Diploma Programme curriculum

Group 3: Individuals and societies

Students are  required to choose one subject from each of the six academic areas, including one from group 3. They can choose a second from groups 1 – 5 instead of a group 6 subject.

Eight subjects are available:

• business and management
• economics
• geography
• history
• information technology in a global society
• philosophy
• psychology
• social and cultural anthropology.

All of these subjects may be studied at higher level or standard level.

A new course—world religions—will become a mainstream SL only course for first year teaching in September 2011, first examinations in May 2013. Please note that no candidates may be anticipated candidates during this period.

Studying any one of these subjects provides for the development of a critical appreciation of:

• human experience and behaviour
• the varieties of physical, economic and social environments that people inhabit
• the history of social and cultural institutions.

In addition, each subject is designed to foster in students the capacity to identify, to analyse critically and to evaluate theories, concepts and arguments relating to the nature and activities of individuals and societies.