Advanced Placement Courses

Advanced Placement United States History

162

Grades 9, 10, 11, 12                               

Prerequisite:  Teacher recommendation and a minimum grade of an A in College Prep or B in Honors in his/her most recent, required Social Studies class.

Advanced Placement United States History is a two-semester college-level survey course in American political, economic and social history from pre-Columbian times to the present. Advanced skills requiring a critical analysis of reading, research and writing will be emphasized and developed, with the goal of preparing the student to succeed in post-secondary studies. To this end, considerable time is devoted to the critical analysis of primary and secondary sources in addition to extensive readings written on the collegiate level.  Major projects include research-based essays; document based and free response essays, as well as in-class discussions and debates. Students who complete this class will earn two weighted credits. In order to earn AP weighted credit, students must take the Advanced Placement examination in May. 

Additional information: Students may take AP United States History to satisfy the Civics requirement. 9th grade students must have teacher and administrator recommendation.

Advanced Placement World History

1631

Grades 11, 12

Prerequisite:  Teacher recommendation and a minimum grade of an A in College Prep or B in Honors in his/her most recent, required Social Studies class.

AP World History is a two-semester, college-level course exploring the history of the world from 1200 to present. Students will strive to understand historical events through six prominent themes: (1) Human-Environment Interaction (2) Cultural Developments, (3) Governance, (4) Economic Systems, and (5) Social Structures, and (6) Technological Innovations. Approximately equal weight is given to each theme. This course emphasizes the analytical and writing skills necessary for success in higher education. To this end, considerable time is devoted to the critical evaluation of primary and secondary sources, historical research, short essays, interactive activities, and the creation of a well-developed document-based question. While AP World History requires students to master selective factual knowledge, skills such as comparison and contrast, demonstrating change over time, and making connections between topics are far more prominent than memorizing detailed facts. Students will access many online resources, and are encouraged to use technology both within and outside the classroom. Students who complete this class will earn two weighted social studies credits, and may be eligible for college credit. In order to earn AP weighted credit, students must take the Advanced Placement examination in May. 

Additional information: Students may take AP World History to satisfy the Non-American History graduation requirement.

Advanced Placement United States Government

149

Grades 10, 11, 12                               

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation and a minimum grade of an A in College Prep or B in Honors in his/her most recent, required Social Studies class.

Advanced Placement United States Government is a one semester college-level survey course in American government, political and economic systems. The course will include components on comparative, state and local government systems. Advanced research and analytical thinking, reading and writing skills are emphasized and developed, with the goal of preparing the student to succeed in university studies. Major projects include research-based essays, debates, community events attendance and simulations. Students who complete this class will earn one weighted credit. In order to earn AP weighted credit, students must take the Advanced Placement examination in May.

Additional information: AP Government satisfies the “Civics and Government” Social Studies credit required for graduation. Students who complete AP Government are not eligible for the Civics and Government course.

Advanced Placement Comparative Government

1491

Grades 10, 11, 12                               

Prerequisite:  Teacher recommendation and a minimum grade of an A in College Prep or B in Honors in his/her most recent, required Social Studies class.

Advanced Placement Comparative Government is a one semester college-level survey course in comparative government and politics. The course includes a focused study on the governmental systems of the following nation states: China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and Russia. Advanced research and analytical thinking, reading and writing skills are emphasized and developed, with the goal of preparing the student to succeed in university studies. Major projects include research-based summer essay projects. Students who complete this class will earn one weighted credit. In order to earn AP weighted credit, students must take the Advanced Placement examination in May.

Advanced Placement Economics     

220

Grades 11, 12 (offered only in the spring semester)                                

Prerequisite:  Teacher recommendation and a minimum grade of an A in College Prep or B in Honors in his/her most recent, required Social Studies class.

AP Economics students will study a new way of thinking, understanding and explaining the world.  This one semester course will be offered in the spring semester, and will be the equivalent of an introductory college-level course in Microeconomics. AP Economics will prepare students for the AP Exam as well as for future study in business, economics, history, and political science. The course will focus on how individuals and businesses deal with scarcity and competition in the real world. We will also address how the government, as well as other factors, can affect these economic decisions. Students will learn why the same product costs different amounts at different stores, in different cities, and at different times. Through a variety of classroom lessons, activities and simulations, students will engage with the subject of economics, and leave the course more thoroughly prepared to succeed at the university level. In order to earn AP weighted credit, students must take the Advanced Placement examination in May.  

Advanced Placement Psychology     

221

Grades 11, 12

Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation and a minimum grade of an A in College Prep or B in Honors in his/her most recent, required Social Studies class.

Advanced Placement Psychology is a two-semester college-level course designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. This is the equivalent to an honors introductory college course in psychology.  This would be useful to students of all college majors as it is a requirement in any post-secondary education. The Medical College Entrance Exam (MCAT) now includes 1/3 questions pertaining to psychology and sociology. This course is especially useful to students on a health-science pathway (e.g. nursing). Students who enroll should be highly motivated and intellectually curious: There will be nightly readings from a college-level textbook and a rigorous course syllabus. Students who complete this class will earn two weighted credits. In order to earn AP weighting, students must take the AP exam in May.

Additional information:

1. This course has a summer project and rat laboratory ($25 fee), earning two credits.

2. Students who have completed or are taking AP Psychology are not eligible to enroll in Social Psychology. 

Advanced Placement Art History
1650
Grades 11, 12 (fall semester only)
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation and a minimum grade of an A in College Prep or B
in Honors in his/her most recent, required Social Studies class.
NOTE: Artistic skill or experience is not necessary to take this course. This is not a studio
art course, and does not emphasize the creation of art, but rather understanding world
history through the lens of art and culture.
AP Art History is a challenging, college-level survey course that combines both art and history. In addition to addressing questions about how and why art is made, and how we think about art from different times and places; a deeper understanding and appreciation of world history and global cultures will be developed. Students learn to effectively identify works of art and architecture, explaining their form, function, and historical context. We trace human artistic endeavors from prehistoric to contemporary art; studying, analyzing, and discussing a diverse set of at least 250 required works. We explore ancient through medieval civilizations, as well as art and cultures of Africa, Indigenous Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Islamic traditions. Our study of western art explores many eras from Renaissance to the 21st century. Works are studied in their social, political, and religious contexts, requiring regular reading, discussion and analysis. Students think critically, developing college-level writing skills to present evidence-based conclusions in an AP
essay format. In order to earn AP weighted credit, students must take the Advanced Placement examination in May.
Additional information: Students may take AP Art History to satisfy the Non-American
History graduation requirement.

AP Capstone Program 

AP Capstone ™ is an innovative diploma program from the College Board that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. AP Capstone is built on the foundation of two AP courses – AP Seminar and AP Research – and is designed to complement and enhance the in-depth, discipline-specific study experienced in other AP courses.

In AP Seminar students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives, gathering and analyzing information from various sources in order to develop credible and valid evidence-based arguments. 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. In AP Research, students cultivate the skills and discipline necessary to conduct independent research and inquiry in order to produce and defend their scholarly work. 

The AP Capstone program aims to empower students by

• engaging them with rigorous college-level curricula focused on the skills necessary for successful college completion;

• extending their abilities to synthesize information from multiple perspectives and apply skills in new situations and cross-curricular contexts;

• enabling them to collect and analyze information with accuracy and precision;

• cultivating their abilities to craft, communicate, and defend evidence-based arguments and 

• providing opportunities for them to practice disciplined and scholarly research skills while exploring relevant topics that appeal to their interests and curiosity.

AP Seminar 

1720

Grades 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite:  Teacher recommendation from a previous Honors and/or AP course

This semester-based AP course is a foundational course 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.

While concentrating first and foremost on research and writing methodology--especially critical review of professional scholarship--the theme of the AP Seminar course is "Technology, Society, and Change." The course will explore how people think about changing technology, how those thoughts affect the way society develops, and the challenges of predicting and imagining the impact of technology. It will consider the interaction of technology with social topics that will vary but may include: jobs and work; health, lifespan, and death; and the shape of cities and settlement patterns. Students will evaluate peer-reviewed articles, books, podcasts, interviews, speeches, non-profit organization websites, letters, film, music, and more. In short, this course is interdisciplinary. Students are expected to produce work that combines history, environmental science, biology, psychology, sociology, mathematics, American literature, ethics, communication arts, and world languages.

AP Research 

1722

Grades 11, 12

Prerequisite: Successful completion of AP Seminar

AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a yearlong investigation to address a research question. In the AP Research course, students further develop the skills 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 approximately 4,000–5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.