Academic Catalog 2024-25

International Baccalaureate Examinations (IB)

Dominican University of California accepts the International Baccalaureate Exam as the equivalent of a high school diploma.  Additionally, it recognizes the academic challenge and motivation inherent in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The University will grant transfer credit of lower division semester units for each Higher Level Subject examination passed with the indicated score or grade, often a 4 or higher, as indicated in the table below. No credit will be awarded for Standard Level passes. There is no limit to the number of IB or Advanced Placement (AP) exam credits that may apply to the CORE Curriculum requirements; however, no more than a total of 30 semester units of combined IB and/or AP credit may apply towards the bachelor's degree at Dominican.

The CORE Curriculum (CORE) requirements that may be met by IB examination are as indicated in the table below.  The codes for CORE requirements are as follows:

ACE: Artistic and Creative Expression

CKE: Civic Knowledge and Engagement

EL: Examined Life

PM: Purpose and Meaning

QL: Quantitative Literacy and Social Issues

SCI: Science for Global Citizens

SSHB: Social Science: Understanding Human Behavior

Students wishing to demonstrate content knowledge equivalent to a specific course at Dominican should submit syllabi from their IB courses for assessment by faculty in the specific disciplines. Pre-Nursing and Pre-Occupational Therapy students must submit syllabi from their IB courses both to the discipline in which the course is offered (e.g., Biology of Chemistry) and also the Nursing department.

    IB examinations that may meet CORE Curriculum Requirements

    IB Exam  Score Dominican Units DUC Units towards GE Dominican Units towards CORE Dominican  Adult Degree
    Completion GE
    Biology HL 5 4
    4 SCI NS*
    Chemistry HL 5 4 4 SCI* NS*
    Economics HL 5 4
    4
    CKE SS
    Geography HL 5 4 4
    None
    SS
    History (any region) HL 5 4
    4
    CKE
    SS
    Language A: Literature (any language) 4 4 0 None None
    Language A: Language and Literature (any language) HL 4 4 0 None None
    Mathematics HL 4 4 4
    QL MT
    Physics HL 5 4 4
    SCI*
    NS*
    Psychology HL 5 4 4 SSHB SS
    Theatre HL 4 6 3 None CA

    * IB exam credit awarded for Dominican science lecture courses also fulfills the required lab components.

    The matriculation requirement that may be met by IB examination credit is the International Language Competency requirement (IL), as indicated in the table below.

     

    IB Higher Level Exams Approved to meet the Matriculation Requirement: International Language Competency

    IB Exams DUC/CSU Score DUC Units
    Language A: Literature (any language, except English) HL 4 8
    Language A: Language and Literature (any language, except English) HL 4 8
    Language A: Language and Literature (any language) HL 4 8
    Language B: (any language) HL 4 8