Curriculum
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BIHS course progressions (PDF) |
Berkeley International High School (BIHS) is a small learning community within Berkeley High School, focusing on international studies for grades nine through twelve. The over arching goals of BIHS are to offer insights into the nature of international education and to build students' sense of identity and cultural awareness, fostering a spirit of discovery and enjoyment of learning for all BIHS students.
BIHS, an authorized International Baccalaureate school, prepares all students for the option to participate in the IB Diploma Programme, an internationally recognized curriculum in 11th and 12th grade. During the course of the four years, students in BIHS develop strong relationships with their teachers who help to build students' sense of identity and cultural awareness. The integrated 4-year study of humanities focuses on the study of geographical regions and elements of culture including literature, art, history, economics and beliefs. It then progresses through the study of nations and the dynamics of global relationships, building in complexity each year. Balancing the richness of Berkeley High School's elective options with the value and challenge of the IB curriculum, BIHS creates a supportive community where diversity of perspective is valued and encouraged. With an emphasis on student centered learning, including cooperative groups and classroom presentations, BIHS students develop strong speaking and leadership skills. They also develop the ability to bring perspective to conversation and participate confidently with people of all backgrounds in our increasingly complex world.
To create a more personalized experience we split the program into two smaller "houses" which allows teachers and students to work in a cohesive manner. In 9th and 10th grade students take two or three of their classes with the same core of students to provide community and support.
The Four-Year Curriculum
Freshman Year
In ninth grade, BIHS students take Global Studies, Freshman Literature & Composition, Advanced Biology, math and either Creative Arts or a performing art. Students can also choose to take a world language or PE. English, history and science teachers plan collaboratively together in order to integrate these classes. The English and history courses are closely connect and follow a geographical "regions" approach.
Sophomore Year
In tenth grade, BIHS students take Global Literature, Global History, and a semester of Comparative Values and Belief Systems, and a semester of Comparative Political and Economic Systems. Students also take math, chemistry and are encouraged to take a world language. These courses focus on research skills and prepare students for the more rigorous classes they will encounter in their Junior and Senior years.
Junior and Senior Years
In the eleventh and twelfth grades all students take IB higher level courses in History year 1 and year 2 and English year 1 and year 2. In twelfth grade students also take Theory of Knowledge, an interdisciplinary class that explores the nature of knowledge and information across multiple subjects.
In addition to the core classes in the Junior and Senior years, BIHS students complete two other unique elements allowing them to broaden learning experiences outside of the classroom. Each student in BIHS writes an essay on a topic of his or her choice beginning in their junior year and culminating in the senior year (see Extended Essay in the Senior Course Section). Students also complete the Creativity, Action, Service (IBCAS) component beginning during the summer after sophomore year and complete it in the senior year (see IBCAS in the CAS Course Section).
Senior Project
In the fourth quarter of the TOK class, all BIHS students will create a senior project that shows a selection of their IB academic work, Extended Essay, Creative, Action, and Service hours, and overall growth throughout high school. Students will present their project in a creative way to a panel of peers, teachers, and other guests in May or June of senior year.
International Baccalaureate Diploma
BIHS students may choose to meet the requirements for the International Baccalaureate diploma. The IB Diploma is an internationally recognized achievement which may earn students up to a year's worth of credit at certain colleges. Aside from completing the standard BIHS graduation requirements of the Extended Essay, IBCAS, and the Theory of Knowledge course, students who choose to pursue the diploma need to complete end of the year exams in six different subject areas, (English, history, math, science, world language, and an elective). A minimum of three exams and a maximum of four exams will be taken at the higher level, leaving two to three exams to be taken at the standard level. Two standard level exams may be taken in the junior year and all higher level exams are taken in the senior year. Students may choose to take a second language, a second science, IB economics, IB music or IB visual arts as their elective option. Alternatively, students can choose to earn an IB certificate for college credit in any of the IB courses offered at Berkeley High School.