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2023-2024 Course Catalog
Make this academic year a chance to change your life! To increase your chances of getting into your dream institution, get one class ahead.
Complete a requirement. Enroll in an honors course. Correct a poor grade.
Gaining credits for high school in middle school. Take advantage of the academic year.
Gaining credits for high school in middle school. Take advantage of the academic year.
Social Science
Social science classes at Happy Academy are specifically designed to test students’ reading, speaking, and critical thinking abilities. As students build their education toward interdisciplinary subjects, they are a potent supplement to any student’s course of study. The most intriguing college prospects are those who have an education in their field of competence as well as an awareness of how the world and its people function, regardless of whether a student plans to pursue engineering or liberal arts.
This year-long course is made up of two semester-long courses called AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics. The science of economics clarifies how the world allocates resources for distribution, consumption, and production. Pupils leave knowing how markets operate on both a large and local scale, the purpose of governmental policy, and the justification for personal choices.
Human geography is the study of how people spatially organize society, having implications for language influence, economic development, political maneuvering, identity construction, and religious development. In order to help students prepare for advanced social science courses and other multidisciplinary subjects, we advise them to take this course. Any student should take AP Human Geography because it is a strong entry-level AP subject and qualifies as a 4th year Social Science course for college applications.
A college-level survey of several ideas relating to human behavior is covered in AP Psychology. The ability to identify biological, cognitive, and social elements that influence both internal mental processes and exterior behaviors is expected of students. These ideas are related to actual situations, experiments, ongoing research, and students’ daily lives. We strongly advise students to include this lesson in their course of study because it is applicable to a wide range of backgrounds.
Understanding the origins, nature, and effects of the African American experience and how it has impacted the world, the United States, and the African American community is the goal of this African American studies course. Beginning with Africa, the cradle of humanity and civilization, the study of that experience will be extended to black history in America. Although it is hard to cover every aspect of the voyage, our analysis will take an interdisciplinary approach to look at some of the political, cultural, economic, artistic, and social issues that highlight how African American realities have been constructed both historically and today. Lectures, discussions, exercises, movie screenings, media, and textual analysis will all be included in the class sessions.
This is a year-long course, designed, to begin with, the Renaissance in Western Europe and proceed through the Cold War. Given the current revolutionary atmosphere pervading the world, this class will view its topics through the lens of revolution. Students will begin the year by creating their own definition of what a revolution is, and end the year reflecting on whether they need to change their initial belief. The design emphasizes the relationship between global events as well as the interconnectedness of belief, political, social, and economic systems, as well as other elements of culture including technology, conflict, environment, and modes of expression. The course will approach topics from a global perspective and will devote some time to both current events and geography.
As they investigate ideas like the interaction of Europe and the world, economic and commercial developments, cultural and intellectual developments, states and other institutions of power, social organization and development, national and European identity, technological and scientific innovation, and more, students develop their understanding of European history by analyzing historical sources, learning to draw connections, and crafting historical arguments.
This is a year long course designed primarily to present students with historical information that will allow them to form their own judgments, opinions, and perspectives of the history of the United States. This course will look through the lens of how the United States has become a deeply politicized nation. The course material asks students to examine the present by looking at the political, social, and economic forces that have shaped the past. The course will begin with the exploration of the continent and go on through the nation’s involvement in World War II, with a constant awareness of connections to current events.
AP European History is a college-level introductory course in European history. Students develop their understanding of European history by analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and construct historical arguments as they investigate concepts such as Europe’s interaction with the rest of the world, economic and commercial developments, cultural and intellectual developments, states and other institutions of power, social organization and development, national and European identity, and technological and scientific innovation.
The AP U.S. History course focuses on developing students understanding of American history from approximately 1491 to the present. The course has students investigate the content of U.S. history for significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods, and develop and use the same thinking skills and methods (analyzing primary and secondary sources, making historical comparisons, chronological reasoning, and argumentation) employed by historians when they study the past. The course also provides seven themes (American and national identity; migration and settlement; politics and power; work, exchange, and technology; America in the world; geography and the environment; culture and society) that students explore throughout the course to make connections among historical developments in different times and places.
This is a college level course is an intensive analysis of religions as cultural systems. The modern interpretation of religious ideas in the major religions of the world will be discussed, emphasizing the contributions each has made to the cultural development of humankind in fields like human rights, globalization, politics, science, art, sports, entertainment and etc. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and more religions will be studied. This course will examine the relationship between religions and human society, with the intention of seeing how religion has impacted society. This course’s work will be focused on research assignments, university writing assignments, class presentations, and group discussions.
English
The English program at Happy Academy concentrates on the development of four integral skills, which are essential for succeeding across the curriculum: reading, written communication, oral communication, and critical thinking. Students are required to actively participate in lessons through discussions, writing in and out of class, note taking during lectures, and group projects. At the start of each semester, teachers provide a syllabus with guidelines regarding homework, quizzes and tests, paper formatting, deadlines and other information for each class.
The English program at Happy Academy concentrates on the development of four integral skills, which are key to succeeding across the curriculum: reading, written communication, oral communication, and critical thinking. In this class students will be introduced to literary movements and how they are characterized (typically we begin with the Gothic, reading poems, short stories, and a novel). This year we will read We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. We also cover Greek mythology and drama, which introduces students to key concepts in western culture and literature.
The English program at Happy Academy concentrates on the development of four integral skills, which are key to succeeding across the curriculum: reading, written communication, oral communication, and critical thinking. In this class, students will read a variety of literary genres with a focus on the theme of Imperialism. We read a variety of short texts, poems, nonfiction, and a novel, typically Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe.
The goal of this class is to read fiction, poetry, and essays that will be challenging but not overwhelming to the average high school junior. These works will come from a range of countries and cultures and will be very different in style and content. In addition to a literary approach, some works will be examined in a historical and social context to shed light on the author’s ideas. Students will also write several papers, each completed only after it has gone through multiple drafts. Students will be expected to participate in discussions regardless of their level of spoken English.
The goal of this class is to read fiction, poetry, and essays that will be challenging but not overwhelming to the average high school senior. These works will come from a range of countries and will be very different in style and content. In addition to a literary approach, some works will be examined in a historical and social context to shed light on the author’s ideas. Students will also write several papers, each completed only after it has gone through multiple drafts. Students will be expected to participate in discussions regardless of their level of spoken English.
This course is designed to reinforce cross-‐disciplinary standards and to provide the tools necessary for student success through a well-‐developed curriculum. The focus will be on key cognitive skills, foundational skills, organizational skills, and time-‐management. Students will learn several strategies to improve reading, writing, mathematics, test-‐taking, note-‐making, research, computer, and study skills
This class is by invitation of the teacher. Students who take this class must be willing to work hard, keep to deadlines, and be open to difficult texts that even college students would find challenging. Students who do not meet the requirements will be swiftly transferred to English IV.The purpose of this course is to teach students how they can use literature to think about ethics, justice, morality, and mortality. We will look at literary characters and societies as they make moral and ethical choices. The job of the student will be to understand the philosophical and religious basis of morality and use that as a tool to evaluate the literature they read, their own actions and ideas, and the make-‐up of Western society in which they live. In this course, we will examine the worldviews of various authors to begin to comprehend the choices and dialogue of their characters. We will also study how the characters’ actions affect family and society at large.
Introductory college-level course to American Sign Language (ASL) with a focus on signing, receptive skills, numbers, fingerspelling, signing parameters, and glossing. Historical and cultural introduction to deafness. Emphasis is placed on the development of ASL expressive and receptive skills. Students will utilize interactive media and work in group environments to develop their comprehension and practice their vocabulary. Homework will include, but is not limited to, attendance, participation, workbook, and video assignments.
Mathematics
Knowledge of mathematics and a familiarity with its applications are essential in today’s changing world. Selection of the correct course sequence is the single most important factor for success in mathematics at the high school level. The courses offered are designed to serve students with differing abilities, interests, and career aspirations and to enable students to experience success in mathematics.
Algebra I introduces various topics that comprise elementary algebra. Students not only acquire important algebraic skills to simplify problems and solve equations, but they also gain an understanding of the concepts that lie at the heart of algebraic manipulations. In so doing, this course directly prepares the student for the questions concerning algebra on the mathematics sections of the SAT and ACT exams, as well as providing a solid foundation on which to build in subsequent mathematics courses such as Geometry, Algebra II and Trigonometry. Major topics include the algebraic modeling of real life problems, solving and graphing equations and inequalities; systems of equations; ratios and proportions; properties and use of exponents; mathematical modeling using functions, tables and graphs; number patterns, counting methods and permutations; polynomials and factoring; radical expressions and equations
This is a one-year college prep course that meets state graduation requirements. This course includes the following topics: An overview of functions (linear, quadratic and exponential) in function form, graphs, and tables; Linear equations and inequalities in one and two variables; Geometric constructions; Congruence and rigid motions; Geometric relationships and properties of triangles, parallel lines, quadrilaterals and circles; Analyzing and interpreting data in one and two variables.
This one year course reinforces and extends the mathematical foundation established in an Algebra I course. It offers an in-‐depth investigation of the topics of a yearlong course in Geometry while revisiting numerous algebraic topics from a geometric perspective. Semester One is devoted to a study of basic principles, reasoning and proof, parallel and perpendicular lines, congruent triangle theory, and special relationships within triangles. Important theorems from semester one include the isosceles triangle theorem, and the proof that all triangles have angles whose sum is 180 degrees.Semester Two is devoted to a study of quadrilaterals, area, perimeter, and circumference, similarity theory and right triangle trigonometry. Major objectives of this course are a thorough understanding of mathematical topics as tested in both the SAT and the ACT. By the end of this course a student will have, among other things, complete familiarity with the x-‐y plane, facility with the Pythagorean Theorem, and the ability to find measurements indirectly using trigonometry and a calculator.
This is a one year college prep course that meets state graduation requirements. This course includes the following topics: Similarity; Coordinate geometry; Trigonometric ratios; Quadratic functions; Quadratic equations; Probability.
Prerequisite: Integrated Math 1/Algebra 1
This course reviews and extends the mathematical investigations of the previous two courses into the study of function theory, trigonometry, systems of equations and inequalities, and exponential and logarithmic functions. It constitutes the third-year course in the Mathematics Department Syllabus progression.
Prerequisite: Algebra I and Geometry.
The following units will be covered in Integrated Math 3: Statistics (Random Processes), Circles and Conics, Trigonometric Functions, Exponential Functions, Functions Capstone, Rational and Polynomial Expressions. This course will complete the 3-year Integrated Math series and includes remaining High School Common Core Math Standards that are not covered in Integrated Math 1 and Integrated Math 2.
Prerequisites: Integrated Math 2/Geometry Co-requisites: Integrated Math 2 equivalent (from middle school)
This course is designed for students who are interested in pursuing STEM fields in college. This course is an enhanced course and not an honors course and will cover topics above the Integrated Math 3 course, including vectors, complex numbers and advanced trigonometric function analysis. The following units will be covered in Integrated Math 3 STEM: Statistics (Random Processes), Circles and Conics, Trigonometric Functions, Vectors, Exponential Functions, Functions Capstone, Rational and Polynomial Expressions. This course will complete the 3-year Integrated Math series and includes the remaining High School Common Core Math Standards and a variety of the “plus” standards that are not covered in Integrated Math 1 and Integrated Math 2.
Prerequisites: Integrated Math 2/Geometry Co-requisites: Integrated Math 2 equivalent (from middle school)
This one semester elective is designed to introduce students to the environmental science aspect of ecology. A basic understanding of general biological processes such as photosynthesis and nutrient cycling is helpful, but not required. Topics covered throughout the semester include: analysis of biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems; nutrient and energy cycling; food chains and food webs; the atmosphere; the greenhouse effect and global warming; water and air pollution; land use; food; waste; biodiversity and sustainability. Through participation in labs performed in class, students will acquire reasoning skills necessary in understanding and conducting scientific investigations, reinforce the topic currently being studied and develop skills in organizing information, making observations, recording scientific data and preparing lab reports.
This course is a rigorous one year introduction to the major topics of Precalculus. Students will learn about topics that are beyond the scope of both Algebra II and Trigonometry, but which are necessary to understand Calculus. This course is recommended for any student who is interested and proficient in mathematics and wishes to expand and extend his/her knowledge in this area by pursuing the subject beyond the framework of the basic algebra and geometry course offerings.
Prerequisite: Algebra II/Trigonometry (or permission of the instructor).
This course is designed for students who have a strong background in Precalculus, including equation theory and trigonometry, and wish to continue their study of higher-‐level mathematics as well as take the AP Calculus AB exam in May. As such, this course is aimed at students who are hard workers and are looking for a challenge. Topics covered in past years include: functions, limits, differentiation, logarithmic & exponential functions, applications of differentiation, integration, applications of integration, and further techniques of integration. There is a heavy emphasis on problem-‐solving, particularly in the form of word problems.
Prerequisite: Precalculus (or permission of the instructor).
Calculus BC is an extension of Calculus AB rather than an enhancement; common topics require a similar depth of understanding. Both courses are intended to be challenging and demanding. Broad concepts and widely applicable methods are emphasized. The focus of the courses is neither manipulation nor memorization of an extensive taxonomy of functions, curves, theorems or problem types. Thus, although facility with manipulation and computational competence are important outcomes, they are not the core of these courses. Using the unifying themes of derivatives, integrals, limits, approximation, and applications and modeling, the course becomes a cohesive whole rather than a collection of unrelated topics. These themes are developed using all the functions listed in the.
Prerequisite: Calculus AB, Advanced Placement
The AP Statistics course lends itself naturally to a mode of teaching that engages students in constructing their own knowledge. For example, students working individually or in small groups can plan and perform data collection and analyses where the teacher serves in the role of a consultant, rather than a director. This approach gives students ample opportunity to think through problems, make decisions and share questions and conclusions with other students as well as with the teacher. Important components of the course should include the use of technology, projects and laboratories, cooperative group problem- solving, and writing, as a part of concept-oriented instruction and assessment. This approach to teaching AP Statistics will allow students to build interdisciplinary connections with other subjects and with their world outside school.
Prerequisite: Integrated Math 3, Integrated Math 3 STEM
This elective in Mathematics reinforces and extends the mathematical foundation comes from a year’s study of both Algebra and Geometry. One aim of Finite Mathematics is to strengthen a student’s basic mathematical skills in accordance with the standards of the NYS Mathematics Regents. A second basic aim is to enrich the student’s mathematical foundation with explorations of topics such as prime number theory, set theory, abstract group theory, and number theory which are not generally taught within the confines of syllabus math courses. Finite Mathematics is both practical in its emphasis on review, and interesting in its varied selection of intriguing mathematical topics.
Lab Sciences
The science program is designed to surpass the National Science Education Standard requirement of achieving scientific literacy. While the goal is to challenge students and provide an appropriate foundation for further studies and careers in science, the content is structured to foster positive attitudes toward science and increase student understanding of scientific knowledge, processes and technology.
Biology is an exciting and rapidly growing field of study. This one year course is an introduction to the biological sciences. Students will develop a greater understanding of the fundamental principles of living organisms including cell structure and function, animal behavior, genetics and heredity, evolution and classification, diversity of living organisms, and plant and animal structure and function. Laboratory periods are used to reinforce the topic currently being considered and to develop necessary process skills and reasoning ability required in scientific inquiry and investigations.
This yearlong lab course prepares students for the AP Biology examination as well as the SAT Subject Test in biology. Included in this course are biochemistry, cytology and cellular energy transformations, taxonomy, ecology and population dynamics and molecular genetics, heredity and evolution.
The objective of this course is to develop a working knowledge of many fundamental aspects of modern chemistry, including: chemical symbols, nomenclature and formulas, manipulation of equations, stoichiometry, aqueous solution chemistry, acids and bases, the periodic table, theories of chemical bonding, thermochemistry, atomic theory, gas laws and the states of matter. Laboratory periods are used to reinforce the topic currently being considered and allow students to acquire reasoning skills for scientific investigations.
Pre-‐requisite: successful completion or concurrent enrollment in Algebra II/Trigonometry.
The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year. For some students, this course enables them to undertake, in their first year, second-year work in the chemistry sequence at their institution or to register in courses in other fields where general Chemistry is required.
Prerequisite: Chemistry is required; completion or concurrent enrollment in IM3 STEM or Higher Math.
This course is a one year introduction to the major topics of physics. You will learn about the dynamic relationships between matter and energy. Modern applications of the preceding principles will be emphasized. To fully understand and apply physical principles, you should have a thorough grasp of algebra-‐based problem solving skills.
Physics I, Advanced Placement is part of the college board’s redesign of Physics B, Advanced Placement, currently an approved AP course in our district. The Physics I, Advanced Placement course is equivalent to a first-semester college course in algebra-based physics. The course covers Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum), work, energy, power and mechanical waves and sound. It will also introduce electric circuits.
Prerequisite: Completion of Integrated Math 2 or higher math with a grade B or better. Enrollment in Integrated Math 3 STEM or higher.
Physics 2, Advanced Placement is the second course in the College Board’s redesigned algebra based introductory college level physics course. It follows the currently approved AP Physics 1 course. Students explore the principles of fluids, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, advanced electrical circuits, physical and geometric optics, and a variety of modern physics topics such as quantum mechanics, atomic physics and nuclear physics. Continuing the focus on inquiry-based learning fostered in AP Physics 1 students will continue to develop their scientific critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Prerequisite: AP Physics 1 or Physics/Physics Honors Co-Requisites: Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, Integrated Math 3 STEM or higher math
This one semester elective is designed to introduce students to the environmental science aspect of ecology. A basic understanding of general biological processes such as photosynthesis and nutrient cycling is helpful, but not required. Topics covered throughout the semester include: analysis of biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems; nutrient and energy cycling; food chains and food webs; the atmosphere; the greenhouse effect and global warming; water and air pollution; land use; food; waste; biodiversity and sustainability. Through participation in labs performed in class, students will acquire reasoning skills necessary in understanding and conducting scientific investigations, reinforce the topic currently being studied and develop skills in organizing information, making observations, recording scientific data and preparing lab reports.
World Languages
At the end of this course, students will be able to hold a basic conversation and make simple requests similar to the ones found in a traveler’s language guide. They will be able to introduce themselves, give information about themselves, order a meal in a restaurant, shop, count money, ask for directions, and seek medical care. And last but not least, make friends.
The objective of Spanish II is to obtain proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the target language. In addition, students will acquire a firm linguistic base, which is the foundation of effective communication and meaningful language proficiency. To develop a more concise world-‐view, students will learn to situate the language within the context of the contemporary Spanish–speaking world and its cultures. The emphasis in this course sequence is to actively apply the fundamentals that were introduced in the preliminary Spanish course (Spanish I). Students will develop their communication skills by learning to express complex thoughts and ideas. Among the verb forms studied are the present, the imperfect, the subjunctive, the reflexive, the imperative, the future, the future perfect, and the conditional. To facilitate thinking in the target language in an abstract manner, a variety of literary texts are read and discussed. In addition, specific attention will be paid to correct pronunciation and diction.
Prerequisite: Spanish I.
Prerequisite: Spanish I.
The objective of Spanish III is to refine listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the target language. In addition, students will strengthen and expand their linguistic base, thus enhancing the foundation of effective communication and meaningful language proficiency. Students will continue to learn to situate the language within the context of the contemporary Spanish–speaking world and its cultures. The emphasis in this course sequence is to actively apply the fundamentals that were introduced in the primary and secondary Spanish courses (Spanish I and Spanish II). Students will develop their communication skills by learning to express complex thoughts and ideas. Written assignments of a more substantial length will afford students the opportunity to write in a more academic manner. Among the verb forms reviewed are the present, the imperfect, the preterit, the reflexive, the imperative, the future, the future perfect, the conditional, the present perfect, and the subjunctive and imperfect subjunctive. Students will learn grammar within the context of various authors, such as Ana María Matute, Horacio Quiroga, and Luis C. Infante. The literary context in which students encounter the language will allow them to think critically about the ideas and situations presented by the authors. In addition, specific attention will be paid to correct pronunciation and diction, and the subtle nuances of spoken language.
Prerequisite: Spanish II.
The objective of Spanish IV is to further the communication skills acquired in Spanish III, with the aim of language proficiency. The course includes extensive oral expression. Authentic audio and video recordings as well as native Spanish speakers are accessed to improve comprehension and conversation. Reading selections from authentic materials and selected Hispanic literature are read for comprehension. Discussion, debate, projects, compositions, and other directed writings demonstrate understanding of the culture and the complexities of the language and vocabulary. The majority of the course is conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: Spanish III.
Prerequisite: Spanish III.
French 1 students are introduced to basic structures and vocabulary dealing with everyday situations that enable them to communicate effectively in French at a basic level. Students start developing all five communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural awareness.
French 2 students continue their study of the five communication skills: Listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural awareness of French. Students can understand simple questions related to personal interests and to initiate simple conversations. They develop the ability to read short texts and write short paragraphs dealing with everyday life.
Prerequisite: French 1.
Prerequisite: French 1.
French 3 students expand upon and enrich the base of knowledge acquired in French 1 and 2. As students enter the intermediate level of language proficiency, they learn to discuss and write about personal experiences and their lives at home and school. They learn to communicate their needs using more complex verb tenses and grammatical structures. Students are also introduced to short literary texts and other authentic documents.
Prerequisite: French 2.
Prerequisite: French 2.
The AP French Language and Culture course takes a holistic approach to language proficiency and recognizes the complex interrelatedness of comprehension and comprehensibility, vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The course strives to promote both fluency and accuracy in language use and not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication. To best facilitate the study of language and culture, the course is taught in the target language. The course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. The course develops students’ awareness and appreciation of products, both tangible (e.g., tools, books, music) and intangible (e.g., laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions that underlie both practices and products).
Prerequisite: French 3.
Prerequisite: French 3.
Visual & Performing Arts
This course emphasizes Art/Drawing Elements (Line, Shape, Color, Texture, Tone) and Principles (Focal Point, Balance, Leading Lines, Pattern, Perspective, Proportion and Scale). In the first part of the class, students explore drawing/printmaking exercises that help them develop technical skills with various art materials in relationship to the Elements and Principles. In the second part of the class, students choose a socially-‐engaged theme or topic, and then use their drawing/printmaking skills to create one or more substantially sized compositions that express their chosen theme. Students then present their final composition(s) at the Student Exhibition at the end of the semester, using critique methods that have been taught throughout the entire semester.
Students are introduced to basic techniques of digital photography through a series of group discussions and photography assignments. Assignments emphasize skills related to Rule-‐of-‐Thirds, composition, natural and artificial light, focal point, leading lines, depth of field, and other visual aesthetics techniques. Students visit various museums and galleries, San Francisco and Bay area “iconic” locations, and a Reprographics business. Students will print out several of their digital photos and present a thematic series of prints at an Exhibition at the end of the semester, using critique methods that have been taught throughout the entire semester.
This course presents the history of cinema from its birth to today. We study films and filmmakers who are critical to the evolution of the medium in terms of technique and societal and cultural impact. We review all of cinemas’ media relatives; from radio, newsreels, music videos and commercials to YouTube and Snap Chat. We also explore the technical aspects of how films are made so that we can apply these techniques to the process of making films via project based learning. The overall goal is to illuminate students to the essential works of cinema and media and apply this knowledge to the making films.
Electives
Our electives are for everyone who wants to stand out from the crowd. These students take the time to plan their work, develop ideas, conduct research, and produce tangible outcomes that demonstrate their seriousness to others. Moreover, Legend College Preparatory provides accredited study materials for programming certification exams. To find out what we have in store for you this summer, see the course offerings below.
The fundamental ideas and methods of Java programming, a high-level, object-oriented language, will be covered in this course. Syntax, control-flow techniques, keyboard and mouse interactions, file i/o, object modeling, and debugging will be our main areas of concentration. By the end of the course, students will be able to implement and debug small Java programs and will be ready for further programming courses. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of the Java language, to the fundamentals of Object-Oriented programming, and to some of the more common Java libraries from the core Java API.
This course serves as both an introduction to Java programming and a second-level Java course for students who plan to study in fields that heavily rely on computing. Although it is not required, taking a previous course in computer programming is highly advised because this one is fairly difficult. The subjects covered include object-oriented programming design, algorithm analysis, standard data structures, and program design and implementation. The focus of AP Computer Science in Java is on problem-solving and algorithm development, with an emphasis on programming methods.
AP Computer Science Principles is a course that teaches students the fundamental concepts of computer science and its impact on society. Students will learn abstract problem-solving skills such as data analysis and information presentation, as well as skills in algorithm analysis, testing/debugging, and drawing conclusions from data trends.
Intro to Algorithms Honors is a class that focuses on teaching students efficient algorithm design and analysis techniques, including sorting, hashing, dynamic programming, graph algorithms, and parallel computing.
MTA – Introduction to Programming Using Block-based Language is a course that introduces programming principles using Scratch, a visual coding language. Students will learn how to solve computational problems, design and implement algorithms, work with data, use modeling and simulation, develop programs, understand internet communication, encryption, and authentication strategies, and plan and develop programming projects. Successful completion of this course may lead to the Microsoft Certification Exam 98-380.
Introduction to SQL using Oracle Database is a class that teaches students basic principles of database management and SQL. Students will learn how to retrieve and manipulate data, create indexes and constraints, control database access, and create reports about their schema objects. Successful completion of this course may lead to the Oracle Database certification exam 1Z0-061.
Introduction to Biomedical Engineering is a course designed for students interested in biology, medicine, or engineering applied to biological sciences. Students will be introduced to topics such as biomedical engineering history, ethical issues in biology and medicine, anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, biomaterials, bio instrumentation, bioelectric systems, and bioinformatics.
AP Research is a year-long inquiry-based course that helps students locate gaps in their preferred discipline of study and explore a topic of personal interest. Students will learn how to collect and analyze information accurately and precisely, develop and communicate their argument or position, and defend their research findings. This course is the second year of the AP Capstone program, following AP Seminar.
