AP Capstone Diploma
Two diplomas, one experience.
What Is AP Capstone
AP Capstone™ is a high school diploma program from College Board based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Students must complete six AP courses within the program, pass all AP exams, write a yearlong thesis paper and defend the research to the faculty.
Why It's Different​
Rather than teaching subject-specific content, these courses develop students’ skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. Students who complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone awards, which are valued by colleges across the United States and around the world.​
The Benefits of AP Capstone​
Participating in AP Capstone can help students stand out to colleges, become independent thinkers, develop key academic skills, and more.​​
Courses
AP Seminar: 10th or 11th Grade
AP Seminar is a foundational course in which students explore the complexities of academic and real-world issues. Students will learn about different perspectives through QUEST foundations, work in a group to research topics, create presentations, work individually on a research topic, and take the AP Exam in May.
AP Research: 11th or 12th Grade
AP Research allows students to explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest deeply. Students come up with a topic, find a gap in the research, research the topic, conduct a survey or test, write about the process, and discuss implications or impacts on the outside world. Students also create a presentation on their topic with a Q&A session. The research paper and presentation are the AP Exam and students must defend their research to faculty.