School Registration Handbook » Advanced Placement Course Descriptions

Advanced Placement Course Descriptions

🎓 Advanced Placement (AP) Course Offerings

AP Interdisciplinary

AP Seminar

  • Course Code: 2A047X0X
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: Varies (Generally 1.0)

AP Seminar is an interdisciplinary course that encourages students to demonstrate critical thinking, collaboration, and academic research skills on topics of the student’s choosing. To accommodate the wide range of student topics, typical college course equivalents include interdisciplinary or general elective courses. This course is recommended as part of the APEX (AP Experience) Program as well as for any student with a desire to investigate, find and use evidence from experts, and how to present the case from his/her own perspective effectively, both through writing and multimedia presentations.

AP Science

AP Biology

  • Course Code: 3A007X0
  • Year Recommended: 11
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)
  • Prerequisite: AP Biology Preparation

The AP Biology course is designed to be taken after a first course in high school biology and one in high school chemistry. It provides the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. The four **big ideas** are 1) evolution, 2) cellular processes (energy and communication), 3) genetics and information transfer, and 4) interactions. COURSE NOTE: Additional recommended prerequisite: Chemistry.

AP Environmental Science

  • Course Code: 3A027X0X
  • Year Recommended: 9
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)
  • Prerequisite: AP Academy Only Freshman Year or 11th/12th graders who have successfully passed Biology EOC.

The AP Environmental Science course is the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course. Students engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. The course requires students to identify and analyze environmental problems, evaluate risks, and examine alternative solutions. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, chemistry, and geography.

AP English

AP English Language and Composition (ENG III)

  • Course Code: 1A007X0X
  • Year Recommended: 11
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)
  • Other Requirements: Counselor approval required.

This college-level course provides an analytical and historical study of language and rhetoric in a comprehensive program of reading, writing, and critical thinking. The goal is to develop honest, concise, and effective use of language and the ability to organize ideas in a clear, coherent, and persuasive way. This course satisfies the graduation requirement for English 3. Students are expected to take the AP Language and Composition Examination and may earn college credit.

AP English Literature and Composition (ENG IV)

  • Course Code: 1A017X0X
  • Year Recommended: 12
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)

This is an introductory college-level literary analysis course. Students cultivate their understanding of literature through reading and analyzing texts as they explore concepts like character, setting, structure, perspective, figurative language, and literary analysis in the context of literary works. NOTE: All Honors English have a required reading and assignment due prior to the first day of class.

AP Mathematics

AP Precalculus

  • Course Code: 2A047X0X
  • Year Recommended: 11-12
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)
  • Prerequisite: NC Math 3 Honors

Advanced Placement Precalculus prepares students for other college-level mathematics and science courses. Students build deep mastery of modeling and functions, examining scenarios through multiple representations. The course content is foundational for careers in mathematics, physics, biology, health science, social science, and data science.

AP Statistics

  • Course Code: 2A037X0
  • Year Recommended: 12
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)
  • Prerequisite: NC Math 3

Advanced Placement Statistics addresses the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. Students observe patterns, departure from patterns, and determine how to measure, produce models, and confirm models.

AP Calculus AB

  • Course Code: 2A007X0
  • Year Recommended: 12
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)
  • Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus

Advanced Placement Calculus develops the student's understanding of the concepts of calculus (functions, graphs, limits, derivatives and integrals). The course encourages geometric, numerical, analytical, and verbal expression. Calculus AB is taught in the Fall and Calculus BC is taught in the Spring. For success on the AP Exam, students should sign up for both.

AP Calculus BC

  • Course Code: 2A017X0
  • Year Recommended: 12
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)
  • Prerequisite: AP Calculus AB

Advanced Placement Calculus BC builds on all topics in AP Calculus AB to include topics in differential and integral calculus, such as parametric, polar and vector functions, and series. This course is also designed for students preparing for the AP exam. Calculus BC is taught in the spring.

AP Computer Science

AP Computer Science Principles

  • Year Recommended: Any
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)
  • Prerequisite: Computer Science 1

AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the foundational concepts of the field and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world.

AP Social Studies/History

AP United States Government and Politics

  • Course Code: 4A067X0
  • Year Recommended: 11
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)

In this course, students will study the key concepts and institutions of the political system and culture of the United States. Students will read, analyze, and discuss the U.S. Constitution and other documents, and complete a research or applied civics project. This course satisfies the graduation requirement for Civic Literacy. Students in AP courses must take the AP exam to qualify for college credit.

AP United States History

  • Course Code: 4A077X0X
  • Year Recommended: 11
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)

This course covers the events in U.S. History from early colonization to the present and satisfies the graduation requirement for American History. AP courses are designed to prepare the student for intermediate and advanced level college courses in history. Students in AP courses must take the AP exam to qualify for college credit.

AP World History: Modern

  • Course Code: 4A007X0
  • Year Recommended: 12
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)

In AP World History: Modern, you’ll learn about the rise and fall of empires, the evolution of technology, and the cultural and social changes that have shaped our world from a global perspective. This course is recommended as part of the sophomore APEX Program and fulfills the World History NC graduation requirement.

AP Arts

AP Music Theory

  • Course Code: 5A017X0X
  • Year Recommended: 11-12
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 0.5 (Honors)
  • Prerequisite: Advanced Chorus or Band

This course presents more advanced elements of melody, harmony, and its structure. Rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic dictation are stressed. Students will learn four-part writing based on figured bass and harmonization of melody. Students must read music.

AP Studio Art

  • Course Code: 5A027X0X
  • Year Recommended: 10-12
  • Credit: 1
  • Additional GPA Weight: 1.0 (AP Credit)
  • Prerequisite: Visual Art (Proficient)

The AP Studio Art portfolios are designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art. AP Studio Art is not based on a written exam; instead, students submit portfolios (2-D Design, 3-D Design, or Drawing) for evaluation at the end of the school year, corresponding to common college foundation courses.