Advanced Placement (AP) courses are rigorous, college-level courses developed by the College Board for high school students in the United States and at American schools around the world.
At Life Prep Academy, the AP Program gives students the opportunity to study subjects comparable to introductory college coursework while demonstrating academic readiness in the college admissions process. AP courses offered at Life Prep Academy include:
- AP Calculus
- AP Chemistry
- AP English
- AP U.S. History
- AP Physics
- AP Psychology
- AP Art History
AP Calculus
AP Calculus is an advanced mathematics program for high school students, with two primary courses: AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC.
- AP Calculus AB: Covers fundamental concepts of limits, derivatives, and integrals and is comparable to a first-semester college calculus course.
- AP Calculus BC: Extends beyond the topics covered in Calculus AB to include sequences and series, as well as more advanced applications of derivatives and integrals. The course is comparable to two semesters of introductory college calculus.
AP Chemistry
AP Chemistry is an advanced high school science course that provides students with a foundation comparable to an introductory college chemistry course. Key topics include:
- Atomic Structure: Examining the components of atoms and models of atomic structure.
- Chemical Bonding: Exploring different types of chemical bonds, molecules, and their properties.
- Chemical Reactions: Studying equation balancing, reaction types, and chemical kinetics.
- Thermodynamics: Exploring energy, enthalpy, and entropy.
- Solutions: Studying concentration, acids and bases, and solution equilibria.
AP English
AP English includes two primary courses: AP English Language and Composition and AP English Literature and Composition. Both courses help students develop advanced skills in critical reading, analysis, and academic writing.
- AP English Language and Composition: Focuses on analyzing nonfiction texts and developing skills in persuasive, explanatory, and analytical writing. Students learn to construct logical arguments and support their ideas with relevant evidence.
- AP English Literature and Composition: Focuses on the study of literary works, including poetry, fiction, and drama. Students analyze literary structure, language, and meaning while developing their ability to write thoughtful, evidence-based literary analysis.
AP U.S. History
AP U.S. History (APUSH) is an advanced high school course that provides an in-depth study of U.S. history from the precolonial period through the present day. The course examines significant events, individuals, and movements while developing students’ skills in historical analysis and evidence-based writing.
Key Topics
- The Colonial Era and the American Revolution: Examining the development of the colonies and the causes and course of the American Revolution.
- Building a Nation: Exploring the development of the U.S. government, the Constitution, and territorial expansion.
- The Civil War and Reconstruction: Examining the causes and consequences of the Civil War and the Reconstruction era that followed.
- Industrialization and Urbanization: Exploring the impact of industrialization and the resulting social and economic changes.
- The World Wars and the Cold War: Examining the role of the United States in global affairs and the domestic impact of these conflicts.
- Modern America: Exploring the Civil Rights Movement, domestic and foreign policy, and significant developments in recent U.S. history.
AP Physics
AP Physics is an advanced high school physics program that develops students’ understanding of fundamental physical principles and prepares them for college-level study. The program includes several courses:
- AP Physics 1: Focuses on foundational principles of classical physics, including Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, rotational dynamics, and oscillations. The course does not require advanced calculus and provides an introduction to college-level physics.
- AP Physics 2: Builds on AP Physics 1 and covers topics including thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics. It is designed as a continuation for students who have completed AP Physics 1.
- AP Physics C: Consists of two areas of study: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism. These calculus-based courses use differential and integral calculus to analyze physics problems and are appropriate for students with a strong mathematics background, particularly in calculus.
AP Psychology
AP Psychology is an advanced high school course that introduces students to the major principles and perspectives of psychology. The course is comparable to an introductory college psychology course and explores human behavior, emotion, cognition, and other psychological processes.
Key Topics
- History and Research Methods: Examining the development of psychology and scientific research methods used in the field.
- Biological Bases of Behavior: Exploring the relationship between the nervous system and behavior, including the roles of the brain and genetics.
- Sensation and Perception: Investigating how people receive, process, and interpret information from their environment.
- Learning and Memory: Examining theories of learning, conditioning, and memory processes.
- Development and Personality: Studying human development from childhood through adulthood and major theories of personality.
- Psychological Disorders and Treatment: Exploring different psychological disorders and approaches to treatment.
AP Art History
AP Art History is an advanced high school course that examines the development of art from prehistoric times to the present. Students analyze and interpret works of art while exploring the cultural, historical, and social contexts in which they were created.
Key Topics in AP Art History
- Prehistoric and Ancient Art: Studying works from prehistoric cultures through major civilizations such as ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
- Medieval Art: Exploring art from the Middle Ages, including Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque traditions.
- Renaissance and Baroque Art: Examining major developments of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, including the work of artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt.
- Modern Art: Exploring major artistic movements from the 19th and 20th centuries, including Impressionism, Expressionism, and Dada.
- Contemporary Art: Examining artists and movements from the second half of the 20th century to the present, including Pop Art, digital art, and installation art.
Skills Developed
- Art Analysis: Analyzing elements such as form, style, and technique in works of art.
- Cultural and Historical Context: Connecting works of art to the historical, social, and cultural contexts in which they were created.
- Analytical Writing: Developing the ability to write art-historical analyses and construct evidence-based arguments using specific works of art.
