About the Course
Student Prerequisites
No prior computer science knowledge or experience is necessary. Algebra I is required; Algebra II is recommended.
Teacher Background
No prior computer science knowledge or experience is necessary
Students will learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant to today’s society, including art, media, and engineering. AP Computer Science A teaches object-oriented programming using the Java language and is meant to be the equivalent of a first semester, college-level course in computer science. It will emphasize problem solving and algorithm development, and use hands-on experiences and examples so that students can apply programming tools and solve complex problems.
This course will prepare students for the end-of-course AP Exam.
Curriculum
The AP Computer Science A course teaches fundamental programming topics that include problem solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing data (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and ethical and social implications of computing.
Term 1
Focus on the basic building blocks of computer science and programming tools. Topics include primitive and class data types, such as Strings and methods, control structures, and class design.
Unit 1: Primitive Types
Unit 2: Using Objects
Unit 3: Boolean Expressions and If Statements
Unit 4: Iteration
Unit 5: Writing Classes
Term 2
Learn how to manipulate data to create more sophisticated programs, with topics including class data types, such as arrays, ArrayList, and recursion, algorithm development and user-defined data types.
Unit 6: Array
Unit 7: ArrayList
Unit 8: 2D Array
Unit 9: Inheritance
Unit 10: Recursion
Unit 11: AP Exam Prep
What's included? Get everything you need to ensure students succeed in AP Computer Science.
Course materials
Our full-year curriculum includes video lessons and interactive activities and assessments.
Student forum
Students interact with their peers (both locally and around the world), and our course instructor and teaching assistants in a moderated, online forum.