The Magnet Computer Science courses, like the Magnet Science
courses, consist of required courses in the Ninth and Tenth Grade,
and electives for Eleventh and Twelfth Graders. Students whose interests
lie outside of computer science need not take any more CS course after
their Sophomore year, while those who enjoy the discipline have up
to nine electives to choose from.
Ninth Graders begin with the year-long Fundamentals
of Computer Science course, a nontraditional course that focuses
not on computer programming, but on how to use the computer as an
effective tool, especially in the context of science and mathematics.
The Fundamentals course curriculum is heavily integrated in to the
curriculums of other required Ninth Grade courses, namely Magnet
Physics, Magnet Chemistry,
and Research and Experimentation I.
As Sophomores, Magnet students take Algorithms
and Data Structures, a two-semester computer science programming
course. Students are introduced to the basic algorithms (methods of
solving problems) and useful data structures (ways of storing data
effectively and efficiently) used in computer programming.
Of the Magnet CS electives, all of which are one-semester course,
most students who choose to take more computer science start with
Analysis of Algorithms, as it is a prerequisite
for many of the other computer science electives (please see the individual
course pages for details regarding specific prerequisites). This course
picks up where Algorithms and Data Structures left off, teaching the
students more advanced algorithms and data structures used in the
computer world. After successful completion of this course, students
are ready to take the A.P. Computer Science Exam.
The electives Modeling and Simulation and Computational
Methods are offered on alternative years. If, as a Blair
student, you are interested in these courses, make sure you plan ahead,
as one of them will be offer only your Junior year, and the
other only your Senior year. Modeling and Simulation is for
students interested in modeling physical, biological, economic, and
social systems. Computational Methods exams the ways electronic computational
devices (computers, calculators, etc.) solve problems in mathematics,
science, and engineering.
Other Magnet CS electives include Computer Graphics,
in which use the Java programming language to create computer programs
relating to images (it is not an art course...take the Digital
Art course in Blair's Fine Arts
Department for this kind of course), 3D Graphics (link coming
soon), which takes the Computer Graphics into the third dimension,
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, which,
among other things, uses the LISP programming language, Software
Design, where students embark on a semester-long programming project
of their devising, and Introduction to Data
Communications and Networking, in which students learn the basics
of the ins and outs of networks and information systems.
Finally, there is Advanced Application Software,
a course whose topics may change from year to year depending on current
development in the computer science world and on the preferences of
the students taking the course.
