International Baccalaureate

In 1998, Baltimore City College became an authorized Diploma Program school of the International Baccalaureate Organization, which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.  The Diploma Program offers a rigorous course of study across all academic areas.​

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) promotes intercultural understanding and respect, not as an alternative to a sense of cultural and national identity, but as an essential part of life in the 21st century.  The IBO mission is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

The International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma Programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

IB Middle Years (MYP) Grades 9 and 10

All Baltimore City College students are enrolled in the the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) in grades 9 and 10.

Students study eight MYP subject areas every year of the program.

  • ​Language and Literature

  • Language Acquisition

  • Individuals and Societies

  • Sciences

  • Mathematics

  • Arts

  • Physical and Health Education
    (in school grade 9 and independently grade 10)​

  • Design (grade 10 only)

  • Personal Project (grade 10 only)

Central to the curriculum in each subject area is also the Learner Profile in English or Spanish, which emphasizes the central importance of each student's holistic development and  Approaches to Learning, which develops student's skills as they learn subjects and helps them “learn how to learn."

MYP Personal Project​

The Personal Project is a summative assignment designed as a formal expression of what the student has learned during their years in the MYP. The project should be based in one or more areas of interaction and reflect a topic of real interest to the individual student.

The Personal Project is done independently and separately from a student's coursework. Students complete the project independently in their 10th grade year under the guidance of their adviser, the IB Coordinator and the librarian.   

All students at City College must complete a Personal Project in the final year of MYP, grade 10. The project is assessed by a student's adviser using MYP rubrics.

Additional support is available is available through the library and Writing Center.

IB Diploma Program (DP) Grades 11 and 12

At Baltimore City College, students have the option of selecting the full diploma pathway (all diploma courses in 11th and 12th Grade) or course pathway (choose to take a 1 – 5 Diploma Program courses). Students can select DP Courses in the six areas below. Full Diploma Candidates must select one course from each group (or double up in groups 2, 3 or 4) for six courses while also completing the core.

Requirements for 11th grade students to enroll in the IB Diploma Program at Baltimore City College:

  • must have completed the Personal Project and be in good standing (4) in most of the 10th Grade classes 

  • complete and submit the course scheduling request forms distributed by their grade-level counselors

Group

Subject Area

Courses

Group 1

Language and Literature

Language A: English Literature SL/HL

Group 2

Language Acquisition

French SL/HL

Spanish SL/HL

Group 3

Individuals and Societies

History of Africa HL

Social & Cultural Anthropology SL/HL

Group 4

Sciences

Biology SL

Chemistry SL

Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Physics SL

Core

Creativity, Activity, Services (CAS)

Extended Essay (EE)

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

Group 5

Mathematics

Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches

Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation

Group 6

The Arts

Film SL/HL

Music SL

Theatre SL/HL

Visual Arts SL/HL