AP® Computer Science A

About the Course

AP® Computer Science A

Grade 9+
CTY-Level
Individually Paced
Computer Science and Technology

This course offers you a college-level challenge, covering material typically explored in a university course and preparing you for the AP Computer Science A exam. We’ll learn about procedural abstraction, data abstraction, object-oriented design, Java programming methodology, the use of algorithms and data structures, as well as arrays and strings, understanding existing code, and the use of standard Java class libraries.

Along the way, your instructor will guide you through lessons, videos, readings, forum discussions, programming activities and labs, and other interactive resources.

Recommended length of enrollment: 6 months

Time Commitment: 8-10 hours per week (1-hour optional meeting, 8-9 hours of independent work).

Course Overview

What we'll do

We’ll complete 20 course units. Each of the 18 instructional units include lessons, videos, readings, forum discussions, interactive activities, a quiz, programming activities and lab assignments. There is also a unit for the midterm project and exam, and one for the final project, final exam, and an optional practice College Board APCSA® exam.

What we’ll learn

How to create and store variables, and interact with them using basic operations
How to create and use classes and objects, and use the Math class and String methods to write expressions for generating random numbers and other more complex operations
Syntax and proper use of conditional statements in Java, as well as how to implement Boolean variables in programs
How to use iteration to improve the reusability and speed of programs
How to create and implement complex classes and objects
How to use and manipulate data in the form of arrays
How to store data in increasingly complex ways with 2D arrays
How to recognize common attributes and behaviors that can be used in a superclass and create hierarchies by writing subclasses to extend a superclass
How to write simple recursive methods and determine the purpose or output of a recursive method by tracing
About the AP exam structure, its scope, and requirements

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Write, run, test, and debug solutions in the Java programming language, utilizing built-in data types, standard Java class libraries, conditional statements, loops, and other components of Java language
Create and use complex classes and class hierarchies based on object-oriented principles utilizing abstraction, encapsulation, and data hiding
Write programs implementing given specifications showing good engineering principles including code reuse
Utilize abstract classes, interfaces, and polymorphism in programs. Determine which construct is appropriate for different programming scenarios and write code that correctly uses the concepts of inheritance, abstract classes, interfaces, and polymorphism to solve specific problems
Utilize diverse types of collections to organize and work with data
Apply comprehensive and effective error handling strategies to programs via exception handling
Apply sorting and searching algorithms to diverse types of data sets
Utilize recursion in programs and show how to trace recursive methods
Investigate and strategize skills and knowledge about the AP exam structure, its scope, and requirements

How we'll measure learning

Instructors evaluate student work using marking guides and rubrics, and provide detailed constructive feedback on programming activities, lab assignments, and projects. Interactive activities, quizzes, and exams are automatically graded, and feedback is provided by the learning management system. This course is aligned to College Board standards for AP Computer Science A.

Apply any time and get started in 2 weeks

Classes

Students enroll in a course by selecting an open class below. Students progress at their own pace following course guidelines, with guidance from instructors who strive to meet individual needs. While the course provides students with independence and flexibility, students must manage their time to complete the course before the end date.

Note: You need an active CTY Account to complete registration through MyCTY.

Up to 9 months of access

Choose your start date

$1399 - $1499

Enroll

Testing and Prerequisites

	Math	Verbal
Required Level	CTY-Level	Not required

Check your eligibility using existing test scores If you do not have existing test scores:

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

Course Prerequisites

AP® Computer Science A requires:

1 prerequisite

Completion of Algebra I and high school Introductory Computer Science course or a placement test

Cost and Financial Aid

Tuition
- Varies
Application fee
- Nonrefundable Application Fee - $15 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
- Nonrefundable International Fee - $20 (outside US only)

Financial Aid

CTY Financial Aid Availability for Online Programs:

Academic Year 2023-24 (Course start dates July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024): We have concluded our financial aid application review process for Academic Year 2023-2024 Online Programs.

Academic Year 2024-25 (Course start dates July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025): Financial Aid funding is currently available for all eligible students while funding lasts. If interested in applying for financial aid, please select a course with start date of July 1, 2024 or later.

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Course Materials

Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].

Book Title: Java Methods: Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures, 3rd AP Edition
Author: Maria and Gary Litvin
ISBN-13: 978-0982477564
ISBN-10: 0982477562
There is also an electronic version for purchase or rental available.

Software: You will need to install a recent version of the JDK on your computer. Instructions are provided in the first unit of the course. If you work on an Apple computer, this may already be installed.

(Optional) Book Title: AP Computer Science A: With 6 Practice Tests (Barron's Test Prep) Ninth Edition
Author: Roselyn Teukolsky
ISBN-13: 978-1438012896 ISBN-10: 1438012896

Earning School Credit

(Note: CTY does not administer AP exams. Please see the College Board site for information on AP exams.)

Recommended school credit: One academic year

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Technical Requirements

This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

Java Runtime Environment is required.

This course uses a virtual classroom for instructor-student communication. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client, and on tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app. Recorded meetings can only be viewed on a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both free to download.

Most course lectures may be viewed on mobile devices, but some assignments and quizzes must be completed on a desktop or laptop computer.

Chromebooks are not recommended due to required downloading of specialized software.

This course uses Respondus LockDown Browser proctoring software for designated assessments. LockDown Browser is a client application that is installed to a local computer. Visit the Respondus website for system requirements.

Terms & Conditions

You may have the option to post your work on public third-party sites (e.g., YouTube). 

Virtual class meetings may be recorded for students to review.

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