A photo of international flags flying on masts.

Individual and Societies

IB Global Politics Course Overview SL

The only IB-approved online course provider

About the course

Admissions process

Number of units

13

Number of lessons

116

Duration

2 years

Level

Standard


Overview

The IB Global Politics Standard Level (SL) course in Group 3: Individuals and Societies examines the complexities of global political systems and issues through a conceptual and contextual framework. The refreshed syllabus emphasizes four core concepts—power, equality, sustainability, and peace—integrated across prescribed content areas and thematic studies, encouraging analysis of current events, stakeholder perspectives, and global interconnections.

Delivered online by Pamoja, the course combines academic rigor with flexible, interactive learning. Students are guided by experienced IB teachers, to develop critical thinking, research skills, ethical reasoning, and effective communication. This prepares them well for university studies in international relations, law, diplomacy, public policy, journalism, and beyond. 


Course structure

The course covers the following topics: 

Year 1: 

  • Systems and interactions
  • Key concepts in global politics
  • Contested meanings of rights and justice
  • Interactions of political actors in rights and justice
  • Nature, practice and study of rights and justice
  • Debates on rights and justice 

Year 2:

  • Contested meanings of development and sustainability
  • Interactions of political actors and stakeholders
  • Nature, practice and study of development and sustainability
  • Contested meaning of peace and conflict
  • Nature, practice and study of peace and conflict
  • Debates on peace and conflict
  • Interconnections 

Benefits of the course

Taking IB Global Politics SL online will enable students to:

A smiling young man in a yellow shirt and headphones works on a laptop at a bright office desk with an apple and coffee, representing online learning for philosophy.

Why online?

Students will have the opportunity to:
  • Flexibility around other commitments
  • Chance for independence
  • Wide Pamoja support network

Some things won’t be different though. Standards and expectations will be just as high as in a face to face classroom.

A young woman in a denim jacket smiles brightly while holding an orange folder and discussing with two classmates on a sunny school campus.

Activities and assessment

Activities include discussions, written reflections, readings, shared case studies, and live lessons with a teacher.

Assessment:

External assessment (3 hours)

Paper 1 (1 hour 15 minutes):

Source-based paper that draws from the common SL and HL core topics. 

(25 marks) 

Paper 2 (1 hour 45 minutes):

Extended response paper based on the common SL and HL thematic studies. 

(30 marks) 

Internal assessment (25 hours)

Engagement project (25 hours)

This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.

Engagement with a political issue chosen by the candidate—this requires background research, planning, active engagement, and complementary research and reflection.

(24 marks)