AP African American Studies - Course Framework and Exam Overview - May 2022 Preview

Sep 20, 2026

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AP African American Studies Course Framework and Exam Overview (May 2022 Preview) outlines the goals and structure of the AP® course and the skills students develop through college-level, research-based learning. It describes how the Advanced Placement® Program enables prepared students to earn college credit or advanced placement, and how course content and skills are organized into sequential units. The publication also covers course framework elements, skills expectations, course-at-a-glance information, and assessment with illustrative exam questions and supporting materials.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages140

Reading Time5 h 53 min

AccessFree to download

Acknowledgements

About the AP African American Studies Course

Course Framework

Skills

Course at a Glance

Unit 1: Origins of the African Diaspora

Unit 2: Freedom, Enslavement, and Resistance

Unit 3: The Practice of Freedom

Unit 4: Movements and Debates

Assessment

Assessment Overview

Illustrative AP African American Studies Exam Questions

Appendix

Research Summary

Sources for Consideration

AP® African American Studies COURSE FRAMEWORK AND EXAM OVERVIEW May 2022 Preview Contents | Acknowledgements About AP
About the AP African American Studies Course
Course Framework
Skills
Course at a Glance
Unit 1 : Origins of the African Diaspora
Unit 2: Freedom, Enslavement, and Resistance
Unit 3 : The Practice of Freedom
Unit 4: Movements and Debates
Assessment
Assessment Overview
Illustrative AP African American Studies Exam Questions
Appendix
Research Summary
Sources for Consideration | 3–4
5–7
8
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10
11
12–28
29–57
58–76
77–110
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112–113
114–122
123
124–139
140 | | --- | --- | AP African American Studies Course Framework Acknowledgements The Advanced Placement® Program would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their assistance with and contributions to the development of this course. All individuals’ affiliations were current at the time of contribution. Development Committee (2022) Tiffany E. Barber, University of Delaware, Newark, DE Alysha Butler, McKinley Technology High School, Washington, D. C. Antoinette Dempsey-Waters, Wakefield High School, Arlington, VA David G. Embrick, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT Carlos Escobar, Felix Varela Senior High School, Miami, FL Patrice Francis, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Atlanta, GA Nishani Frazier, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS Jarvis R. Givens, Harvard University, Cambridge, MAKerry Haynie, Duke University, Chapel Hill, NC Kamasi Hill, Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL Lisa Hill, Hamden Hall Country Day School, Hamden, CT Evelyne Laurent-Perrault, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA Robert J. Patterson, Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. Teresa Reed, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY Walter Rucker, Emory University, Atlanta, GA Darius Young, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL Advisory Board (2021) Herman Bennett, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY Daina Ramey Berry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX Greg Carr, Howard University, Washington, D. C. David G. Embrick, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT Robert J. Patterson, Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. Rebecca VanDiver, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN Content Writing Team (2021) Tiffany E. Barber, University of Delaware, Newark, DE Joshua Bennett, Dartmouth University, Hanover, NH Carlos Escobar, Felix Varela Senior High School, Miami, FL Jarvis R. Givens, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA Joshua M. Myers, Howard University, Washington, D. C. AP African American Studies Course Framework Advanced Placement Program Staff Armand Garcia, Director, AP African American Studies Assessment Dana Kopelman, Executive Director, AP Instruction Sarah Leonard, Director, AP Curriculum, Research, and Analysis Daniel McDonough, Senior Director, AP Content and Assessment Publications Kelly Stromberg, Executive Director, AP History/Social Sciences Curriculum and Assessment Allison Thurber, Vice President, AP Curriculum and Assessment Natasha Vasavada, Executive Director, AP New Course Development Brandi Waters, Director, AP African American Studies AP African American Studies Course Framework About AP | The Advanced Placement® Program (AP® ) enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 38 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond. Taking AP courses demonstrates to college admission officers that students have sought the most challenging curriculum available to them, and research indicates that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typical

FAQs

What is the purpose of the AP African American Studies course framework?

It presents the content and skills emphasized in the corresponding college-level course and AP Exam, organizing them into sequential units aligned with widely adopted college syllabi.

How does the AP Program support access and equity for students?

It encourages equitable access as a guiding principle by reducing barriers that restrict participation for students from groups traditionally underserved, and by promoting access to academically challenging coursework before AP enrollment.

How are AP courses and exams developed and assessed?

AP courses and exams emphasize challenging, research-based curricula aligned with higher education expectations. Individual teachers design curriculum, while AP Exams are developed and scored by college faculty and experienced AP teachers.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Logic