Computer Science has become a part of everything we do. Whatever field you are interested in, from art to medicine to business, you will be required to understand and use technology at a fundamental level. Learning Computer Science can help you to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills required to meet the demands of today's workforce.
In an effort to make recommendations for computer science courses more transparent, below you will find course descriptions, prerequisites. It is our intention to promote computer science to as many students as possible and not limit access to anyone. The courses we have available for the upcoming school year will not only provide students with a unique opportunity to test their abilities in a growing field where demand exceeds supply, but also aid students in their abilities to problem-solve in other curricular areas.
Grade: 10+
Prerequisite(s): Algebra 1 | No Programming Experience Necessary
Description: AP Computer Science Principles focuses more on computer science and less on programming. There is a programming component but the course is more about technology and innovation than anything else. The College Board has designed the course around “7 Big Ideas”: Creativity, Abstraction, Data and Information, Algorithms, Programming, The Internet, and Global Impact. This is meant to be an introductory class to computer science but with the rigors and expectations of an AP level course.
Grades: 11, 12
Prerequisite: Computer Science Principles
Description: The focus of AP Computer Science A is on software development and uses Java as the language. Students will be interacting with code every day, either writing it themselves, interpreting it, or using it for a specific purpose. This class walks through the fundamentals of program design and ends on higher order and abstract principles of programming, focusing on object-oriented programming.
Grades: 10+
Prerequisite: None
Description: The cyber security field is the fastest-growing career field today, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating that the field will grow more than 30% percent between now and 2026, offering some of the highest paying positions available in the country. This course serves as an introduction to this exciting world, where students will gain the competitive skills needed to analyze and secure applications, networks, and devices. This is not a "hacking" class, but we are looking at the ways that computers, programs, networks, and people are exploited by hackers and what we can do to prevent or minimize the damage caused by bad actors.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. We help each student excel. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service (including health) occupations.
Girls Who Code is on a mission to close the gender gap in technology and to change the image of what a programmer looks like and does.