IB Group 3 subjects
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The Group Three of IB Diploma Programme subjects, subtitled individuals and societies, consists of the humanities and social sciences. The available subjects are Business and Management, Economics, Geography, History (and History of the Islamic World), Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS), Philosophy, Psychology, and Social and Cultural Anthropology.
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[edit] Economics
The syllabus of the Economics course is divided into five sections - introductory economics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, and development economics - all of which receive approximately equal weight. All sections must be studied by all candidates, and questions of all will be posed in examinations. The Diploma programme Economics course is noted for focusing more on development than any other economics course at a pre-university level, and this is all part of the IB programmes' international perspective.
The final exams consist of three papers for HL and two for SL. Paper 1 consists of essay questions, Paper 2 of short-answer tasks (this paper does not exist for SL students), and Paper 3 (Paper 2 for SL) requires data response. Internal assessment includes four commentaries of current news items involving the use of economic concepts and terminology.
[edit] History
The IB Diploma Programme History course generally focuses on the political history of the 20th century. At Standard Level, this is the only historical topic that is ever addressed, and also at Higher Level it has a great importance attached to it. The course is entirely divided into options, that the student can theoretically pick their favourites, but in practice the topics to be studied are decided by the teacher.
Paper 1 of the examination focuses heavily on the use of sources as historical evidence. Students will choose to answer questions in this paper relating to just one of the following three 'Prescribed Subjects' 1. The USSR under Stalin, 1924-41, 2. T2: China in the era of Mao 1946-64 3. The Cold War 1960-79
Paper 2 of the examination is essay based. Students are presented with six topic areas, and in each of these they are presented with four possible essay questions. Students only have to answer two questions in total, but they cannot be from within the same topic area. The six topic areas are as follows: 1. Causes, Practices and Effects of War 2. Nationalist and Independence Movements, Decolonisation and Challenges Facing New States 3. The Rise and Rule of Single-Party States 4. Peace and Co-operation: international organisations and multiparty states 5. The Cold War 6. The State and its Relationship with Religion and with Minorities
Paper 3 of the examination (for Higher Level Students only) is again essay based. For this paper, students study one Regional Option, or a period of about a hundred years within a specific region. The region chosen is usually, but by no means always, the one in which the school is located. The available regions are Europe, the Americas, Africa, East Asia and West Asia.
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[edit] Psychology
- Main Article: IB Psychology SL
The IB Diploma programme in psychology mainly focuses on the different perspectives of psychology on the one hand and the various subfields on the other hand. Psychology is normally defined as the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. Although the term psychology literally means the study of the soul one can not state that the soul is the content matter of modern psychology. Nevertheless, psychology is the science of mental life as William James wrote in his well known textbook Principles of psychology that was published in the USA in 1890.
The IB syllabus in psychology contains four main parts. The first part is concerned with the perspectives, the second part with the options, the third part with research methodology and finally all students have to carry out their own experimental study. There are four main perspectives, the psychoanalytic, the biological, the cognitive and the learning. In addition to that higher level students also study the humanistic perspective. The options include comparative psychology, cultural psychology, psychology of dysfunctional behaviour, health psychology, lifespan psychology, psychodynamic psychology and social psychology. Students at higher level study two options whereas standard level students study only one.
Each of the perspectives should be explored using the following four compulsory topics:
- development and cultural contexts
- framework
- methodologies
- application.
The aims of the psychology course at HL and at SL are to:
- interpret and/or conduct psychological research to apply the resulting knowledge for the benefit of human beings
- ensure that ethical practices and responsibilities are implemented in psychological inquiry
- develop an understanding of the biological, social and cultural influences on human behaviour
- develop an understanding of different theoretical processes that are used to interpret behaviour, and to be aware of how these processes lead to the construction and evaluation of psychological theories
- develop an awareness of how applications of psychology in everyday life are derived from psychological theories
- develop an appreciation of the eclectic nature of psychology
- understand and/or use diverse methods of psychological inquiry.
[edit] Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)
Starting 2006 the IB offers both a SL and a HL ITGS course. One stated aim of this course is to “develop an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of new technologies as methods of expanding our knowledge of the world at the local and global level”. ITGS is not a classical computer course where students learn to use different application software or programming, rather it is a course that attempts to integrate social and ethical issues related to an IT system with different areas of impact.
Requirements for SL (for first exams in 2007):
- External assessment: 2 exam papers (3 hours), counts 70% of the final mark
- Internal assessment: one project composed of a product, report and log book
Requirements for HL (for first exams in 2007):
- External assessment: 3 exam papers (4 hours), counts 80% of the final mark
- Internal assessment: 3 portfolio essays (800-1000 words) and one extension to a portfolio (800-1000 words)
Practical computer work is conducted while researching for the project and portfolio.
[edit] Geography
IB Geography involves the investigation of human relationships with the environment. The common core unit comprises Population, Resources and Development. Topics include: population distribution, fertility, mortality, the geography of disease, population structure and change, migration, the relationship between population and resources, population policies, resource production and consumption, the geography of food, food production and consumption, food trade, food aid, measuring development, issues in 'developed' and 'developing' countries, sustainable development.
Standard and Higher level Geographers both follow the core unit plus a number of option units. Standard level students choose any two from the following units. Higher level students must choose four options with at least one from section A and one from section B.
Section A Arid Environments and their Management Drainage Basins and their Management Coasts and their Management Lithospheric Processes and Hazards Ecosystems Climatic Hazards
Section B Urbanisation Geographical Regions Industrial Change Globalization
Section C Topographic Mapping
Internal Assessment is in the form of a 1500 word research assignment or fieldwork project for standard level students or a 2500 word fieldwork project for higher level students.
External assessment is made up of two exam papers. Paper 1 covers topics from the core unit and is 1 hour 30 minutes long. Paper two examines the option units. Standard level students sit a paper 1 hour 30 minutes in length in which they should answer two questions. Higher level students must answer four questions in 2 hours 30 minutes. For higher level Geography the internal assessment is a 2500
