Computer Science

Recommended Placement:  Students with no prior coding experience.

Advanced Placement

Credits: 10

College Prep Course

AP Computer Science Principles is a full-year course that introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and explores the impact computing and technology have on our society. The course covers a broad range of foundational topics including: programming, algorithms, the Internet, big data, digital privacy and security, and the societal impacts of computing. Computer Science Principles will give students the opportunity to use current technologies to solve problems and create meaningful computational artifacts. Successful completion of this course builds a strong foundation for students to continue to AP Computer Science A. This course fulfills the “D” requirement in the A-G UC admissions. This course is part of the information and communication technologies industry sector pathway. 

Recommended Placement: Math II or higher with a grade of B or better or Completion of ECS 

Advanced Placement

Credits: 10 (Weighted) College Prep Course

The curriculum is aligned to the CA CTE Model Curriculum Standards and Career Ready Standards for the Sector Information and Communication Technologies and Software & Systems career pathway.  AP Computer Science is a college level course that covers the design, development, testing, and debugging of computer programs using JAVA programming language. The course is designed to serve as a first course in computer science for students with no prior computing experience. Emphasis will be placed on the study of JAVA syntax, object-oriented programming, problem solving, and algorithmic development. This course will prepare students for the College Board’s Advanced Placement Computer Science A examination.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand the advantages of a compiled language

• Understand basic program structure, JAVA syntax, and organization

• Use the classes and methods located in the JAVA library

• Design programs using object oriented design

• Write JAVA programs using arrays, array lists, two dimensional arrays, classes and objects

• Write programs involving recursion

• Write programs using advanced sorting and searching techniques