AP/DC Course offerings
Welcome to Von Steuben's college-Level Course offerings
AP gives students the chance to tackle college-level work while they're still in high school—whether they're learning online or in the classroom. And through taking AP Exams, students can earn college credit and placement.
Click on the course images below for a video with more information!
ART
The AP Art and Design Program includes three different courses: AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing. In each course, you’ll investigate materials, processes, and ideas. You’ll make works of art and design by practicing, experimenting, and revising, and you will communicate your ideas about art and design through written and visual expression. -- VIDEO
ENGLISH
Learn about the elements of argument and composition as you develop your critical-reading and writing skills. You’ll read and analyze nonfiction works from various periods and write essays with different aims: for example, to explain an idea, argue a point, or persuade your reader of something. -- VIDEO
Learn how to understand and evaluate works of fiction, poetry, and drama from various periods and cultures. You’ll read literary works and write essays to explain and support your analysis of them. -- VIDEO
AP Seminar
Develop and practice the skills in research, collaboration, and communication that you’ll need in any academic discipline. You’ll investigate topics in a variety of subject areas, write research-based essays, and design and give presentations both individually and as part of a team. - VIDEO
AP Research
Build on what you learned in AP Seminar to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, you will design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation to address a research question.
MATHEMATICS
AP Calculus
Explore the concepts, methods, and applications of differential and integral calculus. You’ll work to understand the theoretical basis and solve problems by applying your knowledge and skills.
SCIENCE
AP Biology
Study the core scientific principles, theories, and processes that govern living organisms and biological systems. You’ll do hands-on laboratory work to investigate natural phenomena.
Explore and investigate the interrelationships of the natural world and analyze environmental problems, both natural and human-made. You’ll take part in laboratory investigations and field work. -- VIDEO
Explore concepts such as kinematics; Newton’s laws of motion, work, energy, and power; systems of particles and linear momentum; rotation; oscillations; and gravitation. You’ll do hands-on laboratory work and in-class activities to investigate phenomena and use calculus to solve problems. -- VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2, VIDEO 3, VIDEO 4
APCSP explores the creative, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and solution-oriented nature of computation and program development. Accordingly, students examine ethical considerations and the need for diversity in developing computing innovations. In addition, students study the importance of responsible computing and employ computational thinking practices in problem-solving processes. (More Info)
Social Studies
AP Human Geography
Explore how humans have understood, used, and changed the surface of Earth. You’ll use the tools and thinking processes of geographers to examine patterns of human population, migration, and land use.
AP Psychology
Explore the ideas, theories, and methods of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. You’ll examine the concepts of psychology through reading and discussion and you’ll analyze data from psychological research studies.
AP US Gov't & Politics
Study the key concepts and institutions of the political system and culture of the United States. You'll read, analyze, and discuss the U.S. Constitution and other documents as well as complete a research or applied civics project.
AP World History
Study the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have shaped the world from c. 1200 CE to the present. You’ll analyze texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence and write essays expressing historical arguments.
Study the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have shaped the United States from c. 1491 to the present. You’ll analyze texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence and write essays expressing historical arguments. -- VIDEO
WORLD LANGUAGES
AP Spanish Literature
Build your language skills and cultural knowledge by exploring works of literature written in Spanish. Using Spanish to communicate, you’ll read, analyze, discuss, and write about works by Spanish, Latin-American, and U.S. Hispanic authors of different periods.
Develop your Mandarin Chinese language skills and learn about Chinese culture. You’ll practice communicating in Chinese and you’ll engage with real-life materials such as newspaper articles, films, music, and books. VIDEO
Dual Credit Courses with Chicago City Colleges
DC ENGLISH 101/102
This course will develop critical and analytical skills in writing and reading expository prose. As appropriate to the discipline, writing assignments are part of the course. Students who complete the course with a grade of C or better will earn 3 college credits through the City Colleges of Chicago. VIDEO
DC MATH 140/143 COLLEGE ALGEBRA
College Algebra emphasizes the notion of a function as a unifying concept. The following families of functions and their characteristics are examined within this course: polynomial, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions. Additional topics will include solving inequalities and systems of nonlinear equations. Writing assignments, as appropriate to the discipline, are part of the course. Applications involving problem-solving skills will be emphasized throughout the course. As part of the City Colleges of Chicago, successful completion of course with a grade of C or higher will grant the student 4 college credits. VIDEO
DC SPANISH 101/102
This introductory college Spanish course is similar in standard and rigor to a high school level 4 World Language course. It is designed to develop practical communication skills in Spanish through the elementary development of the 3 modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational) while focusing on cultural beliefs, values, and aspects of everyday real-life experiences in the Spanish culture. In addition, this course focuses on basic and more advanced structures while developing speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Spanish through various activities, projects, and presentations as appropriate to this level of mastery. As part of the City Colleges of Chicago, completing the course with a grade of C or better will grant the student 4 college credits. VIDEO
DC HUMANITIES 201/202
DC Humanities intends to develop culturally aware students who will be well prepared for college-level material in the Liberal Arts and Sciences. This course includes the study of philosophy, history, religion and literature. The course will provide students with a philosophical foundation in the Greco-Roman traditions of Plato and Aristotle. By utilizing philosophical questioning, students are able to explore many controversial issues of the day as they try to understand their own place in the world. The course is teamed up with the Mikva Foundation and students are encouraged to participate in both the Soapbox Challenge and Issues to Action projects where they become active civic partners in the community. As part of the City Colleges of Chicago successful completion of this course with a grade of C or better will grant the student 3 college credits. Students are also expected to complete an in-depth research paper as a requirement for earning the dual credit. VIDEO