The Computer Science Pathway is part of Overland High School's Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings, and take place in the Pathways at Overland building. Student will register for the CTE Pathway courses through the high school registration process.
These college-level computer science courses introduce students to foundational and advanced computing concepts. AP Computer Science Principles explores the broad field of computer science, teaching students to design and evaluate solutions, develop algorithms and programs, use data for discovery, and understand the societal and ethical impacts of computing. AP Computer Science A focuses on coding fundamentals, helping students analyze, write, and test programs while learning concepts such as variables, modularity, and control structures. The follow-up course builds on AP Computer Science A, covering advanced data structures (arrays, lists, stacks, queues, trees, hash tables) and introducing basic algorithm development techniques, preparing students for more complex problem-solving and computational thinking.
Skills Developed
Students in these courses develop critical problem-solving and logical thinking skills, as well as programming and software development abilities. They gain experience in algorithm design, data analysis, and debugging, and learn to work with complex data structures. Additionally, students strengthen collaboration, ethical reasoning, and computational thinking, equipping them for college-level computer science studies and careers in technology.
Careers
Software Developer/Engineer Average Salary $138K
Web Developer Average Salary $95K
Systems Analyst Average Salary $103K
Machine Learning Engineer Average Salary 109K
IT Project Manager Average Salary $98K
Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer... because it teaches you how to think. - Steve Jobs
AP Computer Science Principles is an introductory college-level computing course that introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science. Students learn to design and evaluate solutions and to apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs. They incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge. Students also explain how computing innovations and computing systems—including the internet—work, explore their potential impacts, and contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical.
Grades: 9-12
Length: 1 Year
Credits: 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Geometry (may be taken concurrently) or teacher recommendation. Prior programing experience recommended.
AP Computer Science A is an introductory college-level computer science course. Students cultivate their understanding of coding through analyzing, writing, and testing code as they explore concepts like modularity, variables, and control structures.
Grades: 10-12
Length: 1 Year
Credit: 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Algebra 2 (may be taken concurrently) and Computer Science Principles or teahcer recommendation. Prior programming experience recommend.
This course is a college level course that is a follow-up to AP Computer Science A. This course will cover additional data structures, which include, but are not limited to, arrays, lists, stacks, and queues, trees, and hash tables. This course will also expose students to basic algorithmic development techniques as related to the data structures studied.
Grades: 11-12
Length: 1 Year
Credit: 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Successful completion of AP Computer Science or Teacher Recommendation
Related Higher Education in Colorado
University of Colorado Boulder: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of Colorado Denver: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Metro State University: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Colorado Technical University: Online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
