Computer Science

(1.0 Credit; Prerequisite: Limited to 9th and 10th graders)

Honors Exploring Computer Science introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science in partnership with ECS: http://www.exploringcs.org/. The goal of Exploring Computer Science is to teach students the creative, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and problem-solving nature of computing in a way that is relevant to every student’s life and career interest. Students will delve into real-world issues in computing, from learning programming to discussing digital citizenship and the societal and ethical issues surrounding the use of computers in our lives. The course contains the following units: Human Computer Interaction, Problem Solving, Programming, and Data, and Engineering. The work in this course is highly interactive and project-based. It is not a math-based computer science course. This course is designed specifically for freshmen and sophomores and meets the CPS high school graduation requirement. Students interested in a computer science experience that does not require algebra, are encouraged to take Exploring Computer Science during their freshman or sophomore years. 

(1.0 Credit; Prerequisite: Algebra) 

This course is designed to be the equivalent of a first-semester introductory college computing course. In this course, students will develop computational thinking vital for success across all disciplines, such as computational tools to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. Students are encouraged to apply creative processes when developing computational artifacts and to think creatively while using computer software and other technology to explore questions that interest them. Students will develop communication and collaboration skills, working individually and in groups to solve problems. The course culminates in the Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles exam. This course meets the CPS high school graduation requirement. While no computer programming experience is required, students in AP CSP will work on programming tasks that require comfort with solving problems using algebra. Students interested in a computer science experience that does not require algebra, are encouraged to take Exploring Computer Science during their freshman or sophomore years. 

1.0 Credit; Prerequisite: AP CSP or department approval. Note: As of SY26, Honors Exploring Computer Science no longer  counts as a prerequisite for AP CSA)

AP CSA is the most rigorous CS course widely offered by the CS department, and emphasizes object-oriented programming (OOP) and design. This course prepares students to take the AP Computer Science A exam and covers topics typically found in a first semester college computer programming course. Students will learn how to problem solve and create software using the Java programming language. Course content is focused on learning the logic structures universal to most programming languages: loops, if statements, arrays, etc. Other topics include program design and implementation, algorithm analysis, and object-oriented programming design. This course is intended to serve both as an introductory course for computer science majors and for students who will major in disciplines that require significant involvement with computing. This course meets the CPS high school graduation requirements as long as students have also completed their Mathematics graduation requirements. 

(1.0 Credit; Prerequisite: Limited to Juniors and Seniors; one year participation in Robotics or department approval) 

Advanced Topics in Robotics is offered for juniors or seniors who have participated in robotics at Northside for at least one full year or who have department approval. Students will delve into advanced topics in robotics like autonomous movement, computer vision, and machine learning. Course work will be self-directed and largely project-based, under the approval and direction of a member of the Computer Science Department. This course will meet concurrently with another CS course. Placement is very limited. Students interested in registering for this course must first meet with Ms. Amy Wagner.