International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a challenging two-year program of international education for students aged 16 to 19. It leads to a qualification that is widely recognized and highly respected in 125 countries throughout the world.

Dallas International School is the only private school in North Texas to offer high school students the choice of the French Baccalaureate or International Baccalaureate Diploma program. The program is taught by a team of certified teachers who are experienced in multilingual and multicultural settings. DIS International Baccalaureate students receive college credit or placement for much of their course work, as well as experience in a collegiate learning environment.

In the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, students learn more than a collection of facts. The Diploma Program prepares students for university and encourages them to:

  • ask challenging questions
  • learn how to learn
  • develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture
  • develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures.

University Campus

High school students attend courses at the DIS facilities on the University of Texas at Dallas campus in Richardson, Texas. Through our partnership with the University of Texas at Dallas:

  • Our high school students take science, art and physical education classes using the state of the art laboratories, studios and sports facilities of the university.
  • Our students who qualify are able to take university classes while still attending high school.
  • Our students have access to college and career counseling services at UT Dallas.
  • Our students are eligible for 10 annual scholarships created for DIS graduates to the University of Texas at Dallas.

Diploma Program Subject Groups

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program curriculum contains six subject groups together with a core made up of three separate parts.

Students study six subjects selected from the subject groups. Normally three subjects are studied at higher level (courses representing 240 teaching hours), and the remaining three subjects are studied at standard level (courses representing 150 teaching hours).

  • Language A1
  • Second language
  • Individuals and societies
  • Experimental sciences
  • Mathematics and computer science
  • The arts

Core

All three parts of the core — extended essay, theory of knowledge and creativity, action, service — are compulsory and are central to the philosophy of the Diploma Program.

Extended essay

The extended essay has a prescribed limit of 4,000 words. It offers the opportunity to investigate a topic of individual interest, and acquaints students with the independent research and writing skills expected at university.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

The interdisciplinary TOK course is designed to provide coherence by exploring the nature of knowledge across disciplines, encouraging an appreciation of other cultural perspectives.

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)

Participation in the school's CAS program encourages students to be involved in artistic pursuits, sports and community service work, thus fostering students' awareness and appreciation of life outside the academic arena.