Dartmouth High School AP Course Information
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AP Art History 12
AP Art History 12
Course Outline
Course Outline
The central questions in this course include: What is art and how is it made? Why and how does art change? How do we describe our thinking about art? Through these essential questions students will learn to effectively articulate an artworks’ meaning and function, its makers’ methods, and historical and cultural contexts. These learning experiences will focus on 250 specific artworks from a range of global, cultural, and historical contexts. Students will develop the critical-thinking and visual literacy skills to mine meaning from any artwork they encounter throughout life. This course strengthens students' analytical writing skills by exploring the language of art history, and the methods used by art historians to interpret art objects.
AP Chemistry 12
AP Chemistry 12
Course Outline
Course Outline
The AP Chemistry course provides students with a university-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry-based investigations, as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium.
AP Computer Science 12
AP Computer Science 12
Course Outline
Course Outline
AP Computer Science introduces students to computer science through programming. Fundamental topics in this course include the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems. The course emphasizes object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language.
AP English Literature 12
AP English Literature 12
Course Outline
Course Outline
The AP English Literature and Composition course focuses on reading, analyzing, and writing about imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from various periods. Students engage in close reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature to deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism. Writing assignments include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays that require students to analyze and interpret literary works.
AP Environmental Science 12
AP Environmental Science 12
Course Outline
Course Outline
The AP Environmental Science course is designed to engage students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.
AP Micro-Economics 12
AP Micro-Economics 12
Course Outline
Course Outline
AP Microeconomics is a university-level course that introduces students to the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers. The course also develops students’ familiarity with the operation of product and factor markets, distributions of income, market failure, and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts.
AP Psychology 12
AP Psychology 12
Course Outline
Course Outline
The AP Psychology course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatments of psychological disorders, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas.
AP Research 12
AP Research 12
Course Outline
Course Outline
(Note: AP Seminar is a prerequisite for AP Research. Completing AP Seminar and all its required assessment components is necessary for students to develop the skills to be successful in AP Research.)
AP Research, the second course in the AP Capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000–5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.
AP Seminar (English 11)
AP Seminar (English 11)
Course Outline
Course Outline
AP Seminar is a foundational course taken in grade 11 that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments.
Receiving University Credit for AP Courses: How it Works
Many universities offer credits that recognize the efforts of students who are enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school. Here are some local university examples of what your high school AP credits could mean for you:
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