Switzerland Secondary II Geography

This section details the Geography curriculum in Switzerland at the Secondary II level, focusing on the Swiss Matura and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP).

Swiss Matura

The Swiss Matura is the national secondary school exit exam and diploma, granting access to Swiss universities. Geography is typically offered as a minor (supplementary) subject. Specific requirements vary by canton. The Matura aims to provide a broad education, with a focus on Swiss and European contexts.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP)

The IB DP is an internationally recognized pre-university course of study. Geography is one of the subjects offered within the Individuals and Societies group.

The IB DP Geography course integrates both physical and human geography, requiring students to develop skills in both scientific and social-scientific inquiry.

The syllabus is structured around a common core, optional geographic themes, and an HL core extension for Higher Level students. Key concepts include place, process, power, possibility, scale, and spatial interaction.

Curriculum Alignment and Differences

A 2015 study compared the IB DP Geography curriculum with cantonal curricula in Zurich and Geneva.

The study found a degree of overlap in topics such as the use of cartographic materials, diagrams, and graphs. However, the Swiss curricula, particularly in Zurich, tend to emphasize Swiss-specific topics like Alpine orogeny and national issues such as immigration, consumption, culture, and economy. Geneva's curriculum leans towards a global perspective, aligning more closely with the IB DP's global focus. However, the IB DP places greater emphasis on statistical analysis and empirical techniques, while Swiss curricula tend to focus more on the social dimensions of geography and its role in citizenship education.