Advanced Placement Classes

  • We offer the following AP classes. Helix students must take at least one AP or Dual Enrollment class to graduate. Scroll to the bottom of page for 2024-2025 AP Exam Information.

     

    AP Biology (A/B): (10th-12th)

    Prerequisite: “B” or better in Biology 1C/1H and in Algebra 1C/1H OR teacher recommendation. Prior or concurrent enrollment in Chemistry or Honors Chemistry is recommended but not required.  This year-long, college level course meets every other day (A/B) and is designed to prepare students to take the AP Biology Exam.  It provides an in-depth, laboratory intensive science experience for those motivated students who have a strong interest in science and want to be competitive in their college admissions. At the completion of the course, students are expected to take the College Board’s AP Biology exam and will be well prepared to take the SAT Subject test in Biology. Students may earn college credit if they earn high enough marks on the exam (credit will vary depending on the score and the college). AP Bio meets the Helix Life Science graduation requirement, and fulfills UC/CSU “D” or “G” requirements.

     

    AP Calculus AB/BC:

    Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus 1H with a grade of “B” or better. This is a four-semester course designed for the advanced math student who desires an introduction to college calculus. This course covers the foundations of both differential and integral calculus. Students are required to take the BC AP Exam. This course meets the UC/CSU “C” and “G” requirements.

     

    AP Computer Science A:

    Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra II (or concurrent enrollment) or consent of instructor. This yearlong A/B course introduces students to the formal concepts of object-oriented computer programming, including program design, control structures, data structures and algorithms using the Java programming language. It is a year-long course designed to be comparable to a first year college level computer programming class. In today's world, almost every occupation or endeavor uses some form of computer software. Some knowledge about how software is designed, created and maintained will provide useful background. This course is articulated with Grossmont College (Course CSIS 293), which means earning a grade of “B” or better earns college credit. These credits are transferable to UC/CSU, and possibly to other colleges. For many college majors, AP Computer Science will be the only college course on the subject a student will be required to take. This course satisfies the Helix Technology Requirement. This course meets UC/CSU “C” requirement. 

     

    AP Computer Science Principles: (9-12)

    This yearlong A/B course introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. With a unique focus on creative problem solving and real-world applications, AP Computer Science Principles prepares students for college and career. Whether it’s 3-D animation, video games, engineering, music, app development, medicine, visual design, robotics, or political analysis, computer science is the engine that powers the technology, productivity, and innovation that drive the world. Computer science experience has become an imperative for today’s students and the workforce of tomorrow. This course is complementary to AP Computer Science A. Students can take these courses in any order or at the same time, as schedules permit. Both courses include rigorous computer science content and skills that can be built on to complete further science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and computing studies. This course satisfies the Helix Technology Requirement. Fulfills UC/CSU “G” or “D” requirement. 

     

    AP Environmental Science: (10-12)

    Prerequisites: “B” or better in Biology 1-2C or higher and concurrent enrollment or completion of Chemistry 1-2C, or Physics 1-2C. This year-long A/B laboratory science course provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world. Students will identify and analyze environmental problems, both natural and human-made. Evaluation will be made of these problems as to relative risks, alternative solutions, and prevention strategies. Students are expected to take the College Board AP exam in the spring, thus providing opportunity for college credit for this course. Fulfills UC/CSU “D” or “G” requirement. Click here for the AP Environmental Science website.

     

    AP Human Geography 1-2: (9-12)

    The purpose of the Advanced Placement course in Human Geography is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of our world. Students employ geographical/spatial concepts and tools to analyze topics such as human population movement and organization, cultural patterns and processes, political organization, cultural patterns and processes, political organization, agricultural and rural land use. Students will be expected to integrate college level reading with maps, graphs
    and other spatial data sets to conduct analyses, apply models, and draw conclusions. The AP test will be held in May. Upon completion of this course and successful passing of the AP exam the student may be eligible for college credit at most colleges and universities. Students passing this course earn Social Studies elective credit. This course meets UC/CSU “A” or “G” requirement. If it is offered, students would benefit from taking AP Environmental Science in conjunction with this course. 

     

    AP Physics 1: (10-12)  

    Prerequisites: Students should have taken or be concurrently taking Algebra 2. AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course that explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics; work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound; and introductory, simple circuits. Twenty-five percent of instructional time is devoted to hands-on laboratory work with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations. Investigations will require students to ask questions, make observations and predictions, design experiments, analyze data, and construct arguments in a collaborative setting. At the completion of the course, students are expected to take the College Board’s AP Physics 1 exam. Some students may earn college credit if they earn high enough marks on the exam. Meets Helix graduation for Physical Science. Fulfills UC/CSU “D” or “G” requirement.

     

    AP Psychology 1-2: (10-12)

    This is a year-long A/B college level course, which will introduce you to the ”why” behind human behavior.  You will study and experiment with the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major divisions of Psychology including biology of the brain and behavior, consciousness, learning, personality, cognition, memory and abnormal disorders.  The aim of the AP course is to give a learning experience equivalent to an introductory college psychology course.  The AP test will be held in May.  Upon completion of this course and successful passing of the AP exam the student may be eligible for college credit at most colleges and universities.  Prerequisite:  Teacher or counselor recommendation and evidence of “B” or better in Science/Social Science courses.  Priority will be given to 4th or 5th year students.  Summer Assignment is required.  See Department Chair. Students passing this course earn Social Studies elective credit.  This course meets the UC/CSU “G” requirement.

     

    AP Statistics 1-2:

    Prerequisite: Algebra 2H with a grade of “C” or better or Algebra 2C with a grade of “B” or better AND English
    6C with a grade of “B” or better or Statistics 1C with a grade of “C” or better. This is a year-long course that meets on an A/B
    schedule. It is designed to give students an introduction to college-level statistics and is for students who are interested in
    college fields such as psychology, sociology, business and health. Emphasis is on analyzing data, probability, random variables,
    and applying statistical methods to draw conclusions and solve problems. Students are required to take the Advanced
    Placement exam in Statistics. This course meets the UC/CSU “C” or “G” requirements.

     

    AP Studio Art: (11th-12th)

    If you are planning to continue in art after school or just want an intense, rigorous
    art-making experience, this year-long A/B class is for you. You will broaden your artistic scope, choose an
    area of focus, and learn how to put together a portfolio that shows what you can do. You will work under
    the advisement of the instructor, but will be charting your own exploratory course. This class will prepare
    you for AP Art portfolio submission. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Art 3-4 and instructor
    approval. This course satisfies the “F” Requirement for UC/CSU.

     

    AP U.S. History 1-2: (11)

    This is an everyday year-long college level course focusing on preparing students for the advanced
    placement exam in May. Upon completion of this course and successful passing of the AP exam the student may be eligible
    for college credit at most colleges and universities. The emphasis of this course is in developing writing skills & employing
    critical thinking analysis to documents and texts. This interpretive course considers the American experience from colonial
    times to the present, and requires excellent reading and writing skills. After the AP Exam, the course will focus on preparation
    for the SAT/ACT. Satisfies the graduation requirement for US History, and meets the UC/CSU “A” requirement.

     

    AP World History: (10-12)  

    This is a year-long college level course meeting everyday that focuses on preparing students for the advanced placement exam in May. Students will study the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have shaped the world from c. 1200 CE to the present, from historical networks of exchange and revolutions, to our contemporary globalized world. You’ll analyze texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence so one may better understand the complexity of the human story and how we have arrived at our shared present.  Upon completion of this course and successful passing of the AP exam, the student may be eligible for college credit at most colleges and universities. This course satisfies the graduation requirement for World History.  This course meets the UC/CSU “A” requirement.

     

    AP Exam Only:

    • Spanish
    • Japanese
    • Music Theory