AP Course Offerings & Descriptions - AP Handbook

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel

AP Course Offerings & Descriptions Handbook outlines why to take Advanced Placement classes, highlighting potential college credit, stronger college outcomes after AP exams, and motivation signals to colleges and scholarship programs. It provides guidance for extra support through SHS labs, after-school tutorial options, the Learning Express Library System, and an AP coordinator contact. The booklet lists AP course offerings by grade level and includes detailed course descriptions for the AP Capstone Diploma Program, including AP Seminar and AP Research, plus arts and English options with core skill expectations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

Why AP?

Why Take an AP Class?

What if I need extra support?

Course Offerings

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th-12th Grade

CAPSTONE DIPLOMA

Course Descriptions

AP Seminar

AP Research

ARTS

Course Descriptions

AP 2-D Art & Design Portfolio

AP Drawing Portfolio

ENGLISH

Course Descriptions

AP Language & Composition

AP Literature & Composition

HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Course Descriptions

AP US History

A P C OUR ES Handbook AP COURSE OFFERINGS & DESCRIPTIONS WHY AP? Why Take anAP Class? From the College Board: AP Classes give you the opportunity to earn college creditor placement while you are in high school! Research shows that students who have taken an AP exam, have stronger college outcomes than their peers. Taking an AP class & exam shows colleges, universities, and scholarship programs that you are an exceptionally hard worker and willing to complete college-level work. What if I need extra support? In addition to the support you will receive from excellent AP teachers, check out some additional resources below! Math & Writing Labs @SHS After-School Tutorial @SHS Learning Express Library System AP Coordinator Mr . Rufner is Service HS's AP Coordinator . For students taking an AP Exam, if you have a question regarding AP Exam costs, please see Mr. Rufner for more information. Phone: 907-742-8114 or Email: [rufner_daniel@asdk12.org](rufner_daniel@asdk12.org) COURSE OFFERINGS 9th Grade AP Human Geography AP Computer Science A AP Computer Science Principles 11th-12th Grade AP US History (11th Only) AP Human Geography AP US Government & Politics AP Economics, Micro AP Economics, Macro AP Psychology AP Literature and Composiiton AP Language and Composition AP Calculus AB AP Statistics AP Computer Science A AP Computer Science Principles AP Chemistry AP Biology AP Environmental Science AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based AP 2-D Art & Design Portfolio AP Drawing Portfolio AP Seminar AP Research AP Spanish Language & Culture AP Japanese Language & Culture AP German Language & Culture 10th Grade AP World History AP Human Geography AP Psychology AP Calculus AB AP Statistics AP Computer Science A AP Computer Science Principles AP 2-D Art and Design Portfolio AP Drawing Portfolio AP Seminar Scan here for more information about the College Board and AP Course Offerings CAPSTONE DIPLOMA Course Descriptions The AP Capstone Diploma Program is a two-year program based on two AP courses, AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who fulfill the requirements can earn academic awards recognized by colleges around the world. AP Seminar Develop and practice the skills in research, collaboration, and communication that you’ll need in any academic discipline. You’ll investigate topics in a variety of subject areas, write researchbased essays, and design and give presentations both individually and as part of a team. Skills You'll Learn: Reading and analyzing articles, studies, and other texts Gathering and combining information from sources Viewing an issue from multiple perspectives Crafting arguments based on evidence AP Research Build on what you learned in AP Seminar to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, you will design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation to address a research question. Skills you'll learn: Conducting independent research Analyzing sources and evidence Applying context and perspective Writing a college-level academic paper Present research findings to an audience Note: AP Research and Seminar count towards English credit ARTS Course Descriptions AP 2-DArt & Design Portfolio Develop your 2-D skills through materials and processes such as graphic design, photography, collage, printmaking, fashion illustration, collage, and others. You’ll create artwork that reflects your own ideas and skills and what you’ve learned. Skills you'll learn: Investigating the materials, processes, and ideas that artists and designers use Practicing, experimenting, and revising as you create your own work Communicating your ideas about works of art and design AP Drawing Portfolio Develop your skills in drawing as you experiment with different mat

FAQs

What are the main benefits of taking an AP class and AP exam?

AP classes can help students earn college credit or placement while in high school. Taking AP exams is associated with stronger college outcomes and signals readiness to complete college-level work to colleges and scholarships.

Where can students find extra support for AP courses?

Students can access support from excellent AP teachers and additional resources such as Math & Writing Labs, an after-school tutorial, the Learning Express Library System, and help from the AP Coordinator.

How do AP Seminar and AP Research work in the Capstone Diploma Program?

The program is a two-year pathway based on AP Seminar and AP Research. Students develop research, collaboration, and communication skills in Seminar and then conduct a year-long investigation to address a research question in Research.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel