Diplomas Offered
QSI International School of Chisinau offers a secondary program that leads to a Secondary School Diploma. Most graduates of QSI schools attend a college or university upon completion of their studies. Previous graduates of the Quality Schools International educational system have been very successful in obtaining admission to colleges or universities of their choice.
Academic Diploma
This diploma is a college or university preparatory course of study. Students who satisfactorily complete this program should expect admission into an American college or university, or universities in other countries.
A total of 240 Credits (including electives) is required for this diploma.
Minimum Requirements by Department
English (80 credits)
- 20 – Literature (Literature I & II)
- 20 – Writing (I & II) or demonstrated competency
- 10 – American Literature
- 10 – British Literature
- 10 – Research Project
- 10 – Technology
Mathematics (30 credits)
- 10 – Algebra
- 10 – Geometry
- 10 – Mathematics elective
Science (30 credits)
- 10 – Biology
- 10 – Physical Science
- 10 – Science elective
Cultural Studies (40 credits)
- 10 – World Geography
- 10 – Modern World History
- 10 – US-History
- 5 – World Governments
- 5 – Economics
Personal Health (20 credits)
- 10 – Wellness
- 10 – Physical Education elective
Languages Other than English (20 credits)
- 20 in one language or demonstrated competencies in a second language
Creative and Applied Arts (10 credits required)
- These can be a collection of credits from secondary courses such as: Art I & II, Music, Photography, Drama, etc.
Academic Diploma with Honors
This is the most advanced diploma offered by Quality Schools International. Requirements are the same as The Academic Diploma but with the condition that the credits include at least two Advanced Placement (AP) courses (ten credits each) or at least two International Baccalaureate (higher level) courses.
A total of 240 credits (including electives) is required for this diploma.
General Diploma
This is available to students experiencing time restraints or other challenges that make it impractical to pursue an academic diploma. It is only available to students who are in their fourth year of secondary studies or who will turn 18 years old no later than 30 October following their graduation. This diploma is designed for students requiring a sound general secondary education.
A total of 220 credits (including electives) is required for this diploma.
Minimum Requirements by Department
English (50 credits)
- 20 – Literature (Literature I & II)
- 20 – Writing (I & II) or demonstrated competency
- 10 – Technology
Mathematics (20 credits)
- 10 – Algebra
- 10 – Mathematics elective
Science (20 credits)
- 10 – Biology OR Microbiology / Environmental Science
- 10 – Physical Science OR Science Applications
Cultural Studies (30 credits)
- 10 – World Geography
- 10 – Modern World History
- 10 – Cultural Studies electives
Personal Health (20 credits)
- 10 – Wellness
- 10 – Physical Education elective
Languages Other than English (20 credits)
- 20 in one language or demonstrated competencies in a second language.
Creative and Applied Arts (10 credits required)
- Ten units of credit will be required in the area of Creative and Applied Arts. These ten units can be a collection of credits from secondary courses such as: Art I & II, Music, Photography, Drama, etc.
Substitutions
Substitutions for required courses are possible within certain limits. Courses which can be used this way are listed in the Advanced Placement (AP) Program Policy (See I.C.2.d.i). International Baccalaureate (IB) courses for schools with an IB Diploma Program that meet or exceed the level of the course to be substituted may also be used as substitutes.
Cultural Studies Requirement
A substitution change takes place in the Cultural Studies requirements for students engaged in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. For an IB student to fulfill the QSI Academic or Academic with Honors Diploma program, the student will now be required to select a two-year IB Cultural Studies course (IB group 3) to meet the QSI requirement of USA History, World Government, and Economics. To be eligible for the QSI Cultural Studies graduation requirement substitution the student must:
- Be engaged in successful completion of the IB Diploma Program (based on IB requirements).
- Take QSI Economics E01 Investment Unit from the QSI Economics course.
This decision will allow for an IB student engaged in the IB Diploma Program to complete all the IB Diploma Program course requirements without an overwhelming challenge of having to fit in two additional QSI Cultural Studies courses within the student’s Secondary III and IV years.
The QSI/IB Cultural Studies graduation requirement will NOT apply for an IB student engaged in the individual IB course certificate program. A student engaged in an IB certificate course must meet all the QSI Cultural Studies requirements for the Academic or Academic with Honors diplomas currently required.
Waivers
Languages Other than English (LOE) Requirement
To qualify for a QSI secondary graduation diploma, each student is required to attain mastery of at least twenty unit outcomes (in the same language) in the Languages Other than English program. Mastery of two years of the student’s native language other than English, at the secondary level, can also meet this requirement. The Languages Other than English (LOE) requirement may be waived if a student can meet one of the following criteria:
- The student is able to provide documentation of competency equal to year II (secondary level) of the student’s native language other than English.
- The student was placed in Intensive English classes during any part of their secondary enrollment in a QSI school.
Waiver of the requirement will mean the student has not earned the 20 Language credits towards graduation and will need to take other elective courses to insure the necessary total credits requirement for QSI school graduation. Native language waiver documentation needs to be placed in the student’s permanent records.