Computer Science and Engineering

Grade 9 Seminar
Grade 9
.5 credit
This course will be team-taught by members of the Computer Science and Health Departments. The computer science component of the seminar will introduce students to leading edges in the world of digital technology, such as AI, cybersecurity, app-making, and digital citizenship, as well as practical topics such as making effective use of spreadsheets. The health component of the seminar will address the physical, mental, social, and emotional challenges of high school and adolescence.
*Required course for Grade 9

Sophomore Seminar*
Grade 10
.5 credit
This seminar, offered by the Computer Science and Health Departments, introduces students to current technologies shaping our world. Alongside technical skills, a significant emphasis is placed on media literacy, empowering students to critically navigate and assess digital information. By engaging with these diverse areas, the course aims to prepare students for the evolving technological landscape. This approach ensures students are well-versed in both the practical applications and ethical implications of modern computer science. The health component of this seminar builds on the components presented in Grade 9 Seminar, addressing the physical, mental, social, and emotional challenges of high school and adolescence. Students strengthen their abilities to recognize, analyze, and react to unhealthy situations and develop the practices and attitudes necessary to lead a productive and balanced life. Classes are conducted as a forum for students to discuss their views in an atmosphere of trust and acceptance. Health classes are built to be age-appropriate, and topics may include external factors that influence health and wellness, life skills, good decision-making, social media, healthy relationships, sexual health and reproduction, drugs and alcohol, and mental illness.
*Required course for sophomores
Offered fall and spring semesters

Software Engineering I
Grades 10‒12
.5 credit
In this course students learn the fundamental programming skills required to design and build software, as well as have multiple experiences applying the Software Development Life Cycle. In addition to learning the fundamentals of programming in Java, this course gives students opportunities to develop important twenty-first-century skills like collaborating with fellow developers, breaking a system down into functional components, and learning how to complete a project on time through an iterative development process. The culminating project in the course has students work to solve a problem of their own choosing.
*Prerequisite: Solving Problems with Technology/Grade 9 Seminar or permission of the department
Offered 2024–25

Software Engineering II*
Grade 10‒12
.5 credit
This course, a continuation of Software Engineering I, explores more advanced concepts of programming in Java. Students will continue to build their twenty-first-century skills while applying the Software Development Life Cycle on both individual as well as team projects. Proper coding techniques will be stressed throughout the course with an emphasis on program structure, documentation, and formatting. This hands-on, project based course affords students the opportunity to hone their skills while building fun and creative applications of increasing complexity.
*Prerequisite: Software Engineering I or permission of the department
Offered 2024–25

Programming in Python*
Grades 10-12
.5 credit
Python has quickly become the world’s most popular programming language and is widely used across fields of study and industries. This course introduces students to the concepts fundamental to all programming languages as well as the unique features and strengths of the Python programming language. Topics covered include basic Python syntax, data types, conditionals, and control structures.
*Prerequisite: Solving Problems with Technology/Grade 9 Seminar or permission of the department
Not offered in 2024-25

Introduction to Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking*
Grades 10-12
.5 credit
This course exposes students to the tools and techniques required to learn the foundations of cybersecurity and other critical computer skills. Students are challenged to be resourceful and creative, using "hacking" as a method for discovering how things work and how system vulnerabilities can be remedied. Hands-on lessons cover a broad range of topics, including safe internet use, networking basics, web privacy, network security, and hacking ethics and laws.
*Prerequisite: Solving Problems with Technology/Grade 9 Seminar or permission of the department
Not offered 2024-25

Design Engineering*
Grade 11
.5 credit
This course will give students multiple experiences applying the Engineering Design Cycle. Using CAD and graphics software, hand tools, a 3D printer, a laser cutter, and a variety of materials, students will design, build, and test a solution to a given problem. Students will apply the engineering design cycle to improve their design’s performance. This course will give students opportunities to develop important twenty-first-century skills such as collaborating with one another, identifying and working effectively to problem solve, honing presentation and writing ability, and learning how to complete a project on time and on budget. Students will document their learning by keeping an engineering notebook.
*Prerequisite: Successful application to the Applied Science Certificate Program
Offered fall and spring semesters

AP Computer Science A*
Grades 11–12
1 credit
This is a college-level course that covers the key concepts of object-oriented programming and prepares students to take the AP exam in the spring. While many days during the year are devoted to lectures, the majority of the course is devoted to labs. Students are given ample class time and close teacher interaction to work on substantial design and programming projects. Throughout the year, students are asked to design and write several small-to-medium-sized programs as well as two major pieces of software from scratch. In addition to the concepts of object-oriented programming, much attention is given to the art of good programming design. Students are challenged not only to write software that works but also to write clean code: software that is efficient and easily understood and maintained. This class challenges students to create.
*Prerequisite: Algebra II–Honors or Precalculus with Function Limits, and permission of the department
Offered 2024–25

Data Structures and Algorithms - Honors*
Grades 11-12
1 credit
This college-level course covers the theory and application of commonly used data structures and related algorithms for maintaining them. Emphasis is placed on efficiency, appropriate use, and the creation of encapsulated, object-oriented data structures. Students learn to implement iterative and recursive sorting algorithms, variations of linear data structures (linked lists, stacks, queues, and hash tables), variations of non-linear data structures (trees, heaps, and graphs), and the algorithms used to process each structure's data. This course will utilize Java language coding assignments in and out of class as a major means of learning about and employing data structures.
*Prerequisite: AP Computer Science A, and permission of the department
Offered 2024–25

Robotics (Non-Lab)*
Grade 12
.5 credit
In this semester course, students are introduced to robotics and computer programming. A study of the logic and algorithmic processes used by computers to perform tasks will lead to use of the programming language Python. As the students develop confidence and mastery in the use of hardware and programming, they will write their own functions to perform simple tasks. As the semester progresses, students will design more advanced programs, based on individual ability and curiosity.
Offered spring semester
*Prerequisite: Algebra II