Course Pathways
The following are representative of pathways through each course group in the DBHS IB Diploma Program. These should be used to help you develop your Four-Year Plan.
Group 1 – Language A: Literature
One Option‐Higher Level
One Option‐Higher Level
| 9th Grade | 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade |
| English I Honors or English I |
English II Honors or English II |
English IB HL1 (English III Honors) |
English IB HL2 (AP Literature) |
Prerequisites
English I Honors: Grade of A in 8th grade English Language Arts or B or higher in 8th grade English Language Arts Honors
English I Honors: Grade of A in 8th grade English Language Arts or B or higher in 8th grade English Language Arts Honors
English II Honors: Successful completion of English I Honors with a final course grade of B or better or completion of English I with a final course grade of A
English IB HL1: Successful completion of English II Honors with a final course grade of B or better or completion of English II with a final course grade of A
English IB HL2: Successful completion of English IB HL1 with a grade of B or better
Group 2 – Language B (offered in French, Korean, Chinese, and Spanish)
Three options
Three options
Please note: If a student qualifies for a language level higher than 2 honors their freshmen year, they may not use that language for the IB Group 2 requirement.
| 9th Grade | 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade | |
| Standard Level Option 1 | World Language 1 | WL II Honors | WL III Honors | WL IB SL |
| Standard Level Option 2 | WL II Honors | WL III Honors | WL IB SL | |
| Higher Level | WL II Honors | WL III Honors | WL IB HL 1 | WL IB HL 2 |
DBHS offers AP as a non-IB equivalent of Standard Level and Higher Level Year 1 for Chinese, French, and Spanish.
Prerequisites:
Foreign Language Level II Honors: Successful completion of FL I with a final grade of A
Foreign Language Level III Honors: Successful completion of FL II Honors with a final grade of B or better or successful completion of FL II with a final grade of A
Foreign Language IB SL/HL1: Successful completion of FL III Honors with a grade of final grade of B or better
Foreign Language IB HL2: Successful completion of FL IB HL1 with a grade of B or better
Foreign Language Level II Honors: Successful completion of FL I with a final grade of A
Foreign Language Level III Honors: Successful completion of FL II Honors with a final grade of B or better or successful completion of FL II with a final grade of A
Foreign Language IB SL/HL1: Successful completion of FL III Honors with a grade of final grade of B or better
Foreign Language IB HL2: Successful completion of FL IB HL1 with a grade of B or better
Group 3 – Individuals and Societies
Four options
Four options
| 9th or 10th grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade | |
| Standard Level Option 1 |
World History
or European History AP
|
Mod. Amer. History
+ History IB SL
|
------- |
| Standard Level Option 2 |
World History
or European History AP
|
ESS IB SL | ------- |
| Standard Level Option 3 |
World History
or European History AP
|
------- | ESS IB SL |
| Higher Level |
World History
or European History AP
|
US History AP |
History of the Americas
IB HL 2
|
We highly recommend that sophomores take European History AP.
Prerequisites
Modern American History/History IB SL: Completion of World History or European History AP with a grade of B or higher
US History (AP): Completion of World History or European History AP with a grade of B or higher
History of the Americas IB HL2: Successful completion of US History AP
Environmental Science AP* (ESS): Grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors OR Grade A or better in Biology and Chemistry
Modern American History/History IB SL: Completion of World History or European History AP with a grade of B or higher
US History (AP): Completion of World History or European History AP with a grade of B or higher
History of the Americas IB HL2: Successful completion of US History AP
Environmental Science AP* (ESS): Grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors OR Grade A or better in Biology and Chemistry
Group 4 – Laboratory Sciences
Three Standard Level Options
Three Standard Level Options
| 9th grade | 10th Grade | 11th or 12th Grade |
|
Biology or Biology Honors
|
Chemistry or Chemistry Honors | Chemistry, ESS, or Physics IB SL |
Three Higher Level Options
| 9th Grade | 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade |
| Biology or Biology H | Chemistry or Chemistry H | Biology, Chemistry, or Physics IB HL 1 | Biology, Chemistry, or Physics IB HL 2 |
Prerequisites
Students must receive either...
- Grades of A in Biology and/or Chemistry
Or
- Grades of B or better in Biology Honors and/or Chemistry Honors.
Chemistry Honors: Biology or Biology Honors
Biology IB HL1/HL2: For HL 2nd year students, grade of C or better in Biology HL1. For HL1 students, grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors.
Chemistry IB SL/HL1/HL2: For HL 2nd year students, grade of C or better in Chemistry HL1. For SL and HL1 students, grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors.
Environmental Science AP*(ESS): Grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors
Physics IB SL/HL1/HL2: For HL 2nd year students, grade of C or better in Physics HL1. For SL and HL1 students, grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors.
Students must receive either...
- Grades of A in Biology and/or Chemistry
Or
- Grades of B or better in Biology Honors and/or Chemistry Honors.
Chemistry Honors: Biology or Biology Honors
Biology IB HL1/HL2: For HL 2nd year students, grade of C or better in Biology HL1. For HL1 students, grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors.
Chemistry IB SL/HL1/HL2: For HL 2nd year students, grade of C or better in Chemistry HL1. For SL and HL1 students, grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors.
Environmental Science AP*(ESS): Grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors
Physics IB SL/HL1/HL2: For HL 2nd year students, grade of C or better in Physics HL1. For SL and HL1 students, grade of B or better in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors.
Group 1 – Language A: Literature
Higher Level Option
Higher Level Option
| 9th Grade | 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade |
| Algebra II / Trigonometry Honors (A2TH) | Mathematical Analysis / Calculus Honors (MACH5) | AP Calculus BC | Math Analysis and Approaches IB HL 2 |
Five Standard Level Options
| 9th Grade | 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade | |
| Standard Level Option 1 | Algebra II / Trigonometry Honors | Mathematical Analysis / Calculus Honors | Math Applications and Interpretations IB SL | ------- |
| Standard Level Option 2 | Geometry | A2TH | MACH 5 | Math Applications and Interpretations IB SL |
| Standard Level Option 3 | Geometry | Algebra II | Trigonometry / Mathematical Analysis | Math Applications and Interpretations IB SL |
| Standard Level Option 4 | Algebra II | Trigonometry / Mathematical Analysis | Math Applications and Interpretations IB SL | ------- |
| Standard Level Option 5 | Algebra II | Trigonometry / Mathematical Analysis | AP Calculus AB | Math Applications and Interpretations IB SL |
Prerequisites
Algebra II/Trigonometry Honors: Successful completion of Geometry with a grade of B or better
Mathematical Analysis/Calculus Honors: Successful completion of Algebra II/Trigonometry Honors with a grade of B or better
Math Applications and Interpretations SL*: B or better in Trigonometry/Math Analysis or
Mathematical Analysis/Calculus Honors or AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC: B or better in Mathematical Analysis/Calculus Honors
Mathematics IB HL2: B or better in AP Calculus BC
Mathematical Analysis/Calculus Honors: Successful completion of Algebra II/Trigonometry Honors with a grade of B or better
Math Applications and Interpretations SL*: B or better in Trigonometry/Math Analysis or
Mathematical Analysis/Calculus Honors or AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC: B or better in Mathematical Analysis/Calculus Honors
Mathematics IB HL2: B or better in AP Calculus BC
Group 6 – Arts and Electives
Students may choose an additional subject from Groups 2, 3, or 4 in place of a Group 6 subject.
Students may choose an additional subject from Groups 2, 3, or 4 in place of a Group 6 subject.
Music Options
| 9th Grade | 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade | |
| Standard Level Option 1 | Any Instrumental Music Performance Ensemble | Any Instrumental Music Performance Ensemble | Music IB SL | ------- |
| Standard Level Option 2 | Any Instrumental Music Performance Ensemble | Any Instrumental Music Performance Ensemble | Any Instrumental Music Performance Ensemble | Music IB SL |
| Higher Level | Any Instrumental Music Performance Ensemble | Any Instrumental Music Performance Ensemble | Music IB HL 1 | Music IB HL 2 |
Visual Arts Options
| 9th Grade or 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade | |
| Standard Level Option 1 | Fundamentals of Art | Visual Arts IB SL | ------- |
| Standard Level Option 2 | Fundamentals of Art | ------- | Visual Arts IB SL |
| Higher Level | Fundamentals of Art | Visual Arts IB HL 1 | Visual Arts IB HL 2 |
Theatre Option - HL only
| 9th Grade and/or 10th Grade | 11th Grade | 12th Grade |
| Beginning Drama | Theater Arts IB HL 1 | Theater Arts IB HL 2 |
Prerequisites
Theater Arts IB HL1/HL2: Instructor approval
Visual Arts IB SL/HL1/HL2: An A average in Fundamentals of Art and recommendation from the art teacher
Music IB SL: Successful completion of two years of high school music ensemble experience and instructor approval
Music IB HL1: Instructor approval
Music IB HL2: Grade of C or better in Music Theory AP and successful completion of two years of high school music ensemble experience and instructor approval
Visual Arts IB SL/HL1/HL2: An A average in Fundamentals of Art and recommendation from the art teacher
Music IB SL: Successful completion of two years of high school music ensemble experience and instructor approval
Music IB HL1: Instructor approval
Music IB HL2: Grade of C or better in Music Theory AP and successful completion of two years of high school music ensemble experience and instructor approval
