What is Diploma Programme
After completing the Middle Years Programme (MYP) students enter Grade 11, where they can pursue any combination of three possible graduation tracks: the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP); the U.S. High School Diploma (HS); and the Bachillerato en Educación Media Diploma from the Costa Rican Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP).
The Diploma Programme (DP) aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
The DP is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising of Theory of knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the extended essay.
DP Core
Through the Diploma Programme (DP) core, students reflect on the nature of knowledge, complete independent research and undertake a project that often involves community service. There are 3 components to the core:
Theory of knowledge: students reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know.
The extended essay: is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.
Creativity, activity, service: students complete a project related to those three concepts.
6 subject areas
The Diploma Programme allows students to select subjects according to the academic profile of each student, and in relation to this, Pan American School, has been characterized by offering one of the widest subject menus in the country, allowing students to select subjects according to their profile or professional interests. In the 2023-2024 academic year we offer the following subject options:
