Harris County High School’s Computer Science Academy (CSA) offers courses for students at any level of experience, from beginning to advanced. All CSA courses are described below. For an overview of the various curriculum options offered by the CSA, including all pathway and certificate programs, please see Pathways & Certificates.
Computer Science courses may be applied in the following manner for high school graduation and college acceptance by the University System of Georgia :
All courses may be applied as an Elective credit
AP Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science may be applied as a fourth Science credit.
AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer science may be applied as Foreign Language credit.
Please note each course may be applied to only one credit category.
This is the introductory course for all Information Technology pathways. This course covers the basics of hardware, software, networks, website design, and programming.
Offered every semester
Beginning with the 2022-23 academic year, this course will be replaced by either the Intro to Software course (Computer Science pathway or Intro to Hardware course (Cybersecurity pathway).
This is the second course in the IT pathway for Computer Science and is offered as an AP course. It introduces students to the foundations of modern computing to include programming, algorithms, the internet, big data, digital privacy, and cybersecurity.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Digital Technology or Introduction to Software Technology.
Offered in the fall semester
This is the AP Capstone course to complete the IT pathway for Computer Science. The course introduces students to fundamentals including computational problem solving, design strategy, methodology, organization of data, and the ethical implications of computing.
Prerequisite: Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science Principles
Offered in the spring semester
This is the second course in the IT pathway for Cybersecurity. It introduces students to the basics of information security and cybersecurity practices. This course prepares students to take the CompTIA Network+ certification exam.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Digital Technology or Introduction to Hardware Technology.
Course offered in the fall semester
This is the Capstone course to complete the IT pathway for Cybersecurity. The course explores malware threats, cryptography, organizational security, and wireless technologies. Students will take the CompTIA Security+ certification exam at the end of this course.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Cybersecurity.
Course offered in the spring semester