AP Computer Science A

Description

The AP® Computer Science A course is equivalent to the first semester of a college level computer science course. The course involves developing the skills to write programs or part of programs to correctly solve specific problems. AP® Computer Science A also emphasizes the design issues that make programs understandable, adaptable, and when appropriate, reusable. At the same time, the development of useful computer programs and classes is used as a context for introducing other important concepts in computer science, including the development and analysis of algorithms, the development and use of fundamental data structures, and the study of standard algorithms and typical applications. In addition an understanding of the basic hardware and software components of computer systems and the responsible use of these systems are integral parts of the course. 

Major Topics and Concepts

Semester 1:
• Variables and Expressions
• Strings and User Input
• Condition Statements
• Arrays: one and two -dimensional
• Loops
• Methods
• Introduction to OOP and Classes
• Simple Objects
• Computer Systems and History

Semester 2:
• Technology and Society
• Recursion
• Inheritance & Polymorphism
• Classes Revisited
• Abstraction & Interfaces
• Standard Algorithms to manipulate Arrays
• Sorting Algorithms
• Searching Algorithms
• Program Analysis & Exceptions