Wyomissing AreaJunior Senior High School

Computer Science                   

582      INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER APPLICATIONS – GRADE 8    
.5 Credits                                                                              
6 Periods/Cycle/1 Quarter

This course introduces students to the popular Microsoft Word and Excel programs. It covers the basics of word processing and spreadsheet operations.

501      MICROSOFT OFFICE APPLICATIONS – Grades 9 - 12                     
.5 Credits     
6 Periods/Cycle/Semester 1                                                                               

This course provides students with valuable business and personal computer skills. Students will learn advanced Microsoft Office techniques, strategies and skills with popular business and personal productivity word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Using Word, Excel, and/or PowerPoint programs, students will follow an exercise-oriented approach to solving practical problems and developing effective presentations.

502      ADVANCED SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY – Grades 9 - 12                                                
.5 Credits
6 Periods/Cycle/Semester 1

Students will learn advanced Microsoft Office techniques, strategies and skills with popular business and personal productivity word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Using Word, Excel, and/or PowerPoint programs, students will follow an exercise-oriented approach to solving practical problems and developing effective presentations. This course may lead to an opportunity for students to obtain Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification by passing a certification exam to validate their skills and advanced their careers. Successful completion of Microsoft Office Applications (501) is a prerequisite for a student to take the MOS certification exam.

504      INTRO TO COMPUTER SCIENCE – GRADES 9 - 12                         
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Semester 1 or 2

This course, commonly referred to as Python I, is an introduction to computer science and provides students insight into how a computer "thinks" and how it can be used to solve practical problems. Students design interactive programs with graphics and animation using the Python programming language.  This course focuses on developing computational thinking and analytical skills that are important for many 21st century career paths.  It also satisfies the school technology graduation requirement. Many students follow this semester course with Computer Science: Games & Apps (505) in the spring semester of the same school year.

505      COMPUTER SCIENCE: GAMES & APPS – GRADES 9 - 12              
.5 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/Semester 1 or 2

This course, commonly referred to as Python II, extends the Intro to Computer Science course (504) and includes the popular Game Project, a large Python program entirely designed and coded by the student. By the end of the course, students produce their own portfolio of computer programs. Successful completion of Intro to Computer Science (504) is a prerequisite. This course is recommended for those who want to pursue more advanced technology and computer science courses since it is a prerequisite for many of those courses.

509      AP COMPUTER SCIENCE A - JAVA – GRADES 10 - 12                        
1 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/All Year

Advanced Placement courses are offered to prepare students for the Advanced Placement examination in May. Students who enroll in AP courses must pay for and take the standardized exam in May according to the College Board schedule. Participating universities and colleges may grant credit and/or appropriate course placement to students who have earned a qualifying score on the AP exam. For more detailed information about the Advanced Placement Program, please refer to the opening pages of the Program of Studies.

This course is also offered as a Dual Enrollment course through Reading Area Community College. Students who enroll in a Dual Enrollment course pay the cost per credit to Reading Area Community College. Participating universities and colleges may grant transfer credit to students who earn a qualifying grade for the course. For more detailed information about Dual Enrollment, please refer to the opening pages of the Program of Studies.

Students use the computer language Java to code interactive, object-oriented programs that are graphical and text-based. Students must take the AP Computer Science A Exam at the end of the school year. Earning an A in Computer Science: Games & Apps (505) is a prerequisite.   

510      AP COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES  – GRADES 10 - 12                
1 Credit                   
6 Periods/Cycle/All Year

Students study the foundations of modern computing and build socially useful mobile apps. The course covers a range of topics that include programming, algorithms, how the Internet works, digital privacy and security, and the impact of computing on people and society. Students learn to collect and visualize data finding patterns in the tremendous amount of data collected every day. Students apply creativity by producing graphics, animations, and simulations. They collaborate and communicate as they perform research and create group projects. This course is a blend of PSYCHOLOGY focusing on user experience (UX), ART focusing on user interface, SOCIAL STUDIES and BUSINESS focusing on innovation and impact on society, and just enough CODING to create socially useful mobile apps. Students must take the national AP Computer Science Principles exam, which includes a hands-on performance task. Learn more about this course at mobile-csp.org.  To take this course, a student must earn an A or B in the prerequisite course, Computer Science: Games & Apps (505).

 Advanced Placement courses are offered to prepare students for the Advanced Placement examination in May. Students who enroll in AP courses must pay for and take the standardized exam in May according to the College Board schedule. Participating universities and colleges may grant credit and/or appropriate course placement to students who have earned a qualifying score on the AP exam. For more detailed information about the Advanced Placement Program, please refer to the opening pages of the Program of Studies.

515      SOFTWARE DESIGN – GRADES 10 - 12                                     
516      HONORS SOFTWARE DESIGN – GRADES 10 - 12        
.5 Credit                             
6 Periods/Cycle/Semester                                                                     

Students learn advanced computer science concepts, data structures and algorithms as they create projects with computer languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, C# and C++. This semester course can be repeated for the student to discover additional areas of interest in computer science such as artificial intelligence, game development, data science, graphics, music and science simulation. Successful completion of Introduction to Computer Science (504) and Computer Science: Games & Apps (505) are prerequisites. This semester course can be repeated more than once. Earning an A or B in Computer Science: Games and Apps (505) is a prerequisite for 516 Honors Software Design.

517      HONORS COMPUTER SCIENCE - CAPSTONE
GRADES 11 - 12                     
1 Credit
6 Periods/Cycle/All Year

Students learn and apply advanced computer science concepts to complete large projects. This culminating course builds upon the skills developed in a sequence of prerequisite courses. Students direct much of their own learning as they innovate and build a portfolio of projects. Students may be expected to participate in activities or competitions outside of class.  Successful completion of courses 509, 510, 516 or 515 with an A or B is a prerequisite.

518 STEM ROBOTICS – GRADES 10 - 12                
 .5 Credit  
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester                                          

In the first level of STEM Robotics, students will familiarize themselves with VEX robotics parts and programming.  They will use STEM resources including hardware development with VEX robotics equipment and software development with RobotC, VexCode, and/or other programming languages.  Significant responsibility is placed on the student to innovate and show initiative as well as to document and reflect his or her learning.  Students may incur costs for some self-selected projects and participation in activities or competitions outside of class may be required.  Successful completion of Computer Science: Games and Apps (505) is a prerequisite for 518 STEM Robotics.

520      HONORS STEM ROBOTICS I – GRADES 10 - 12 
.5 Credit  
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester

In the first level of STEM Robotics, students will familiarize themselves with VEX robotics parts and programming.  They will use STEM resources including hardware development with VEX robotics equipment and software development with RobotC, VexCode, and/or other programming languages.  Significant responsibility is placed on the student to innovate and show initiative as well as to document and reflect his or her learning.  Students may incur costs for some self-selected projects and participation in activities or competitions outside of class may be required.  Earning an A or B in Computer Science: Games and Apps (505) is a prerequisite for 520 Honors STEM Robotics 1.

522      HONORS STEM ROBOTICS II – GRADES 10 - 12
.5 Credit  
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester

Students research, design, test, redesign, and implement practical solutions to real-world problems with various kinds of technology. They use available STEM resources including software development tools to design and work with STEM lab equipment such as 3D printers, CNC machines, laser engravers, wide format printers, and Arduino microcontrollers.  Significant responsibility is placed on the student to innovate and show initiative as well as to document and reflect his or her learning with an online portfolio. Students may incur costs for some self-selected projects and participation in activities or competitions outside of class may be required.  Earning an A or B in STEM Robotics 1 (518) or completion of Honors STEM Robotics 1 (520) is a prerequisite.

524      HONORS STEM ROBOTICS III/Capstone – Grades 11 - 12               
.5 Credit                                                                               
6 Periods/Cycle/Per Semester

Student research, design, test, redesign, and implement practical solutions to real-world problems with various kinds of available STEM resources.  Significant responsibility is placed on the student to innovate and show initiative as well as to document and reflect his or her learning with an online portfolio.  Students may incur costs for some self-selected projects and participation in activities or competitions outside of class may be required.  This course may be repeated more than once but more extensive projects and detailed project proposals, work logs, and other documentation are required.  Completion of Honors STEM Robotics II (522) is a prerequisite.