Computer Science

The Computer Science Department encourages students to use and create computer applications that are helpful in learning, managing information, and solving problems in all subject areas. Our goal is to help students develop a sense of control over computers and to learn a variety of tools and techniques for exercising that control. Problem-solving skills are emphasized in all areas of this curriculum. Since the use of computers and software is prevalent throughout all the discipline areas, basic computer literacy is assumed for students. The curriculum provides courses in applications for further study, as well as higher-level courses for students with the interest and talent to pursue specific areas in the field of computer science.

Year Course

AP/IB Computer Science
AP/IB Computer Science is a course covering the equivalent of the first semester in computer science at the college level. The goals of this course are to master structured programming techniques, the constructs of the Java language, algorithm development, and problem solving. The IB component of this course prepares students for the SL exam.

Computer Science: Semester Courses

Business Computing Technologies
This course is designed to teach 21st century skills through a project-based hands-on approach. The projects are designed to broaden student knowledge in core content areas as well as teach global awareness and financial, economic, and business literacy. Projects include standard format business letters and memos, newsletters, balance sheet, stock market analyses, rubrics, inventory databases, and a business presentation. The text, "A guide to Microsoft Office 2003 for Information and Communication Technologies" is correlated to the National Standards for Business Education.

An Introduction to Computer Science
This course is designed to give interested students a breadth-first overview of the diverse world of computer science. The layers of a computing system are carefully explained beginning with the information layer; working through the hardware, programming, operating system, application, and communication layers; and ending with a discussion of the limitations of computing. It is an excellent prerequisite to AP Computer Science.

Web Page Design
This course is designed for students with basic computer application skills, who are interested in advancing their knowledge of web page development, graphic design, and knowledge of the World Wide Web. Students will create webpages using HTML, Flash, JavaScript, and Frontpage. Students will build on each project through applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. This course will also focus on multimedia presentation. (Open to grades 10, 11, and 12.)

Cyber Ethics
This course will provide an examination of ethical, legal, and social issues generated by the use of computers and computer networks, including the Internet and the World Wide Web. Topics include: privacy and security, computer crime and software piracy, intellectual property and information ownership, computers and gender, computers and social justice, and civil liberties in cyberspace. In the process of examining these issues we will identify some of the legal disputes, which will most likely become paradigm cases for more complex situations yet to come. (Open to grades 10, 11, and 12)