AP Capstone Diploma Program & AP Research and Seminar Certificate
Indian Creek School was accepted by the College Board as one of approximately 2,000 schools worldwide to implement the AP Capstone Diploma program – an innovative program that encourages students to develop skills for college and future success, including critical thinking, research, collaboration, and communication. The program consists of two yearlong courses taken in sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research.
Students who score a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams of their choosing earn the AP Capstone Diploma. This signifies outstanding academic achievement and attainment of college-level academic and research skills. Students who score a 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research (and not on 4 additional AP Exams) earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
In AP Seminar, which is available to tenth and eleventh graders as an elective, students choose real-world topics and evaluate them from multiple perspectives. Students identify credibility and bias in sources and develop arguments in support of a recommendation. The AP Seminar course, while interdisciplinary in nature, receives an English graduation credit.
In the subsequent AP Research course, offered to juniors and seniors, students design and execute a college-level research project on a topic of personal interest. Students receive firsthand experience in writing a research question, executing an appropriate method, analyzing data, presenting their results, and defending their findings. AP Research receives a History graduation credit. This program represents an exciting evolution of ICS’s longstanding Voros Senior Thesis project, which can be incorporated into Indian Creek’s AP Capstone program as the highest level of achievement students can attain.
Please see the AP Seminar course description in the English department for course specifics. The AP Research course description will be published in the 23-24 Curriculum Guide.
Indian Creek School
Indian Creek school is a co-educational, college preparatory independent school, located in Crownsville, Maryland. Students in Pre-K3 through grade 12 receive a vibrant educational experience based on excellent academics steeped in strong student-teacher connections.
