What is the IB Career-Related Program?
The IB Career-Related Program (IBCP) is a unique program that allows students to focus on potential career opportunities with the academic distinction of completing an IB program. This program prepares students for the rigors of college along with allowing the student to explore a specific career focus.
Who is eligible to participate in the IBCP?
Current 10th grade students who are enrolled in the PLTW Biomedical Sciences program (currently enrolled in PBS) or the PLTW Computer Sciences program (PLTW 10th graders in AP Computer Science Principles).
When do students begin the IBCP?
The IB Career-Related program is taken over the junior and senior years.
How many IB classes do students take in the IBCP?
Students need to take at least two IB classes over the junior and senior years. However, students can choose to take more than two IB classes if they choose and the classes fit in their schedule.
Can students earn college credit for their IB classes?
Yes! Depending on the scores that the students earn on their IB exams and which IB courses they choose to take, students can earn college credit for their IB classes.
How do colleges view the IBCP?
Universities recognize that students that participate in an IB program are among the most prepared to be successful in college. At WHS, we have had IBCP students accepted to MIT, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego and many other top universities.
What is the Personal and Professional Skills (PPS) class?
Students who participate in the IBCP are required to take the Personal and Professional Skills (PPS) class. This course helps students develop effective communication, writing, and research skills. An emphasis is placed on applied ethics with students having the opportunity to discuss ethical issues and dilemmas. These are critical skills that can be transferred as the student continues on to higher education and the workplace.
What is the Reflective Project?
As part of the IBCP, students will complete a reflective project. The reflective project is an in-depth research project that is completed over an extended period of time as the student completes the IBCP. Through this process, students learn extremely valuable research and writing skills as the student identifies, analyzes, discusses and evaluates an ethical issue related to their career studies. These skills help prepare students for success at the university and beyond.
What is Service Learning?
Service learning allows students the opportunity to participate in unpaid and voluntary activities that help the community and that have a learning benefit to the student. Students are able to apply the communication and social skills learned to real-life situations helping them to develop key capabilities such as decision-making, problem-solving and initiative. Students also develop a sense of responsibility and accountability for their actions as well as give back to their community.
What are some of the advantages of participating in the IBCP?
Students have the opportunity to focus on a specific career program of study while challenging themselves by completing an IB program at the same time. Many of our IBCP students are able to take Advanced Placement (AP) classes as well. Depending on their choice of IB courses, students will have both PLTW and IB courses on their transcripts and possibly AP classes at the completion of the IBCP as they apply to universities. Students can potentially earn college credit for the IB (and possibly AP) classes that they take. Since students are participating in an IB program, they will learn strong academic skills along with valuable research, study and time management skills that prepare them for success at the university level and beyond.