Group 3: Individuals and Societies

Economics
Economics is all about wealth creation and its allocation in society, the costs to society and benefits to society as well as the adaptations that occur in this process.

The emphasis in the IB is global and international with economic evidence from around the world so that international perspectives are given to economic issues such as trade and developing countries, poverty, global warming and pollution as well as the interdependence of world economies. Economic theory studied is viewed from an international perspective rather than mainly UK.

There is an element of coursework. This is undertaken within the structure of lessons and over two years, you will write four commentaries as economic journalists. Real world news is investigated and commented on and you evaluate the extent that reality matches up with the economic theory that you are studying.

The IB economics course is very skills based with global practical applications for theory. These are readily transferable skills for life long learning. Standard Level is taught and assessed to the same depth of knowledge, analysis, application and evaluation as Higher Level with the omission of certain topics and a shorter final examination. 

The IB emphasis is globalisation and the fact that in today’s world production can be anywhere, using resources from anywhere, selling output anywhere and placing profits anywhere, whilst  A level requires specific knowledge of the UK economy and UK government economic policy.

Geography
Geography is by its nature international whether at A level or IB. The IB Geography syllabus is underpinned by a philosophy that seeks to promote intercultural understanding and respect, not as an alternative to a sense of cultural and national identity, but as an essential part of life in the 21st century. Whilst the topics covered at A level and IB are very similar, it is in the aim of the IB to develop caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect that the difference is made. It is this philosophy that gives the IB Geography course its coherence.

At the core of the IB Geography syllabus are the interrelated themes of population, resources and development; the latter encompassing concepts derived from both economic and quality-of-life principles. Accompanying the core is a series of options in physical geography, each stressing issues of human management and response. From a second series of options in human geography we address the concept of globalisation.

The AS/A2 AQA geography specification explicitly engages with the relationship of human populations to each other over space and time and their relationship with their physical environment at a variety of scales from the local to the global. The subject content follows an issues and impacts approach throughout.

All units offer opportunities for you to consider:

• their own roles, values and attitudes in relation to themes and issues being studied
• the roles, values and attitudes of others including decision makers

The assessment structure differs in that the IB includes a coursework element based on fieldwork (25% Higher Level and 20% Standard Level). This is a teacher directed piece of work, whereas AS and A2 have no coursework and the assessment is entirely examination based. The use of structured short and extended questions and essays is common to both. In addition the A2 has the Geographical Issue Evaluation, assessed by structured short and extended questions based on an Advance Information Booklet, pre-released on 1st April.

History
‘Studying IB history forces you to step outside the often familiar British and Nazi-Germany history and look at many varying political systems and cultures such as China, Russia and the Middle East. It's an exciting and stimulating course, involving a lot of group discussions, presentations as well as essays.’ 
IB History student, 2007

You will gain real breadth in your historical understanding, as well as depth: by studying European History over a lengthy period of time you will gain a real sense of detailed chronological developments, as well as being able to analyse patterns of change and turning points of historical significance. This means there is real ‘joined up’ history, instead of just studying modules of history in isolation.

IB essay questions encourage you to be comparative in your study of global history of the Twentieth Century. For example, in studying single party rulers you compare and contrast the impact that differing ideologies had on the ruled. You could be asked to evaluate the impact that both Communism and Fascism (in countries like China and Italy respectively) had on the changing role of women. You still need precise knowledge to illustrate your comparative answer, so there is plenty of depth to your studies. Overall the comparative approach makes it a stimulating, wide-ranging course.

The coursework allows you the freedom to study a historical event which particularly interests you, in greater depth. So if you have enjoyed studying Communism in China, this can be followed up. The coursework is manageable in its structure – the argument is developed into a number of very clearly defined sections. This means you can focus your time on pursuing some research in an area which is of personal interest. Some students have benefited from researching an aspect of international history relating to their family background, e.g. solidarity in Poland, civil war in Cyprus.

Philosophy
By studying Philosophy as part of the IB, you will be developing a philosophical approach and attitude rather than reproducing what you have read somewhere.

You will be thinking about philosophical and ethical problems and expressing your own ideas about them in a thoughtful way.

You will be mastering ideas by study of a text written by a philosopher and engaging critically with them and you will be rewarded for thinking independently.

Political Thought
In contrast to the A Level in Government & Politics, the IB course in Political Thought does not focus on institutions but on ideas. The course draws on some of the classic texts of political theory in order to introduce you to a range of political ideas.

Key concepts like freedom, rights, equality, justice and democracy remain at the heart of contemporary political debate, regardless of the different cultural perspectives that are brought to bear upon them. The course is based on the assumption that an appreciation of such concepts develops most effectively when you have first been introduced to the work of some 'classical' thinkers. With these building blocks in place, a deeper understanding can then be gained of contemporary issues and debates.

Psychology
Psychology at St. Helen’s is only available to IB students. It is the sum of the various approaches to understanding how the mind works, whether it is human or non-human. Then, again, do animals have minds?

• It is the only subject you will study that examines how the mind and personality not only work but grow and develop.
• It includes both scientific approaches and humanistic approaches to understanding issues as varied as perception, emotion, schizophrenia and depression.
• It is of immediate and direct relevance to you in understanding how your own mind works.
• We study the great psychologists of the past and present who created the basis for our present understanding of the human mind; from Freud to Zizek and Bandura.
• It is useful both for scientists to complement Biology and for Arts students to complement Literature. How many great authors were ‘normal’?

With IB Psychology you not only gain insight into yourself and others but into the wider world of literature and science.