Participate in the AP Capstone Diploma Program
Learn about the AP Capstone Diploma Program and the professional learning required for offering AP Seminar and AP Research.
Course Overview
AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students learn to investigate a problem or issue, analyze arguments, compare different perspectives, synthesize information from multiple sources, and work alone and in a group to communicate their ideas.
AP Seminar Course and Exam Description
Important Dates
Course Resources
Course Content
Based on the Understanding by Design (Wiggins and McTighe) model, this curriculum framework is intended to provide a clear and detailed description of the course requirements necessary for student success. This conceptualization will guide the development and organization of learning outcomes from general to specific, resulting in focused statements about content knowledge and skills needed for success in the course. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.
The AP Seminar curriculum is made up of five big ideas:
- Big Idea 1: Question and Explore
- Big Idea 2: Understand and Analyze
- Big Idea 3: Evaluate Multiple Perspectives
- Big Idea 4: Synthesize Ideas
- Big Idea 5: Team, Transform, and Transmit
Course Skills
The AP Seminar framework included in the course and exam description outlines distinct skills, called transferable skills and proficiencies, that students should practice throughout the year.
| Skill | Proficiencies |
|---|---|
| Analyze Sources and Evidence | Understand and Analyze Argument Identifying the main idea in arguments, analyzing the reasoning, and evaluating the validity of the conclusions Evaluate Sources and Evidence Evaluating the credibility and relevance of sources and the evidence they present |
| Construct an Evidence-Based Argument | Establish Argument Developing a well-reasoned argument clearly connecting the thesis, claims, and evidence Select and Use Evidence Strategically choosing evidence to effectively support claims |
| Understand Context and Perspective | Understand and Analyze Context Understanding the complexity of a problem or issue and connecting arguments to the broader context in which they are situated Understand and Analyze Perspective Comparing and interpreting multiple diverse perspectives on an issue to understand its complexity |
| Communicate (Interpersonal and Intrapersonal) | Engage Audience Choosing and employing effective written and oral communication techniques, considering audience, context, and purpose Apply Conventions Choosing and consistently applying an appropriate citation style and effective conventions of writing Collaborate Working constructively with others to accomplish a team goal or task Reflect Articulating challenges, successes, and moments of insight that occur throughout the inquiry process |
AP and Higher Education
Higher education professionals play a key role in developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Education section features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.
This chart shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the AP Credit Policy Search.
AP Course and Exam Development
The AP Program is unique in its reliance on development committees for their initial and ongoing voice in course and exam development. These committees, made up of an equal number of college faculty and experienced secondary AP teachers from across the country, are essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams.