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INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME (IBDP)
As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, we provide our academically motivated students with the unique opportunity to study university-level courses during their junior and senior year with an emphasis on inquiry, knowledge, and caring. Villanova is the only boarding school in California that offers the IB Diploma Programme. As an IB Diploma candidate, students become globally-minded and discover ways to positively impact the world.
The IB Programme allows for students to choose to take individual courses or to challenge themselves with the pursut of the full diploma. Students graduating with the full diploma are able to study at universities all over the world, often with advanced credit. The university-level courses in the Diploma Programme enable students to be more successful in the university setting by building their skill in research, writing, critical thinking, time management, and self-confidence. Beyond the university years, these skills are lifelong, giving an IB graduate an understanding and respect for other people, cultures, and ecological issues. IB students not only understand concepts at a deeper level, but they also understand their responsibilities towards them.
The Diploma Programme requires students to study six subject groups (three at the standard level and three at the higher level) over two years and to complete three additional core requirements: the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) class, the Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) hours outside of class. Additionally, students must earn a minimum of 24 points out of a possible 45 points on final assessments which are externally marked, in order to receive an IB diploma.
A partial list of IB courses offered at Villanova:
- Math Analysis & Approaches
- Spanish
- Latin
- Biology
- Environmental Systems and Societies
- History of the Americas
- English Language and Literature
- Psychology
- Visual Arts
- Music
