect upon music from their own backgrounds and those of others. They develop practical and communicative skills which provide them with the opportunity to engage in music for further study, as well as for lifetime enjoyment. While students in the IB Music course will experience all learning components of the curriculum, students will choose one of three areas to focus their studies: creating, solo performance, or group performance.
IB Visual Arts (taught in Spanish for Dual Language students) The IB Visual Arts courses provide experiences that develop students’ aesthetic and creative faculties, provide experiences in various visual art forms, offer training in awareness and criticism of art, and enable students to create their own quality works of art. Students perform both studio and research work; the research component is designed to investigate particular topics or concepts of interest in further detail.
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