ACADEMICS

INDIVIDUALS & SOCIETIES

MYP Humanities, grades 9 and 10

The aims and objectives of MYP Humanities provide a bridge to the Diploma Programme subject group 3, Individuals and Societies. One of the Diploma Programme group 3 aims is to encourage the
systematic and critical study of human experience and behavior; physical, economic, and social environments; and the history and development of social and cultural institutions. Students further develop the capacity to identify, to analyze critically, and to evaluate theories, concepts and arguments about the nature and activities of the individual and of society. They collect, describe, and analyze data used in studies of society, test hypotheses, and interpret complex data and source materials.

Special course in MYP Humanities

Examining and understanding the nature of the human condition and the ways by which we address this is fundamental to all the world’s religions and an important consideration in any philosophy.

The objective of this course, taught in two strands – Comparative Religion in grade 9 and Philosophy in grade 10 – is to equip students with an understanding and appreciation of the cumulative wisdom and values humanity has sought to preserve, practice, and promote throughout the ages.

Comparative Religion

Grade 9 students will examine several of the world’s major religions using a thematic and comparative approach that provides a multiplicity of perspectives and emphasizes tolerance and openness.
Similarities and differences, organic links, key concepts, teaching and practices in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism are the focal points of this course. Students will also learn about several of the world’s primal religious traditions.

Introduction to Philosophy

Socrates is believed to have said, ‘Wisdom begins in wonder’, and in this introductory course, students will learn about some of the world’s greatest thinkers and consider their legacies. Grade 10 students are expected to begin to develop an understanding of and appreciation for many of the great ideas that have revolutionized the world and continue to profoundly afthe lives of many.

DP Business and Management

Business and Management is an in-depth study of how decisions are made in the varied activities of the business world. Essential to understanding these decision-making processes is exploring the
marriage of business theory with business practice. Further, the course is intended to facilitate an
understanding of how the many varied activities in business are indeed linked and often
interdependent. In particular, students will focus on marketing, operations, human resource
management, and finance.

The course is intended to develop attitudes of ethical practice in a global marketplace, particularly through the analysis of a range of case studies. By understanding the interdependent nature of that global marketplace, students are better positioned to advocate and support ethical and responsible action, taking into account the multiculturalism of world business.

DP Economics

Economics is a social science that examines how scarce resources are allocated to fulfill the infinite wants of consumers. What to produce, how things should be produced, and whom things are
produced for, are questions that the discipline seeks to answer.

Economics in the Diploma Programme seeks to provide students with a core knowledge of economics, encourage students to think critically about economics, promote an awareness and understanding of internationalism in economics, and encourage students’ development as independent learners. Alongside the empirical observations of positive economics, students are asked to formulate normative questions and to recognize their own tendencies for bias.

DP History route 2, Asia and Oceania, Communism in Crisis

History is a group 3 course, which essentially means that its primary focus is to explore the interactions between humans and their environments in time, space, and place. It aims to allow the students to study a broad range of topics spanning human history, provide them with the opportunity to compare common human situations, and ultimately give them an appreciation of the general human experience. Its international perspective opens he path towards understanding and respect of diverse cultures – attitudes that would help them become better citizens of the world.

There is a core curriculum that is recommended for the course, but DP History students in particular are required, in addition, to undertake an in-depth study of a period of history. They will be expected to gather and sort historical evidence, recognize and understanding historical processes, and organize and express historical ideas and information. Combining the rigor of compiling and understanding breadth and depth of information with the ability to analyze that information, consider a range of perspectives and opinions, this course will develop students capable of making informed and effective decisions, using the past to inform and shape the present.

DP Psychology

Psychology is the systematic study of behavior and mental processes. It finds its roots in both the natural and social sciences, and employs a variety of research methods, designs, and applications to provide a unique approach in understanding individuals and societies.

This course examines the interaction of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences on human behavior. Understanding how psychological knowledge is generated, developed, and applied enables students to achieve a greater understanding of themselves and appreciate the diversity of human behavior. At higher level, students explore further topics in psychology, and create qualitative research designs.