Each  year,  students  around  the  world  who  want  to  learn  and  achieve  at  the  highest  level  become  AP®  students.  Through  AP’s  college-­‐level  courses  and  exams,  students  can:  

  earn  college  credit  and  advanced  placement     stand  out  in  the  college  admissions  process      better  prepare  themselves  for  the  expectations  of  

college  reading,  reading,  and  thinking.  

  17  AP  courses  at  Tahoma  Senior  High    AP  Human  Geography  starts  2011-­‐2012  at  TJH    Students  explore  their  interests  with  other  students  who  

share  their  desire  to  learn.      Courses  developed  by  leading  professors  to  reflect  the  

level  of  learning  in  100-­‐level  courses  in  colleges  throughout  the  country.    

  Students  study  fascinating  topics  and  ideas  that  may  become  the  foundation  of  their  future  college  major  or  career.  

  All  schools  wishing  to  label  a  course  “AP”  must  submit  an  approved  subject-­‐specific  AP  Course  Audit  form  and  course  syllabus  for  each  teacher  of  that  AP  course.  

  The  AP®  Course  Audit  was  created  at  the  request  of  secondary  school  and  college  faculty  to:    Provide  AP  teachers  and  administrators  with  clear  curricular  and  resource  guidelines  and  requirements  

  Give  colleges  and  universities  confidence  that  AP  courses  are  designed  to  meet  the  same  clearly  articulated  college-­‐level  criteria  across  high  schools.    

  AP  is  more  than  just  a  class-­‐-­‐it’s  a  community  of  students  and  educators  who  are  passionate,  curious,  and  committed  to  academic  excellence.    

  Students  engage  in  intense  discussions,  solve  problems  collaboratively,  and  learn  to  write  clearly  and  persuasively.  

  AP  courses  are  hard  work.  But,  it’s  work  that  pays  off.    

  AP  courses  help      improve  writing  skills    sharpen  problem-­‐solving  abilities     develop  better  study  habits  

  Each  AP  course  concludes  with  a  standardized  exam  in  May  

  Exam  is  written  and  scored  by  college  professors  and  AP  teachers  

  Score  shows  how  well  students  have  mastered  college-­‐level  course  work  and  how  they  compare  with  other  college-­‐bound  AP  students  around  the  world.    

  Exam  costs  $87,  and  some  financial  aid  is  available.    

  More  than  90  percent  of  four-­‐year  colleges  in  the  United  States  and  colleges  in  more  than  60  other  countries  give  students  credit,  advanced  placement  or  both  on  the  basis  of  AP  Exam  grades.    

  By  entering  college  with  AP  credits,  students  will  have  the  time  to  move  into  upper-­‐level  courses  in  their  field  of  interest,  pursue  a  double  major  or  study  abroad.  Go  to  www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy  to  find  out  more  about  the  AP  college  policies.  

  An  AP  exam  score  of  3-­‐5  can  translate  into  5-­‐15  college  credits,  worth  $600-­‐$3000  in  saved  tuition  (based  on  UW  tuition).    Books  are  also  included,  which  is  a  HUGE  savings.  

  Research  shows  that  AP  students  are  more  likely  to  graduate  from  college  in  four  years,  which  only  27  percent  of  students  at  U.S.  public  colleges  achieve.    

  The  average  price  of  college  at  a  public  university  such  as  UW  costs  about  $22,000  for  each  additional  year.  

  All  motivated  and  academically  prepared  students  deserve  the  opportunity  to  participate  in  the  AP  Program.  Ultimately,  it  is  a  choice  students  must  make  for  themselves.    

  AP  courses  can  help  students  develop  the  time  management  skills  and  discipline  they’ll  need  to  be  successful  in  college.  

  Choosing  AP  can  help  set  students  apart,  give  them  a  head  start  on  their  future  and  change  the  way  they  see  themselves  and  the  world.  

  AP  BIOLOGY      AP  CALCULUS  AB            AP  CALCULUS  BC            AP  COMPUTER  SCIENCE  A                    AP  ENVIRONMENTAL  SCIENCE            AP  ENGLISH  LITERATURE  AND  COMPOSITION        AP  EUROPEAN  HISTORY            AP  GOVERNMENT            AP  GOVERNMENT  WE  THE  PEOPLE    AP  HUMAN  GEOGRAPHY  (TJH  ONLY)    AP  PHYSICS  B            AP  PSYCHOLOGY            AP  STATISTICS          AP  STUDIO  ART:  2-­‐D           AP  STUDIO  ART:  2-­‐DIGITAL  GRAPHIC  ART            AP  STUDIO  ART:  3-­‐D            AP  STUDIO  ART:  DRAWING              AP  UNITED  STATES  HISTORY  

  AP  Biology  course  is  organized  around  the  following  major  themes:  science  as  a  process,  evolution,  energy  transfer,  continuity  and  change,  relation  of  structure  to  function,  regulation,  interdependence  in  nature,  science,  technology,  and  society.  To  succeed  in  AP  Biology  students  must  be  highly  motivated  to  learn,  as  required  reading,  curriculum,  and  laboratory  activities  are  concurrent  with  a  100-­‐level  university  biology  course.  

  AP  Calculus  AB  is  a  one-­‐year/one  credit  class  that  introduces  the  three  main  concepts  of  calculus:    limits,  differentiation,  and  integration  and  their  applications.  This  course  is  highly  recommended  for  those  students  who  plan  science  or  mathematics-­‐related  careers.      Evaluation  in  this  class  is  based  on  student  success  on  assignments,  unit  evaluations  and  use  of  technology.    *  Graphing  calculator  needed.    Optional  summer  review  packet  will  be  available.  

  AP  Calculus  BC  is  a  one-­‐year/one-­‐credit  course.    It  is  an  extension  of  the  A.P.  Calculus  AB  course.    It  will  cover  all  of  the  topics  taught  in  a  2nd  &  3rd  quarter  college  calculus  course.    This  includes  but  is  not  limited  to:    surface  area,  curve  length,  work,  techniques  of  integration,  parametric  and  polar  forms,  logistic  differential  equations,  polynomial  approximations,  convergence  and  divergence  of  a  series  and  Taylor  Series.    There  will  also  be  a  review  of  the  Calculus  AB  course.    This  course  is  highly  recommended  for  those  students  who  plan  to  be  in  science  or  mathematical  related  careers.    Evaluation  in  this  class  is  based  on  student  success  on  assignments,  unit  evaluations  and  use  of  technology.    *Graphing  calculator  needed.  

  AP  Computer  Science  A  explores  the  computer  programming  language  Java  and  how  programs  actually  work.    Students  will  create  their  own  programs  ranging  from  basic  calculators  to  eventually  simple  text-­‐based  games.    (More  advanced  students  will  be  able  to  create  Java  Applet  games  by  the  end  of  the  course).    Motivated  students  will  be  prepared  to  take  the  Advanced  Placement  A  exam  at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  may  continue  on  to  a  second  year  course  where  they  will  learn  more  complicated  programming  techniques,  as  well  as  learn  to  create  more  complicated  programs  and  games.      

  AP  English  Literature  and  Composition  is  an  in-­‐depth  approach  to  studying  a  variety  of  literary  genres.    College-­‐level  literature  serves  as  the  foundation  for  reading  and  writing  analytically;  critical  thinking  is  emphasized.    Junior  students  will  also  complete  the  Oral  History  Project  and  required  components  for  STEP,  and  will  participate  in  the  junior  art  field  trip.    Senior  students  will  do  additional  college  preparatory  projects  in  lieu  of  junior  requirements.    Required:    800  pages  of  summer  reading  and  reading  log.      

  AP  Environmental  Science  combines  the  disciplines  of  geology,  biology,  environmental  studies,  environmental  science,  chemistry,  and  physical  geography.    The  learning  in  the  course  is  also  connected  to  history,  economics,  politics,  and  cultural  anthropology.  Students  will  be  exposed  to  the  scientific  principles,  concepts,  and  methodologies  required  to  understand  the  interrelationships  of  the  natural  world,  to  identify  and  analyze  environmental  problems,  and  to  examine  the  role  science  and  technology  can  play  in  identifying  solutions  for  resolving  and/or  preventing  problems.    Heavy  emphasis  is  placed  on  scientific  processes,  lab  and  outdoor  fieldwork  and  analyzing  current  events.  

  AP  Environmental  Science  (Outdoor  Academy)  The  Outdoor  Academy  combines  AP  Environmental  Science,  language  arts,  and  health  &  fitness  in  an  integrated  model  for  sophomore  students.  The  AP  Environmental  Science  component  is  identical  to  the  description  above  in  the  stand-­‐alone  classroom  model.  

  AP  European  History  will  develop  Advanced  Placement  writing  skills  and  provide  a  background  in  both  European  and  American  History  from  1450  to  present.    The  curriculum  is  designed  to  cover  European  History  beginning  with  the  Renaissance  and  ending  with  the  Cold  War.    The  course  requires  some  extensive  reading  and  study  beyond  other  elective  Social  Studies  classes.      

  AP  Government  focuses  upon  the  constitutional  underpinnings  of  U.S.  government;  political  beliefs  and  behaviors;  political  parties,  interest  groups  and  mass  media;  institutions  of  national  government;  public  policy;  civil  rights  and  civil  liberties.    We  the  People,  a  competitive  scholastic  program,  is  not  a  part  of  this  class.  

  AP  Government  provides  a  collegiate  atmosphere  where  students  can  experience:     interactive  discussions    a  mock  congress  simulation    interactive  lectures    various  projects    citizenship  experiences    unit  exams  formatted  to  fit  the  AP  Exam—timed  multiple  choice  and  free  response  questions—as  well  as  test  taking  and  FRQ  strategies  which  will  be  used  throughout  one’s  college  career.    

  AP  Government  We  the  People  focuses  upon  the  constitutional  underpinnings  of  U.S.  government;  political  beliefs  and  behaviors;  political  parties,  interest  groups  and  mass  media;  institutions  of  national  government;  public  policy;  civil  rights  and  civil  liberties.    We  the  People,  a  competitive  scholastic  program,  is  a  part  of  this  class;  students  will  be  responsible  for  completing  a  comprehensive  summer  homework  assignments  that  covers  all  of  the  basic  concepts  discussed  in  We  The  People  

  Prior  experience  in  AP  European  History  or  AP  U.S.  History  is  NOT  necessary.    The  AP  Government  exam  is  based  on  free-­‐response  questions,  not  on  DBQs,  which  makes  it  less  challenging  for  some  students.  

  AP  Government  is  a  good  way  to  experience  an  AP  course  for  students  who  love  history  or  politics.  The  course  provides  students  with  practice  in  analyzing  and  interpreting  data  and  other  information  relevant  to  U.S.  government  and  politics.  

  AP  Human  Geography  introduces  students  to  the  systemic  study  of  patterns  and  processes  that  have  shaped  human  understanding,  use,  and  alteration  of  Earth's  surface.  Students  use  spatial  concepts  and  landscape  analysis  to  examine  human  social  organization  and  its  environmental  consequences.  They  also  learn  about  the  methods  and  tools  geographers  use  in  their  science  and  practice  

  AP  Psychology.    is  a  one-­‐year  course  of  study  equivalent  to  the  first  year  of  psychology  in  college.    This  course  includes:  biological  bases  of  behavior,  sensation,  perception,  cognition,  states  of  consciousness,  learning,  intelligence,  motivation,  emotion,  developmental  psychology,  personality  study,  social  psychology,  abnormal  psychology,  and  its  treatment.    As  a  result  of  taking  this  class  students  should  be  able  to:    identify  major  personalities  and  areas  of  study  in  the  psychology  field;  be  better  prepared  to  study  physical  therapy,  medicine,  nursing,  education,  law,  mental  health,  police  science,  and  psychology  in  college;  have  acquired  college-­‐level  knowledge  relating  to  basic  developmental  and  physiological  psychology;  and  be  better  prepared  to  take  the  AP  Psychology  test.      

  AP  Physics  B    is  an  accelerated  two-­‐semester  course  covering  the  topics  of  Newtonian  mechanics,  fluid  mechanics,  thermal  physics,  electricity  and  magnetism,  waves  and  optics.  Additional  supplementary  topics  will  be  covered  after  the  AP  exam.  Knowledge  of  algebra  and  trigonometry  is  required  for  this  course.  Calculus  is  not  required.  However,  the  basic  ideas  of  differentiation  and  integration  will  be  introduced  in  connection  with  a  number  of  physical  concepts.    At  least  12  student-­‐conducted  laboratory  investigations  will  be  completed  throughout  the  course.  

  AP  Statistics  A.P.    Statistics  is  designed  to  introduce  students  to  the  major  concepts  and  tools  for  collecting,  analyzing,  and  drawing  conclusions  from  data.    Students  are  exposed  to  four  broad  conceptual  themes:    Exploring  Data,  Sampling  and  Experimentation,  Anticipating  Patterns  and  Statistical  Inference.    The  topics  learned  in  this  course  are  very  helpful  to  students  wishing  to  study  Business  or  Social  Sciences  courses.    *Graphing  calculator  needed.    

  These  four  studio  courses  are  recommended  for  students  wanting  a  career  in  the  fine  arts  or  art  education.  Students  choose  one  in  order  to  develop  an  art  portfolio  representing  different  areas  of  media  and  strength.  Art  work  will  be  evaluated  through  class  participation,  discussion,  development  and  critiquing  art  work  as  well  as  meeting  the  college  board  syllabus  requirements  and  rubric.  The  portfolio  is  evaluated  at  the  end  of  the  year  by  the  College  Board.  

  AP Studio Art-2D   AP Studio Art-2D Graphic Design   AP Studio Art-3D   AP Studio Art-Drawing

  AP  United  States  History  incorporates  both  a  factual  and  interpretive  approach  to  United  States  history,  as  it  follows  the  chronological  development  of  the  United  States  from  settlement  to  present.    Students  will  develop  cognitive  retention  and  further  analytical  thinking  skills  in  the  study  of  American  history.  They  will  develop  the  ability  to  write  comprehensive  historical  essays  using  primary  source  materials  while  incorporating  knowledge  acquired  in  class.  

For  further  questions,  contact  Brooke  Dillon,  AP/UW  Coordinator;  your  son’s  or  daughter’s  counselor;  or  the  teacher  of  the  AP  course.