ADvanced Placement Course descriptions

Advanced Placement courses are an important part of the college-preparatory program at Ursuline Academy. We are pleased to offer a robust catalog of Advanced Placement courses in so many disciplines and rightly take pride in the high exam scores earned by our students. Many of our students demonstrate an ability to navigate these College-Board approved courses during their secondary school years, following a passion for the subject and achieving personal growth through the rigorous demands of the curriculum. We want to challenge our students appropriately as they develop their academic skills and content knowledge. "Appropriately" is the operative word in the previous sentence! All of our courses are rigorous and prepare students for the work they will be doing in college classrooms, laboratories, and seminars. Many alumnae are capably working at competitive colleges without having had an AP course on their transcript. We care deeply about the whole Ursuline student, and course placement reflects our desire to ensure that a girl will not only survive but flourish while a student at the Academy.

AP English Language and Composition

The AP English Language and Composition course aligns to an introductory college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum, which requires students to develop evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays that proceed through several stages or drafts. Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Throughout the course, students develop a personal style by making appropriate grammatical choices. Additionally, students read and analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects in non-fiction texts, including graphic images as forms of text, from many disciplines and historical periods. (Grade 11)

AP English Literature

AP Literature is a college-level course approved by the College Board that provides qualified seniors opportunities to develop interpretive literary skills through examination of a variety of literary genres. Writing assignments include formal, timed, analytical and creative essays, and encourage the close reading of texts, assessing structural devices and thematic language in order to develop insight into the human experience. Through independent and class activities, students will prepare for the College Board Advanced Placement examination in the spring. (Grade 12)

AP Art and Design

Prerequisite: Visual Art and Design II (Visual Art and Design I with permission)

The Advanced Placement Portfolio class is designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art. The AP Art and Design Program consists of three portfolios: 2-D Design, 3-D Design, and Drawing which correspond to the most common college foundation courses. Students may choose to submit one of the portfolios. AP Art and Design is not based on a written exam; instead students submit portfolios for evaluation at the end of the school year. The Portfolio consists of twenty-four works of art. Students may incorporate digital photography and imaging within the confines of this course. The submission of a portfolio to AP is required. (Grade 12 or Grade 11 with teacher permission)

AP Music Theory

Prerequisite: Music Theory I
AP Music Theory will build on the foundations learned in Music Theory 1, such as pitch, rhythm, meter, scales, keys, intervals and chords and is designed for students who have basic performance skills in voice or instrument and can read and write music. Students develop their musicianship skills in sight-reading, aural dictation, both melodic and rhythmic, realization of a figured bass and realization of a Roman numeral chord progression. Aurally and through score-reading, students will learn to analyze and identify harmony, melody, texture and form from a repertoire that includes works from the Western European Common Practice, Jazz, 20th century works and world music. (Grade 11 or 12)

AP Calculus

Prerequisite: Precalculus
This college-level course follows the program required for Calculus AB in the Advanced Placement course description including limits, differentiation and integration. Students work rigorously to achieve a high level of understanding of underlying concepts of calculus, concepts which are not necessarily developed explicitly in class. Students use the graphing calculator extensively to explore concepts, verify calculations, and support many problems with visual representation. (Grade 12)

AP Computer Science A

AP Computer Science A is an introductory college-level computer science course. Students cultivate their understanding of coding through analyzing, writing, and testing code as they explore the Big Ideas of modularity, variables, and control structures. The programming language through which this learning occurs is Java, popularly used in the industry today. As students learn to code, they will develop distinct skills, called computational thinking practices, that will help them learn to think and act like computer scientists. These skills include: program design and algorithm development; code logic; code implementation; code testing; and documentation. Throughout the course, consideration will also be given to the ethical and social issues that emerge as a result of the innovations brought about by technological and computing activities. No prior coding experience is needed to take this course.

AP Computer Science Principles

The AP Computer Science Principles course is designed to be equivalent to a first- semester introductory college computing course. In this course, students will develop computational thinking skills vital for success across all disciplines, such as using computational tools to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. The course engages students in the creative aspects of the field by allowing them to develop computational artifacts based on their interests. Students will also develop effective communication and collaboration skills by working individually and collaboratively to solve problems, and will discuss and write about the impacts these solutions could have on their community, society, and the world. No prior computer experience is necessary to take this course.

AP Biology

This College Board-approved course is equivalent to a two-semester college introductory biology course and as such moves at a rigorous pace. Lecture and laboratory work supplement the student’s significant independent learning about molecules and cells, heredity and evolution, and organisms and populations. The laboratory component of the course challenges students to think analytically and to develop their ability to interpret data. Students enrolled in this course are well-prepared to succeed on the AP biology examination. (Grade 11 or 12)

AP Chemistry

Approved by the College Board, this course is equivalent to a two-semester college introductory chemistry course. To be successful in this fast-paced course, students should be independent learners, understand the concepts presented in sophomore chemistry and employ excellent scientific reasoning skills. The course requires a conceptual approach to problem solving. Students enrolled in this course are well- prepared to succeed on the AP exam. (Grade 11 or 12)

AP Environmental Science

Advanced Placement Environmental Science, the equivalent of a one-semester college-level course in Environmental Science, will be a new option for rising 11th and 12th graders if there is sufficient interest. Through this course, according to the College Board, “students cultivate their understanding of the interrelationships of the natural world through inquiry-based lab investigations and field work as they explore concepts like the four Big Ideas; energy transfer, interactions between earth systems, interactions between different species and the environment, and sustainability.” Appealing to students who enjoy interdisciplinary science, the content of this course embraces topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography and teaches students to analyze environmental risks and propose solutions to them. (Grade 11 or 12)

AP Physics 1

Advanced Placement Physics 1 is an algebra-based, college-level course offered to students who have either completed Algebra II or are taking it concurrently. Minimum achievement in previous Ursuline courses is required to apply. AP Physics does not replace Chemistry for 10th graders; however, 10th graders may take both courses if they qualify for the AP Physics.

The College Board describes AP Physics 1 as the equivalent of a first semester college level course in which students learn about foundational physics principles and Newtonian mechanics. The course is laboratory-based so that students may explore work, energy, power, mechanical waves and sound and simple circuits as they learn to interpret models, use mathematics to solve science problems, design experiments, analyze data and infer conclusions. (Grade 10, 11, or 12)

AP Art History

This College-Board approved course covers the development of the fine arts beginning with the prehistoric era and concluding with 21st century art. The breakdown of the content is roughly 40% painting and drawing, 25% architecture, 25% sculpture, and 10% other media. Students examine both European Art and art beyond the European tradition such as Chinese and African art, analyzing each art work in terms of the elements of art such as line and color and also within the context of its historical, cultural, and social framework. The resources for this course consist of a college level text, primary and secondary source handouts. Among the forms of assessment are multiple choice quizzes, short and long essays, and short art analysis papers. Students learn through reading, presentations, numerous art videos, and hands-on projects. They are required to visit one museum over the course of the year, and the year concludes with a recommended field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Cloisters Museum. In the spring, students’ final assessment is the AP Art History examination. (Grade 12)

AP European History

AP European History is a college-level survey course in which students examine the political, economic, social, and cultural life of Europe from 1450 to the present day. The course is divided into topical units of one to two weeks each, and class work is built on students’ analysis and evaluation of the ideas and events gleaned from the main text, primary sources, varied scholarly viewpoints, presentations, and educational videos. College Board-approved assessment includes multiple choice and essay tests, homework essays, short quizzes, short research projects, and class participatory activities. Students are well-prepared for the AP European history examination in the spring. (Grade 10 or 12)

AP US History

This College Board-approved course prepares students for the AP US History examination through their rigorous analysis of primary and secondary documents. Designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in U.S. History, this course requires students to examine significant events and important figures in the context of the following major themes: America on a World Stage; National Identity and Citizenship; Political Change and Continuity; Pluralism and Group Identity; Free Markets and Economic Transformation. For the students, the culminating assessment of their deep dive into US history is the AP US History exam in May. (Grade 11)

AP Psychology

The AP Psychology course introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. While considering the psychologists and studies that have shaped the field, students explore and apply psychological theories, key concepts, and phenomena associated with such topics as the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatment of abnormal behavior, and social psychology. Throughout the course, students employ psychological research methods, including ethical considerations, as they use the scientific method, evaluate claims and evidence, and effectively communicate ideas. (Grade 12)

AP French

Conducted completely in French, the College Board-approved AP French Language and Culture is designed around six themes: Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, and Beauty and Aesthetics. Students enrolled in this fast-paced course practice advanced grammar topics, narrative and expository writing, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and extemporaneous speaking. Students analyze, reflect on, and discuss contemporary issues and explore a wide range of topics. Through their reading of Francophone literature through the centuries, they study Francophone culture and history and write essays and reviews. Students are well-prepared to take the AP French Language and Culture examination in the spring. (Grade 12)

AP Latin

Advanced Placement Latin follows the College Board’s syllabus of Vergil’s Aeneid and Caesar’s Gallic War. In addition to creating precise literal translations, students will investigate Latin grammar and syntax, the Roman army, and literary analysis. Students will discuss the impact of the following themes: Roman values, warfare, history and memory, human beings and the gods, views of non-Romans, and literary style. (Grade 12)

AP Spanish Language and Culture

The College Board-approved AP Spanish Language and Culture course is rigorous and taught exclusively in Spanish. Students sign a pledge to communicate only in Spanish at all times during the class. The objectives of the course are to enable the students to communicate effectively in spoken and written Spanish, and to comprehend authentic audio and written sources--essays, magazine articles, and newspaper articles-- related to the six themes around which the course is organized. Using these various sources, students discuss, compare and contrast topics about Family and Community, Science and Technology, Beauty and Aesthetics, Contemporary Life, World Challenges, Personal and Public Identities. Students are well-prepared to take the AP Spanish Language and Culture examination in the Spring. (Grade 12)

Note: Courses offered each year may vary depending on interest.