【STEM】AP Computer Science (9th Grade & Up)

Course Description

AP Computer Science A is equivalent to a first-semester, college-level course in computer

science. The course emphasizes problem solving, algorithm development, data structures,

and object-oriented programming using the Java programming language. Students will learn

to write, test, and debug Java programs, applying fundamental programming concepts, con-

trol structures, and data structures. This course prepares students for the AP Computer

Science A Exam.

Course Objectives

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

1. Apply object-oriented programming concepts using Java (classes, objects, methods).

2. Understand and implement basic algorithms.

3. Use and manipulate arrays and ArrayLists effectively.

4. Implement fundamental data structures such as arrays, lists, and basic collections.

5. Analyze and solve computational problems.

6. Read, understand, and write Java programs using proper coding conventions.

7. Prepare for the AP CSA exam.

Course Materials

• Textbook: To be determined.

• Software/Tools:

– Java Development Kit (JDK 17+)

– IDE: VS Code

Specific Topics

No. Topic Description

1 Introduction to Java Programming

2 Conditional Statements

3 Loops

4 Methods

5 Classes

6 Arrays

7 ArrayLists

8 Inheritance

9 Polymorphism

10 Abstract Classes and Interfaces

11 Recursion

12 Algorithms and Problem Solving

13 AP CSA Practice Questions

Programming Assignments & Projects

• Array Manipulation Project Implement a program that processes numeric arrays

and performs calculations (sum, max, average)

• Student Management System Use ArrayLists and user input to manage student

data

• Mini Banking Application Implement classes and inheritance to simulate a bank

system

• AP Exam Practice Projects Various AP-style free-response practice problems