Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
AP Computer Science
open-in-new
<h2 id="courses">Courses</h2> <p>There are two AP computer science courses currently offered.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> Computer Science Principles is considered to be a more "big picture" course than the programming-intensive Computer Science A.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h3>AP Computer Science A</h3> <p><a href="/facts/AP_Computer_Science_A/oaW67Mf1">AP Computer Science A</a> is a programming-based course, equivalent to a first-semester–level college course. AP CSA emphasizes <a href="/facts/Object-oriented_programming/TxNMEcao">object-oriented programming</a> and is taught using the programming language of <a href="/facts/Java_(programming_language)/9ScgFyAL">Java</a>. The course has an emphasis on problem-solving using <a href="/facts/Data_structure/yNsNvL1I">data structures</a> and <a href="/facts/Algorithm/fnl5NmRt">algorithms</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h3>AP Computer Science Principles</h3> <p><a href="/facts/AP_Computer_Science_Principles/6v8xAPGx">AP Computer Science Principles</a> is an introductory college-level course in computer science with an emphasis on <a href="/facts/Computational_thinking/oxJPyBys">computational thinking</a> and the impacts of computing. The course has no designated programming language, and teaches <a href="/facts/Algorithm/fnl5NmRt">algorithms</a> and <a href="/facts/Computer_programming/QmSsFnu0">programming</a>, complementing Computer Science A.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h3>AP Computer Science AB (discontinued)</h3> <p><a href="/facts/AP_Computer_Science_AB/oaW67Mf1">AP Computer Science AB</a> included all the topics of AP Computer Science A, as well as a more formal and a more in-depth study of <a href="/facts/Algorithms/fnl5NmRt">algorithms</a>, <a href="/facts/Data_structures/yNsNvL1I">data structures</a>, and <a href="/facts/Data_abstraction/hAnxmJle">data abstraction</a>. For example, <a href="/facts/Binary_trees/TDV7GMpu">binary trees</a> were studied in AP Computer Science AB but not in AP Computer Science A. The use of <a href="/facts/Recursion_(computer_science)/2uXo18Gv">recursive</a> data structures and <a href="/facts/Dynamic_allocation/vthLkUpz">dynamically allocated</a> structures were fundamental to AP Computer Science AB. </p><p>AP Computer Science AB was equivalent to a full-year college course.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>Due to low numbers of students taking the exam, AP Computer Science AB was discontinued following the May 2009 exam administration.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Computer_science_education/2164WCYl">Computer science education</a></li></ul> <h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2> <ul><li>Havard, Douglas D.; Howard, Keith E. (February 28, 2019). <a href="https://doi.org/10.26716%2Fjcsi.2019.02.1.2">"All Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science is Not Created Equal: A Comparison of AP Computer Science A and Computer Science Principles"</a>. <i>Journal of Computer Science Integration</i>. 2 (1) 2: 16–34. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.26716%2Fjcsi.2019.02.1.2">10.26716/jcsi.2019.02.1.2</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Fuel Your Future with AP Computer Science Courses". AP Students. College Board. Retrieved 2024-10-12. <a href="https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-program" target="_blank">https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-program</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>The 9th Annual AP Report to the Nation: New York Supplement (PDF). College Board. February 13, 2013. <a href="https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/rtn/9th-annual/9th-annual-ap-report-state-supplement-new-york.pdf" target="_blank">https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/rtn/9th-annual/9th-annual-ap-report-state-supplement-new-york.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Lew, Michael. "AP Computer Science: A Brief History" (PDF). Thecubscientist. Retrieved 2017-08-29. <a href="http://www.apsi.thecubscientist.com/05_DailySchedule/historyAPCS.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.apsi.thecubscientist.com/05_DailySchedule/historyAPCS.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Comparing AP Computer Science Courses". AP Central. College Board. Retrieved 2024-10-12. <a href="https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-principles/compare-ap-computer-science-courses" target="_blank">https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-principles/compare-ap-computer-science-courses</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Bergman, Dave (2022-06-28). "AP Computer Science Principles vs AP Computer Science A". College Transitions. Retrieved 2024-10-12. <a href="https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/should-i-take-ap-computer-science-principles-or-ap-computer-science-a/" target="_blank">https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/should-i-take-ap-computer-science-principles-or-ap-computer-science-a/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"AP CSP vs AP CSA: Which one is a better fit for beginners?". CollegeVine. Retrieved 2024-10-12. <a href="https://www.collegevine.com/faq/25837/ap-csp-vs-ap-csa-which-one-is-a-better-fit-for-beginners" target="_blank">https://www.collegevine.com/faq/25837/ap-csp-vs-ap-csa-which-one-is-a-better-fit-for-beginners</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"AP Computer Science A". AP Central. College Board. Retrieved 2024-10-12. <a href="https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-a" target="_blank">https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-a</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"AP Computer Science Principles Course". AP Central. College Board. Retrieved 2024-10-12. <a href="https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-principles" target="_blank">https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-computer-science-principles</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"AP Computer Science AB Course Home Page". AP Central. The College Board. 2008. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080516202349/http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/8153.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20080516202349/http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/8153.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Important Announcement about AP Computer Science AB". AP Central. The College Board. 2008. Archived from the original on April 9, 2008. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080409195847/http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/195948.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20080409195847/http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/195948.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Cech, Scott J. (April 9, 2008). "College Board Intends to Drop AP Programs in Four Subjects". Education Week. <a href="http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/04/09/32ap.h27.html" target="_blank">http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/04/09/32ap.h27.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>