The document is a letter from a math teacher encouraging a student to take AP Computer Science based on their success in math. It details that AP Computer Science covers topics equivalent to a semester of college computer science, uses Java programming and Linux, and may provide college credit depending on exam scores. The teacher believes the student's math background will help them enjoy learning new computer science concepts like algorithms, data structures, and programming. Students are asked to fill out a form to select AP Computer Science for their course schedule.

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 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) degrees in college.
AP Computer Science (APCS) is a full­year 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
programming language and the Linux Operating System as vehicles to examine
structured programming, objects, methods, classes, and special algorithms.
PreReq = Regents or Honors Geometry.
Students used to take CSH (Computer Science Honors) before taking APCS. However, CSH
is no longer offered and you can take APCS if you’ve already taken Geometry! 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, animation, number systems, chip logic 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
http://shadowfaxrant.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/calcpage2009
Please fill­in the blanks below and return to your counselor.
Name: Grade: Course Selection: Counselor:
____________________ __________ APCS ____________________