AP Computer Science

Suite of Advanced Placement courses and exams

This article is part of a series on

Advanced Placement
Exams •  Awards
AP Capstone

* Seminar (AP Capstone Part 1)
* Research (AP Capstone Part 2)

Current subjects

* African American Studies
* Art History
* Biology
* Calculus (AB and BC)
* Chemistry
* Chinese Language and Culture
* Comparative Government and Politics
* Computer Science A
* Computer Science Principles
* English Language and Composition
* English Literature and Composition
* Environmental Science
* European History
* French Language and Culture
* German Language and Culture
* Human Geography
* Italian Language and Culture
* Japanese Language and Culture
* Latin
* Macroeconomics
* Microeconomics
* Music Theory
* Physics 1: Algebra-Based
* Physics 2: Algebra-Based
* Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
* Physics C: Mechanics
* Precalculus
* Psychology
* Spanish Language and Culture
* Spanish Literature and Culture
* Statistics
* Studio Art (2-D, 3-D, and Drawing)
* U.S. Government and Politics
* U.S. History
* World History: Modern

In development

* World History: Ancient

Former subjects

* Computer Science AB (discontinued 2009)
* International English Language (discontinued 2002)
* French Literature (discontinued 2009)
* German Literature (discontinued 1983)
* Latin Literature (discontinued 2009)
* Latin: Vergil (discontinued 2012)
* Music Listening and Literature
* Physics B (discontinued 2014)
* Physics C (discontinued 1973)
* Russian Language and Culture (discontinued 2010)

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In the United States, Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science (commonly shortened to AP Comp Sci) is a suite of Advanced Placement courses and examinations covering areas of computer science. They are offered by the College Board to high school students as an opportunity to earn college credit for college-level courses.[1] The suite consists of two current classes and one discontinued class.

AP Computer Science was taught using Pascal for the 1984–1998 exams, C++ for 1999–2003, and Java since 2004.[2]

## AP Computer Science A

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AP Computer Science A is a programming class.[3] The course emphasizes object-oriented programming methodology, especially problem solving and algorithm development, plus an overview of data structures and abstraction. The AP Computer Science A exam tests students on their knowledge of Java.

It is meant to be the equivalent of a first-semester college course in computer science.

The Microsoft-sponsored program Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS) aims to increase the number of students taking AP Computer Science classes.[4]

## AP Computer Science AB (discontinued)

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AP Computer Science AB included all the topics of AP Computer Science A, as well as a more formal and a more in-depth study of algorithms, data structures, and data abstraction. For example, binary trees were studied in AP Computer Science AB but not in AP Computer Science A. The use of recursive data structures and dynamically allocated structures were fundamental to AP Computer Science AB.

AP Computer Science AB was equivalent to a full-year college course.[5]

Due to low numbers of students taking the exam, AP Computer Science AB was discontinued following the May 2009 exam administration.[6][7]

## AP Computer Science Principles

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AP Computer Science Principles is an introductory course to computer science, "with a focus on how computing powers the world".[8] It is designed as a complement to AP Computer Science A, to emphasize computational thinking and fluency. It is meant to be the equivalent of a first-semester course in computing.

## See also

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* AP Computer Science A
* Computer science
* Glossary of computer science
* Scope (computer science)
* Computer graphics (computer science)

## References

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1. ^ "Credit & Placement". AP Students. The College Board. 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
2. ^ Lew, Michael. "AP Computer Science: A Brief History" (PDF). Thecubscientist. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
3. ^ "AP Computer Science A: Course Details". AP Students. The College Board. 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
4. ^ Bishop, Todd (2012-07-27). "Geek of the Week: Kevin Wang is putting computer scientists into high schools". GeekWire. Archived from the original on 2015-07-05. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
5. ^ "AP Computer Science AB Course Home Page". AP Central. The College Board. 2008. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008.
6. ^ "Important Announcement about AP Computer Science AB". AP Central. The College Board. 2008. Archived from the original on April 9, 2008.
7. ^ Cech, Scott J. (April 9, 2008). "College Board Intends to Drop AP Programs in Four Subjects". Education Week.
8. ^ "AP Computer Science Principles: Course Details". AP Students. The College Board. 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.

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