Telluride Mountain School offers the International Baccalaureate
Diploma Program, an academically challenging and balanced
pre-university curriculum for students in their final two years of high school.
IB Diploma Program
WHAT IS IB?
The International Baccalaureate Program was established in the 1960s and is recognized
as the worldwide gold standard in education. The aim of the IB Diploma Program is to develop
internationally minded students who recognize their common humanity and shared guardianship
of the planet and help to create a better and more peaceful world.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DOING IB AT TMS?
The Diploma Program prepares students
for a successful transition to post-secondary education. Students learn to explore and
understand the world around them through inquiry, critical thinking and open-mindedness.
A challenging academic curriculum
that serves as outstanding preparation for university and higher education.
A student-centered approach to teaching
that is focused on developing students intellectually, emotionally, physically and socially,
as opposed to preparation for test-taking only.
A focus on international-mindedness,
compassion, and understanding intercultural differences.
Respected, reliable and world-renowned academic preparation.
Universities regularly cite DP students as the best prepared for higher education.
DP graduates excel in post-secondary education
and often begin their studies with advanced standing.
Many universities award academic credit and scholarship awards
for successful examination results in specific areas, or after the completion of the IB Diploma Program.
HOW DOES IB WORK?
Diploma students study six subjects ensuring a depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding.
By engaging with a range of subjects, they experience a comprehensive education that encourages them to
see connections between different academic areas. The study of an additional language is also required,
as is completion of a compulsory program core consisting of three components. The Theory of Knowledge (TOK),
the extended essay, and at least 150 hours of creativity, activity and service tasks (CAS) outside of the classroom.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
Theory of knowledge (TOK) challenges students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we know what we claim to know.
Extended Essay
Extended essay introduces students to the demands and rewards of independent work prior to entering university, requiring them to produce a self-directed piece of research in an area of personal interest.
Creativity, Activity and Service Tasks (CAS)
Creativity, activity and service (CAS) is an experiential learning component where students engage with a wide variety of extracurricular activities, including community service and athletic options.
Who can participate in the IB Diploma Program at TMS?
The IB Program is the core academic offering for juniors and seniors enrolled at Telluride Mountain School. While all juniors and seniors at TMS will participate in the program, they may decide whether or not to attempt the full set of requirements for the IB diploma. IB diplomas are issued in the summer after graduation and sent to the student’s college of choice.
For more information about the IB Diploma Program please visit www.ibo.org,
or contact Andy Shoff, Associate Head of School, at ashoff@telluridemtnschool.org.
