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Turkey, Tarsus
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The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is offered at TAC and has been IB-authorized since 2004, with a focus on cultivating international-mindedness and university readiness. The program includes Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay, and the CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) requirement as core components. CAS engages students in activities across creativity, physical activity, and service, with examples spanning visual and performing arts, music, digital design, film-making, and community service. TAC also supports a broad array of co-curricular clubs that strengthen academic growth, including Debate, Model United Nations (MUN), ISTA, and European Youth Parliament.
Arts opportunities at TAC are supported by clubs and programs such as ISTA (International School Theater Association), Photography, Art, and Cinema & Creative Writing, with Turkish Theatre also featured. An Elite Artist Program launched in 2023 helps students develop skills in charcoal, oil, and acrylic painting and supports both group and personal exhibitions. Students participate in theatre productions and art exhibitions as part of school life, reinforcing creative practice across disciplines.
German-French Cooking is a TAC club that blends language and culture with culinary skill, and Turkish Theatre provides a platform for cultural performance. European Youth Parliament is another extracurricular offering that engages students in international discussions and cross-cultural exchange. These activities complement TAC's broader language and cultural learning environment by fostering intercultural understanding and practical language use.
A range of student-led media and arts activities populate TAC's social and hobby offerings, including TAC Live TV, TAC Radio, and Biz Letter/Magazine. Visual and performing arts are further represented through Photography, Art, Mythology, Mimesis, and Cinema & Creative Writing, alongside theatre and literary clubs. Sports and recreational groups also feature prominently, with options such as Destination & Imagination, TED-Ed, and traditional athletic activities.
Community service is a valued and integral part of TAC's culture, with students, teachers, and sometimes parents volunteering in various projects. Traditional activities include bookmobiles visiting villages, visits to elderly homes and hospitals, and work at animal shelters, in addition to launching new community initiatives. These service experiences are designed to improve quality of life for communities and help TAC students grow into world citizens who continue giving back beyond school years.
Leadership development is fostered through clubs such as the European Youth Parliament, the Youth Rotary Club (Interact), Debate, and MUN, among others. The school's broader messaging emphasizes a long history of developing leaders through both academic and extracurricular activities. These experiences build public speaking, teamwork, project management, and community leadership skills that prepare students for professional pursuits.
TAC provides extensive sports facilities, including a sports complex for fitness, pilates, basketball, tennis, volleyball, football, and table tennis, with an indoor sports hall available on both weekdays and weekends. The school also emphasizes athletic excellence through specialized programs, including an Elite Sports Program. These offerings support students' physical health and well-being as a core part of campus life.
Tarsus American College (TAC) is a private, coeducational day and boarding high school in Tarsus, Turkey, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alongside a Turkish national curriculum. Since 2004 TAC delivers the IB Diploma, and it remains the only IBDP school in the Mediterranean region. In grade 9 students decide whether to pursue the IB pathway from grade 10, completing grades 10–11 to receive both the national diploma and the IB diploma. The school teaches Turkish for language and social subjects, while core English, science and mathematics are taught in English; TAC Prep English provides an immersion year for incoming students. The campus includes green spaces, an indoor sports hall, and boarding for 140 students. The Korkut Beriker Library holds about 15,000 books and major databases, and CIS accreditation has been renewed through 2004–2024. An Elite Artist Program (2023) enriches visual and performing arts, with trips to NASA and CERN.
