AP Capstone Program

Homestead High School has been selected to offer the AP Capstone Program for our students. Our school qualified for selection based on our wide array of AP courses, the wide participation in these courses and the extremely high degree of success our students have on the AP exams.

AP Capstone is a program that offers students the opportunity to earn an additional diploma conferred by the College Board. Here is a description from the AP Capstone website:

AP Capstone™ is a diploma program from the College Board. It’s based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research

Rather than teaching subject-specific content, these courses develop students’ skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. Students who complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone awards, which are valued by colleges across the United States and around the world.

AP Capstone consists of two courses offered at Homestead: AP English Language and Seminar, a three-trimester course taken during junior year, and AP Research, a two-trimester course taken during senior year.

• AP English Language and Seminar is an outstanding course highly recommended for college-bound students. The skills developed in that course will serve the students well in college and beyond. Students may elect to take that course even if they do not choose to take AP Research during senior year.

• AP Research is an exciting opportunity to engage in high level real-world research in the student's chosen area of interest. Students will propose potential research questions during their junior year to be ready for this experience. Here is information about AP Research provided in the Homestead High School Course Guide:

  • 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 two-trimester investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills acquired in the AP English Language and Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skills development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process of 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. The AP Research teacher scores the paper and presentation/oral defense, with those scores ultimately creating the student’s AP exam score. This course does not have a traditional AP exam.

  • The subject of a student’s research question will determine the curricular area to which course credit will be assigned. For example, a student whose research question focuses on global terrorism will be awarded Social Studies credit for successful completion of the course and will have the course listed as “AP Research—Social Studies” on their transcript.

  • Before being allowed to enroll in AP Research, students must submit an application identifying their intended research topic, explaining their interest and background in the subject, and providing other relevant information. Students must also identify the coursework related to their research question that they have taken or will take concurrently with AP Research. The cross- disciplinary AP Capstone Team will review this information and make a determination regarding the student’s eligibility for the course.

Students at Homestead may qualify for one of two different certificates from the College Board; see the graphic below. Students interested in planning for participation in the AP Capstone Program should plan ahead to be ready for the experience. Your counselor and your TAG Coordinator can help in that planning.

Updated: 9/24/21