Advanced Placement (AP): AP courses are college-level courses taught by instructors at Twin Cities Academy. A college-level exam given at the end of the year tests the students' knowledge of the AP subject. Exam scores can then be submitted to colleges and universities for college credit.
College in the Schools (CIS): Academically prepared and motivated students may earn college credits by taking University of Minnesota Twin Cities courses through the College in the Schools (CIS) program. CIS allows you to experience the pace and rigor of U of M courses taught at Twin Cities Academy by our own staff.
AP and CIS courses are only available to high school students.
Each course has their own prerequisites and grades allowed, see the course descriptions below for further information.
If you sign up for an AP course or CIS course, you will be required to sign an agreement that you understand the expectations.
Advanced Placement (AP): Postsecondary institutions may award college credit for an AP course based on the student's AP exam score. Each postsecondary institution has their own policies for awarding AP credit but students must take the AP exam to receive college credit. To search policies by AP course or postsecondary institution, click this link.
College in the Schools (CIS): If students pass a CIS course, they are awarded college credit by the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. These credits may transfer to other postsecondary institutions, although that decision is at the discretion of the postsecondary institution.
AP Calculus AB
Grades: 11-12 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit) Prerequisite: B- or above in Precalculus
AP Calculus AB is an introductory college-level calculus course. Students cultivate their understanding of differential and integral calculus through engaging with real-world problems represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally and using definitions and theorems to build arguments and justify conclusions as they explore concepts like change, limits, and the analysis of functions.
AP Biology
Grades: 11-12 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit) Prerequisite: B- or above in Biology
AP Biology is an introductory college-level Biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes – energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.
AP English Language and Composition
Grades: 11-12 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit) Prerequisite: B- or above in English
AP English Language and Composition is an introductory college-level composition course. Students cultivate their understanding of writing and rhetorical arguments through reading, analyzing, and writing texts as they explore topics like rhetorical situation, claims and evidence, reasoning and organization, and style.
AP Spanish Language and Culture
Grades: 9-12 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit) Prerequisite: Spanish IV or Teacher Approval
AP Spanish Language and Culture is equivalent to an intermediate level college course in Spanish. Students cultivate their understanding of Spanish language and culture by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations as they explore concepts related to family and communities, personal and public identities, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, contemporary life, and global challenges.
AP United States History
Grades: 9-12 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit) Prerequisite: B- or above in History this year
AP U.S. History is an introductory college-level U.S. history course. Students cultivate their understanding of U.S. history from c. 1491 CE to the present through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like American and national identity; work, exchange, and technology; geography and the environment; migration and settlement; politics and power; America in the world; American and regional culture; and social structures.
*Note: Students may take AP US History even if they have already taken US History - different content will be covered*
AP African American Studies
Grades: 10-12 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit) Prerequisite: B- or above in History this year
Offers a rich, source-based encounter with African American experiences. You’ll explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to contemporary challenges and achievements. Drawing from disciplines including history, literature, the arts, geography, science, and law, you’ll study the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans and members of Black communities within the broader context of the African diaspora.
Throughout the course, you’ll examine different themes from a variety of perspectives, ultimately choosing a topic of focus for your individual student project, where you’ll define a research topic and present your argument.
CIS Intermediate French I (FREN 1003)
Grades: 9-12 Length/Credits: Full Year (1.0 credit) Prerequisites: French IV or Teacher Approval
In this course students build on the interpersonal, interpretive and presentational skills developed in beginning French and on their knowledge and understanding of Francophone practices and products. Culture is taught through cultural readings and multimedia. FREN 1003 is a theme-based course. Themes addressed in this course include: French media and cinema, wellness and health, current French family, societal and global issues. The text, Deux Mondes, 7th ed., is accompanied by an electronic or paper workbook with a variety of practice activities. In the Deux Mondes textbook, students will work primarily with materials from Ch. 11 through Ch. 14. Students will also read the classic French novel, Le Petit Prince, by St. Exupéry. Since the majority of class time is devoted to communication activities, class attendance is fundamental. Expect an average of 1.5 hours of outside preparation for each class session hour.
CIS WRIT 1301: University Writing
Grades: 12th Grade Length/Credits: Semester 1 (0.5 credit) Prerequisites: B or above in English this year or Teacher Approval
WRIT 1301 introduces students to rhetorical principles that provide a framework for successful written communication in college and beyond. Students study and write in a variety of genres and disciplines and in multimodal forms (project based assignments that are written and digital.) The course focuses on writing as a way of knowing and learning to develop ideas through critical thinking, including analysis and synthesis. Based on the assumption that writing is a social activity, the course is a workshop format and requires active engagement in the writing process, including pre-writing, peer review, revision, and editing. With successful completion of the class you will earn 4 credits. If you attend the University of Minnesota this class fulfills the first year writing requirement.
CIS ENGL 1001W: Introduction to Literature: Poetry, Drama, Narrative
Grades: 12th Grade Length/Credits: Semester 2 (0.5 credit) Prerequisites: B or above in English this year or Teacher Approval
This is a writing-intensive course that also meets the Literature Core requirement. From epic battles against monsters in legendary kingdoms to stories about characters in worlds similar to our own, literature engages us with the diverse perspectives and experiences that make up our communities and world. ENGL 1001W introduces students to ways of understanding and appreciating literature in English across cultures and historical periods. Throughout this course, we will develop skills to help us understand literature, especially the ability to read language closely (a skill valuable in many disciplines beyond literature). We will explore how writers use language and literary aspects, such as genre, voice, tone, symbol, motif, theme, imagery, narrative, and form. We also will learn how to write about literature, sharing our interpretations of how and why literary works have meaning for ourselves and others, while viewing them through critical cultural lenses, including ways to understand how gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and class can function in literary texts.