CAS
The CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) requirement takes seriously the importance of life outside the world of scholarship. The CAS requirement is met by participating in planned and supervised extracurricular activities related to the local community. Such participation is meant to encourage the appreciation of attitudes and values other than one's own. Students are expected to participate in CAS activities for at least three hours per week during two years and to complete self-evaluations reflecting on the benefits of CAS participation.
Creativity is interpreted broadly to
include a wide range of arts activities, as well as, the creativity
students demonstrate in designing and implementing service projects.
.
Action can include participation in individual
and team sports, as well as, taking part in expeditions or local
or international projects.
Service encompasses a large variety of community and wilderness service activities.
Community Service Program
 The Community Service Program works with local and regional service agencies to provide service-learning experiences in communities ranging from tiny villages to urban areas like Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
Wilderness Service Program
The Wilderness Service Program introduces all students to an appreciation of the backcountry and methods of experiencing the wilderness in a manner that least impacts it. The college is a member of the New Mexico State Search and Rescue Network, and students who pursue advanced training are eligible to be part of this Search and Rescue program. The training students undergo ensures that the college is able to respond to emergency situations. Students and faculty are intermittently involved in searches for people lost or injured in the wilderness.
 Students learn more than technical skills through Wilderness Service. Weekend expeditions in New Mexico's large wilderness areas teach them a great deal about themselves and others as they overcome difficulties presented by working and living in small groups in the backcountry. They learn valuable leadership skills and gain an appreciation of the potential inherent in groups of people when they work together toward a common goal.
Extended Essay
Diploma candidates are required to undertake research and
write an essay of 4,000 words. The Extended Essay is an independent
piece of research and writing by the student, under the direct supervision
of a qualified teacher of the school. This project offers the opportunity
to investigate a topic of special interest and acquaints students
with the kind of independent research and writing skills expected
at university.
Theory of Knowledge
This course is a required component of the IB diploma program. It enables students to critically examine their academic experiences at the school and to reflect on the knowledge they are acquiring. The course surveys several ways in which humans have acquired knowledge throughout the ages and evaluates the usefulness of these methods in a search for truth. Through this study, students are better able to examine their education and to discern the relative truth of various opinions, assertions and positions that cause conflicts between individuals and nations in the world. |
