Von Steuben is proud to support 17 Advanced Placement (AP) courses in seven different departments. 

OVERVIEW: Advanced Placement (AP) Offerings @ Von Steuben

NOTE: The AP Science offerings require students to take the appropriate lab course (listed below) for each science offering.

DESCRIPTIONS: Advanced Placement (AP) Offerings @ Von Steuben

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

17310            ADV                     ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH: LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION                                                                                      1 CREDIT

Students in A.P. English Language and Composition will read and analyze a wide range of non-fiction prose, from many historical contexts, with an emphasis on developing an awareness of how language and rhetoric work. Course readings feature expository, analytical, personal, and argumentative texts. Through close reading and frequent writing, students will develop a strong awareness of author purpose and audience, as well as the resources of language: diction, imagery, syntax and tone.     

Prerequisite: Grades of A or B in previous English classes, good attendance in previous years (more than three absences in any quarter could disqualify you.) and 11^th or 12^th grade standing.

 17110           ADV                     ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH: LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION                                                                                      1 CREDIT

This is a college level course that engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers.  Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam.

                Prerequisite: Grades of A or B in previous English classes, good attendance in previous years (more than three absences in any quarter could disqualify you.) and 11^th or 12^th grade standing.

SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT

27210            ADV                       ADVANCED PLACEMENT GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: U.S.                                                                                                  1 CREDIT

This college level course focuses on giving students a broad knowledge of the theoretical basis behind American government and a thorough understanding of how the system really works.  Major topics include civil rights and civil liberties, institutions of government such as the Congress, the presidency, the courts, the media, interest groups, political parties and election campaigns, and the philosophic basis for our government.  Students will be expected to take the Advanced Placement Exam in May.

                      Prerequisite: 11^th or 12^th grade standing, B average in previous honors history courses or recommendation of current history teacher

27510            ADV                                    ADVANCED PLACEMENT EUROPEAN HISTORY                                                                                                              1 CREDIT

This college level course is the study of European history from 1400 to the present. The material will be organized around the basic themes of political and diplomatic, intellectual, cultural, social, and economic history.  Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam.

                      Prerequisite: 11^th or 12^th grade standing, B average in previous honors history courses or recommendation of current history teacher

27610            ADV                                ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY                                                                                                           1 CREDIT

This college level course is a study of American History. The course content includes the periods beginning with the colonial era to the present. The material will focus on the following themes: political, diplomatic, intellectual, cultural, social, and economic history. Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam.

          Prerequisite: 10^th, 11^th or 12^th grade standing, B average in previous honors history courses or recommendation of current history teacher

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

37210            ADV                                              ADVANCED PLACEMENT BIOLOGY                                                                                                                        1 CREDIT

A college level course in the biological sciences that consists of lecture/discussions and extensive laboratory work. Major topics will include molecules and cells, heredity and evolution, and organisms and populations. Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam.  This course must be taken along with Science Lab: Biology, a credit-bearing honors lab.

            Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in Biology, Chemistry and English, recommendation of current science teacher, and 11^th or 12^th grade standing.

30001            HON                                                       SCIENCE LAB: BIOLOGY                                                                                                                                   1 CREDIT

This course is the lab component of an Advanced Placement course.  It is an honors level lab that provides students with various opportunities of learning.  According to the College Board website, “Lab experience is integral to the AP Biology course because it completes the learning process that begins with the lectures and discussions in the classroom. Students must have lab experience if they are going to achieve the desired level of comprehension of a concept, theme, topic, or skill, let alone demonstrate to the college of their choice that they have had the equivalent of a complete college introductory-level biology course experience.”

37410            ADV                                            ADVANCED PLACEMENT CHEMISTRY                                                                                                                       1 CREDIT

This college level chemistry course is designed to enhance problem-solving skills, develop the ability to express ideas clearly and logically, improve laboratory skills and give a firm mathematical foundation in the science of chemistry. Topics will include stoichiometry, gas laws, acid-base, energy, atomic theory, solution equilibria and reaction kinetics. Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam. This course must be taken along with Science Lab: Chemistry, a credit-bearing honors lab.

                        Prerequisite: Grade of B or better in Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry and Physics (Physics may be taken concurrently) and recommendation of current science teacher

                        NOTE:                     The A.P. requirements include 20 additional labs which will be scheduled either before or after the regular school day, and 11^th or 12^th grade standing

30003            HON                                                     SCIENCE LAB: CHEMISTRY                                                                                                                                 1 CREDIT

This course is the lab component of an Advanced Placement course.  This lab time is devoted for students to fully understand chemistry topics and their applications to practical situations.  Students will connect what is learned in the chemistry classroom with what is learned during the laboratory time to better understand the study of chemistry at a college level.

37610            ADV                              ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE                                                                                                         1 CREDIT

This college level course is designed to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam.  This course must be taken along with Science Lab: Environmental Science, a credit-bearing honors lab.

                Prerequisite: Grade B or better in Biology, Chemistry, and Algebra, and recommendation of current science teacher, and 11^th or 12^th grade standing.

30004            HON                                       SCIENCE LAB: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE                                                                                                                   1 CREDIT

This course is the lab component of an Advanced Placement course.  It is an honors level lab that provides students with opportunities to: “learn and practice scientific methods; observe nature in operation; design experiments; form and test hypotheses; collect and analyze data; interpret results; and organize and communicate findings to others,” according to the College Board website.

37310            ADV                                              ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS                                                                                                                          1 CREDIT

This college level physics course is a rigorous program for students who have a deep interest in physics. The aim is to further develop the students understanding of the laws of physics and the application of these laws to the physical world. Topics will include mechanics, electricity, magnetism, fluid mechanics, thermal physics, waves & optics, and atomic & nuclear physics. Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam.  This course must be taken along with Science Lab: Physics, a credit-bearing honors lab.

                Prerequisite: Grade B or better in Advanced Algebra Trig or Advanced Algebra Trig with Pre-calculus, Physics, and recommendation of current teacher, and 11^th or 12^th grade standing.

30002            HON                                                        SCIENCE LAB: PHYSICS                                                                                                                                   1 CREDIT

This course is the lab component of an Advanced Placement course.  Students are engaged in their work at a variety of levels: data recording, drawing conclusions; problem solving; set up and modification of lab equipment; group laboratories; and scientific research.

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

47210  ADV                                                      ADVANCED PLACEMENT CALCULUS                                                                                                                        1 CREDIT

This advanced mathematics course will include derivatives and their applications, local and absolute maxima and minima values, concavity, related rates and optimization of functions. Second semester will focus on integral calculus with applications to area and volume. Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam (AB).

            Prerequisite: Honors College Algebra or Pre Calculus with a minimum grade of C and recommendation of teacher.

47410    ADV                                                    ADVANCED PLACEMENT STATISTICS                                                                                                                        1 CREDIT

The centerpiece of this course is a thorough examination of concepts dealing with the collecting, representation and analysis of data. Students must be able to master the ability to clearly present their analysis in a coherent and rigorous fashion. This course is designed to cover those topics which are necessary to perform well on the AP Statistic Exam.

            Prerequisite: Advanced Algebra, Pre-Calculus, College Algebra minimum grade of B and recommendation of current math teacher.

COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

47610                                                                                            ADV ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPUTER SCIENCE (JAVA)                                                     1 CREDIT

This course is a college-level computer science course.  It emphasizes programming methodology and procedural abstraction.  JAVA is the vehicle for implementing computer-based solutions to real problems.  JAVA provides a standard mechanism for emphasizing and implementing modularity and abstraction.  It includes the study of algorithms, data structures, and data abstraction.  The primary purpose of the course is to provide a conceptual background in computing and computer science.  Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam.

                Prerequisite:  Recommendation of Mr. McDonald

WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

57210            ADV                    ADVANCED PLACEMENT FRENCH LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION                                                                                                1 CREDIT

This Advanced Placement program encompasses all the elements of proper grammar, creative writing, reading comprehension, speaking and listening skills. Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam.

                Prerequisite: French II and recommendation of French instructor

57810            ADV                   ADVANCED PLACEMENT SPANISH LANGUAGE  & COMPOSITION                                                                                              1 CREDIT

This college-level course encompasses all the elements of proper grammar, creative writing, reading comprehension, oral discourse (presentations), and listening skills. Students will take the Advanced Placement Exam

            Prerequisite: Spanish for Spanish Speakers plus recommendation of Mr. Herrera, Ms. Rivas or Mr. Galiano.

FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT

91610            ADV                                           ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDIO ART                                                                                                                      1 CREDIT

This college-level course is intended for the advanced student, who plans to pursue art as a career. Students are required to do work outside the classroom in preparation for Advance Placement Portfolio evaluation. The portfolio requires development of breath, quality and one of these concentrations, drawing, 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional work. Each student creates a formal presentation by using slides, matting and mounting their art works. Students are required to submit their Advanced Placement Portfolio to the College Board and enter in the All City Art Fair.

  Prerequisite: Art, Studio Art, and recommendation of art teacher

90010            ADV                                          ADVANCED PLACEMENT ART HISTORY                                                                                                                     1 CREDIT

This college-level course studies art history and requires museum and gallery visits. Students develop the ability to understand and appreciate the visual arts from prehistoric times through contemporary movements. Paintings, sculpture, architecture, and photography are examined in lecture, discussion, readings, slides, films, and tapes. Students also further develop their aesthetics and art criticism skills through viewing works of Western art of the Middle ages, Renaissance, Romantic, Cubism, Dada, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop and Post-Modernism. Students are required to take the Advanced Placement Art History examination.

                Prerequisite: 11^th or 12^th grade standing