Advanced Placement (AP) Program
The Advanced Placement Program allows students to engage in college-level learning and show mastery of advanced material by taking AP exams. Students may earn college credit, advanced placement in college, or both from thousands of colleges and universities that participate in the AP Program. Please note that college credit is not guaranteed when taking an AP class. Each college or university determines how they will award credits based on students' scores on AP tests.
The AP Program is administered by the College Board. For more information about the AP Program and the College Board, go to www.collegeboard.org.
HHS offers 22 AP courses, listed below.
Art
AP Studio Art 2-D
Eligible grades: 10, 11, 12; 1 credit
This class is designed for students with a serious interest in art, AP Studio Art—General Portfolio courses enable students to refine their skills and create artistic works to be submitted to the College Board for evaluation. Given the nature of the AP evaluation, the courses typically emphasize quality of work and attention to exploration of a particular visual interest or problem. AP Studio Art—General Portfolio evaluations require submission of artwork exemplifying design in two dimensional art forms such as drawing, color organization, photography. There is a fee for the AP Portfolio submission, as determined by the AP College Board. Students planning to graduate early should not take AP Art 2D & Design.
PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of at least three art courses in 2D media (Drawing, Painting and/or Photography), portfolio review by instructor and AP application.
AP Studio Art 3-D
Eligible grades: 10, 11, 12; 1 credit
This class is designed for students with a serious interest in art, AP Studio Art 3D enables students to refine their skills and create artistic works to be submitted to the College Board for evaluation. Over the course of the year students investigate all three aspects of the portfolio: QUALITY, CONCENTRATION AND BREADTH. The course emphasizes quality of work, attention to and exploration of a particular visual interest or problem, and breadth of experience in the formal, technical, and expressive aspects of the student’s art. AP Studio Art 3D evaluations require submission of artwork exemplifying design in tree dimensional art forms such as sculpture, jewelry or ceramics. This class is recommended for seniors only. There is a fee for the AP Portfolio submission, as determined by the AP College Board. Students planning to graduate early should not take AP Art 3D.
PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of at least three art courses in 3D media (Ceramics, Jewelry Design & Metalsmithing and/or Sculpture), portfolio review by instructor and AP application.
AP Art History
Eligible grades: 9, 10, 11, 12; 1 credit
AP Art History is an introductory college-level art history course. Students cultivate their understanding of art history through analyzing works of art and placing them in historical context as they explore concepts like culture and cultural interactions, theories and interpretations of art, the impact of materials, processes, and techniques on art and art making, and understanding purpose and audience in art historical analysis. All students will be required to take the AP Art History test to receive credit for the class. There is a fee for the AP Art History test, as determined by the AP College Board. Students planning to graduate early should not take AP Art History.
AP Drawing
Eligible grades: 10, 11, 12; 1 credit
This class offers advanced level students the opportunity to explore their creativity and develop their artistic skill in this yearlong art class. Students will experiment with a variety of drawing media and will focus on increasing representational skills as well as abstraction techniques. Students will work with line, tone perspective, composition, pattern and styles in order to refine and expand drawing knowledge and capabilities. After a semester of experimentation, students will choose their favorite media and develop their own style. All students will be required to submit a portfolio of their work to the AP College Board in order to receive credit for the class. There is a fee for the AP Portfolio submission, as determined by the AP College Board. Students planning to graduate early should not take AP Studio Drawing.
PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of at least three art courses. Drawing and/or Painting portfolio review by instructor and AP application.
Computer Science
AP Computer Science Principles
Eligible grades: 9, 10, 11, 12; 1 Credit
AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science. In this course, students will learn to design and evaluate solutions and to apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs. They will incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge. Students will also explain how computing innovations and computing systems, including the Internet, work, explore their potential impacts, and contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical.
PREREQUISITE: Concurrently enrolled in or completion of Integrated Math II
AP Computer Science A
Eligible grades: 10, 11, 12; 1 Credit
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 concepts like modularity, variables, and control structures. The course emphasizes object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language.
PREREQUISITE: AP Computer Science Principles or Coding II AND enrolled or completed Integrated Math II
English
AP English Language
Eligible grade: 11th Grade; 1 credit
Following College Board's suggested curriculum designed to parallel college-level English courses, AP English Language and Composition courses expose students to prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts. This course emphasizes the interaction of authorial purpose, intended audience, and the subject at hand, and through this, students learn to develop stylistic flexibility as they write compositions covering a variety of subjects that are intended for various purposes. Students must take the AP Language and Composition national exam in May. A passing score on this test can enable students to earn college credit. Students should talk with their current English teacher to see if this is an appropriate option for them.
AP English Literature
Eligible grade: 12; 1 credit
Following the College Board’s suggested curriculum designed to parallel college-level English courses, AP English Literature and Composition courses enable students to develop critical standards for evaluating literature. Students study the language, character, action, and theme in works of recognized literary merit; enrich their understanding of connotation, metaphor, irony, syntax, and tone; and write compositions of their own (including literary analysis, exposition, argument, narrative, and creative writing).
Mathematics
AP Calculus A/B
Eligible grades: 11, 12; 1 credit
This class is equivalent to a first semester college calculus and analytic geometry course and follows the College Board’s suggested curriculum designed to parallel college-level calculus courses. AP Calculus AB provides students with an intuitive understanding of the concepts of calculus and experience with its methods and applications. Topics covered include elementary functions, properties of functions and their graphs, limits and continuity, differential calculus (including definition of the derivative, derivative formulas, theorems about derivatives, geometric applications, optimization problems, and rate-of change problems), and integral calculus (including anti derivatives and the definite integral). Activities include in-class oral and written work and extensive work outside the classroom. Students will need to purchase a graphing calculator. Students are required to take the AP Calculus AB Test and can earn 4 college credits by receiving a satisfactory score on the AP Calculus AB test.
PREREQUISITE: Recommended “C” or better in Trigonometry/Precalculus.
AP Calculus B/C
Eligible grades: 11, 12; 1 credit
Following the College Board's suggested curriculum designed to parallel college-level calculus courses, AP Calculus BC courses provide students with an intuitive understanding of the concepts of calculus and experience with its methods and applications, and also require additional knowledge of the theoretical tools of calculus. These courses assume a thorough knowledge of elementary functions, and cover all of the calculus topics in AP Calculus AB as well as the following topics: vector functions, parametric equations, and polar coordinates; rigorous definitions of finite and nonexistent limits; derivatives of vector functions and parametrically defined functions; advanced techniques of integration and advanced applications of the definite integral; and sequences and series.
PREREQUISITE: Recommended “C” or better in AP Calculus AB
AP Statistics
Eligible grades: 10, 11, 12; 1 credit
Probability and Statistics courses focus on descriptive statistics, with an introduction to inferential statistics. Topics typically include event probability, normal probability distribution, collection and description of data, frequency tables and graphs, measures of central tendency and variability, random variables, and random sampling. Course topics may also include covariance and correlation, central limit, theorem, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing.
PREREQUISITE: Math III or higher with Teacher Recommendation.
Science
AP Biology
Eligible grades: 11, 12; 1 credit
AP Biology is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year. After showing themselves to be qualified on the AP Exam, some students in their freshman year are permitted to undertake upper-level courses in biology or to register for courses for which biology is a prerequisite. The AP Biology course is designed to be taken by students after the successful completion of a first course in high school biology and one in high school chemistry as well. It aims to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. Accordingly, goals have been set for percentage coverage of three general areas: I. Molecules and Cells, 25% II. Heredity and Evolution, 25% III. Organisms and Populations, 50% The two main goals of AP Biology are to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and an appreciation of science as a process. Students are required to complete the AP exam at the end of the course. AP Biology courses stress basic facts and their synthesis into major biological concepts and themes. These courses cover three general areas: molecules and cells (including biological chemistry and energy transformation); genetics and evolution; and organisms and populations (i.e., taxonomy, plants, animals, and ecology). AP Biology courses include college-level laboratory experiments.
PREREQUISITES: A or B in Biology & Chemistry or consent of instructor
AP Chemistry
Eligible grades: 11, 12; 1 credit
This is a rigorous extension of CP Chemistry. This course follows the curricula recommended by the College Board and conducts laboratory experiments equivalent to college courses. This course will encompass topics included in the college course such as atomic theory, bonding, stoichiometry, acid-base, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, solutions, chemical equilibrium, etc. Students should be prepared to devote approximately 10 hours per week outside of class doing homework and studying. Students are required to complete the AP exam at the end of the course and can earn college credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5 (varies with different colleges).
PREREQUISITE: Math 3 with a grade of C or better or consent of instructor; a “C” or better in C.P. Chemistry or consent of instructor
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Eligible grades: 11, 12; 1 credit
This course is designed by the College Board to parallel college-level physics courses that serve as a foundation for science or engineering majors. It is an in-depth extension of the CP Physics class with the introduction of some new topics including rotational motion, equilibrium and simple harmonic motion. The mathematical treatment of these topics will employ calculus that will be developed in parallel with work in that class. This class is strongly recommended for students interested in engineering, medicine, and mathematically related fields. This course will prepare students for the AP Physics Mechanics-C Exam. Students are required to complete the AP exam at the end of the course.
PREREQUISITE: Completion of or enrollment in AP calculus or instructor consent; CP Physics or consent of instructor
AP Environmental Science
Eligible grades: 11, 12; 1 credit
AP Environmental Science courses are designed by the College Board to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, identify and analyze environmental problems (both natural and human made), evaluate the relative risks associated with the problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Topics covered include science as a process, ecological processes and energy conversions, earth as an interconnected system, the impact of humans on natural systems, cultural and societal contexts of environmental problems, and the development of practices that will ensure sustainable systems. AP Environmental Science is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science This is an interdisciplinary class. This course does include a laboratory and field component to allow the students to learn using firsthand observations and allow them to test concepts and principles that are introduced in the classroom. Students are required to complete the AP exam at the end of the course.
PREREQUISITES: A or B in Biology & A or B in Chemistry or Earth Science or consent of instructor
Social Studies
AP World History/Geography
Eligible grades: 9, 10; 1 credit
AP World History Modern is an introductory college-level modern world history course. Students cultivate their understanding of world history from c. 1200 CE to the present through analyzing historical sources and learning to make connections and craft historical arguments as they explore concepts like humans and the environment, cultural developments and interactions, governance, economic systems, social interactions and organization, and technology and innovation.
AP US History
Eligible grade: 11; 1 credit
This course is an option for junior students who are still required to take an 11th grade core but would like the additional challenge of preparing for the Advanced Placement Exam in United States History. Because this is an AP class, students must demonstrate an exceptionally high degree of self-motivation and responsibility to be successful. Course content will be expanded to begin with the colonial era but still finish with the 20th century. Because essay writing is an important component of the AP test, writing skills will be emphasized. Students must take the AP US History national exam in May. A passing score on this test can enable students to earn college credit. Students should talk with their current Social Studies teacher to see if this is an appropriate option for them.
Note: This class satisfies Colorado’s high school US History requirement.
AP Psychology
Eligible grade: 12; 1 credit
AP Psychology introduces students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of humans and animals. Students are exposed to each major subfield within psychology, and will examine the methods that psychologists use in their science and practice. This course follows a College Board approved curriculum, and is designed to parallel a college-level psychology course
AP US Government & Politics
Eligible grade: 12; 1 credit
The content provided is current and timely as of January 2023. Information is presented in summary form and policies, procedures, fees and course titles are subject to change. This is a senior elective that offers students a nonpartisan introduction to foundational political concepts that define the constitutional system of the United States. Per College Board's Course Description, "students will study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behaviors. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, they will complete a political science research or applied civics project."
World Languages
AP French Language
Eligible grades: 11,12; 1 credit
Designed to parallel third-year college-level courses in French Composition and Conversation, AP French Language courses build upon prior knowledge and develop students’ ability to understand others and express themselves (in French) accurately, coherently, and fluently. Students will develop a vocabulary large enough to understand literary texts, magazine/newspaper articles, films and television productions, and so on.
PREREQUISITE: French IV
AP German Language
Eligible grades: 11,12; 1 credit
Designed to parallel third-year college-level courses in German Language, AP German Language courses build upon prior knowledge and develop students’ ability to understand spoken German in various conversational situations, to express themselves (in German) accurately and fluently, and to have a command of the structure of the German language. Students will develop a vocabulary large enough to understand literature, magazine/newspaper articles, films and television productions, and so on. Upon successful completion of at least two years of German, students are encouraged to take part in the HHSFRG GAPP student exchange program with the Friedrich-Rückert-Gymnasium in Ebern, Germany.
PREREQUISITE: German III or equivalent
AP Spanish Language
Eligible grades: 11,12; 1 credit
Designed by the College Board to parallel third-year college-level courses in Spanish Composition and Conversation, AP Spanish Language courses build upon prior knowledge and develop students’ ability to understand others and express themselves (in Spanish) accurately, coherently, and fluently in both formal and informal situations. Students will develop a vocabulary large enough to understand literary texts, magazine/newspaper articles, films and television productions, and so on. .Note: The C.U. Succeed Program Option is available to Spanish IV students. In addition to regular high school credit, students can register for college credit. The course is taught by Horizon High School faculty whose academic credentials and experience are deemed appropriate for appointment as adjunct faculty in CU Denver’s world language department. The registration fee is $231.00 per semester for 3 semester hours of credit each semester (price is subject to change). This course appears on an official University of Colorado transcript.
PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of Spanish IV (recommended C or better)
