The class follows the code.org curriculum and is intended to give students a broad understanding of computer technology as it touches on many different topics such as the internet, digital information, programming, and big data. There are no formal prerequisites for this course, though the College Board recommends that students have taken at least Algebra 1.
The curriculum itself does not assume any prior knowledge of computing concepts before entering the course. It is intended to be suitable as a first course in computing though students with a variety of backgrounds and prior experiences will also find the course engaging and with plenty of challenges. While it is increasingly likely that students entering this AP course in high school will have had some prior experience in computer science (particularly with programming), that experience is equally likely to be highly varied both in quantity and quality. It is for this reason that the course does not start with programming, but instead with material that is much more likely to put all students on a level playing field for the first few weeks of class.
Students completing this course should leave with a broadened understanding of computer science for use in diverse majors and careers. Those wanting to earn AP credit will submit one “through-course performance task” to the College Board for grading, and will take a multiple-choice end-of-year exam. This course is not a prerequisite for AP Computer Science A, but AP Computer Science A is the logical follow-up class for students inspired to study computer science more deeply after completing this class.