The document is a letter from a math teacher recommending a student take AP Computer Science based on their success in math classes. It describes AP Computer Science as a full-year honors course covering topics equivalent to one semester of a college computer science major, using the Java programming language. Some topics that may be covered include computer literacy, arrays, functions, classes, data structures, and algorithms. The teacher strongly recommends the student consider taking AP Computer Science to gain useful skills for STEM fields in college.

1. Mathematics Department
Baldwin Senior High School
Dear Math Student: Course Selection Week!!!
Congratulations, you are to be commended for all your hard work and success in
Math class so far this year! Due to your dedication to the study of Mathematics, you have
been selected to take AP Computer Science as described below. You really should
understand Computer Science to be successful in many careers nowadays. Computer
Programming is a very useful skill in all Science and Technical degrees in college. A good
background in computing can even help you in fields related to Statistics, Economics,
Sociology and Psychology!
AP Computer Science (APCS) is a full-year course of study for 1 Math Credit with
Honors/AP track weighting. APCS covers topics that would normally comprise one
semester of a college level Computer Science major. College credit may be granted
based on the student’s performance on the May AP Exam. We will use the Java for
Linux programming language as a vehicle to examine structured programming,
objects, methods, classes, modular design, special algorithms and data structures.
PreReq = Computer Science Honors (CSH) OR a Senior who has not had the
opportunity to take CSH but has taken Math 3R, Math 4R–11 or Math 4H.
Students usually take CSH before taking APCS. However, you may take APCS as
a Senior if you’ve already taken Math 3R, Math 4R–11 or Math 4H. Topics explored in
APCS may include:
computer literacy, mechanical and electronic computers, bits and bytes, ethics, top–
down design, initialization, conditional statements, looping structures, iteration,
recursion, 1D and 2D arrays, console IO, visual IO, files, functions, parameter
passing, value and reference parameters, actual and formal parameters, class
interface and implementation, inheritance and polymorphism, objects, object
instantiation, object properties, object methods, data structures, strings, vectors,
matrices, searching and sorting, simulations, random walks, complexity,
computability, encryption, hash tables, very large integers, Mersenne primes, FLT,
sound, graphics, fractals, animation, HTML and Linux Clusters!
I strongly recommend that you consider taking APCS next year. Don’t worry, not
taking CSH before APCS will not put you at a disadvantage as we start learning the Java
language in APCS from scratch. With your superior math background, I know that you will
enjoy learning and discovering new concepts in Computer Science!
Sincerely,
A. Jorge García
calcpage@aol.com
Applied Math & CompSci
Baldwin SHS & Nassau CC
http://shadowfaxrant.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/calcpage2009
Please fill-in the blanks below and return to your teacher.
Name: Grade: Course Selection: Counselor:
____________________ __________ APCS
____________________