Flexible Pathways to Expand CS Access
Our thoughtfully scaffolded curriculum balances accessibility and rigor, engaging students at all skill levels. Through our professional development, educators gain additional expertise to adapt the curriculum for a variety of high school contexts and learner needs.
Computer Science Pathways
UTeach Computer Science and Cybersecurity curricula can be offered in almost any order, since the course content is complementary rather than overlapping.
The following recommendations will help you determine the best pathway to fit your high school. While most schools offer CS Principles and CSA for AP credit, students in these courses will benefit from learning how to apply programming and computational thinking skills to real-world projects even if your school offers them as non-AP courses.
Recommended Options
AP Computer Science Principles is often offered to 9th – 12th grade students with a recommended, but not required, Algebra I prerequisite. This is an approachable, foundational course designed to engage all students in computer science, both students new to computing and students with previous programming experience. The course goes beyond programming to address big ideas like creativity, abstraction, data and information, algorithms, the internet, and the global impact of computing. The AP CS Principles curriculum was developed with the explicit intention of broadening participation in the field of computing, so we recommend that all students have the opportunity to take this course.
AP Computer Science A is often offered as a more advanced course to 10th – 12th grade students after they have completed AP Computer Science Principles. AP Computer Science A is a rigorous, college-level course designed to prepare students for advanced coursework and potential career pathways in computer science. The course deep-dives into programming concepts, such as abstraction, data structures, iteration, algorithms, and object-oriented programming.
Foundations of Cybersecurity is a relevant, versatile course designed to provide either a thought-provoking 12th grade capstone or a captivating 9th grade foundation to inspire students to continue in their computer science pathway. The course explores core cybersecurity skills through practical lessons and hands-on labs focused on topics like risk assessment, data security, and cyberattacks.
"My favorite aspect is the projects, which are accessible while still being challenging enough to leave students with a sense of accomplishment." — West Virginia Teacher