<p>What is AP Computer Science all about? I know it’s about Java and it’s like some computer language, but what does it mean? What are the benifits of taking this class? What do you learn?</p>
<p>The definition of computer science that Wikipedia gives is really good:</p>
<p>“Computer science or computing science (sometimes abbreviated CS) is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems. It is frequently described as the systematic study of algorithmic processes that create, describe, and transform information. According to Peter J. Denning, the fundamental question underlying computer science is, ‘What can be (efficiently) automated?’”</p>
<p>While you do learn rudimentary Java skills (you’ll be able to make small programs for yourself after the class is over), the most important thing you’ll learn from this class is a new type of thinking. You’ll become a logical and structured thinker who can approach many types of problems through what the CMU SCS site calls ‘computational thinking.’ The class focuses heavily on object-oriented programming.</p>
<p>The other important point I want to make is that while Java is the language you’ll be using, the class is not ABOUT Java. It’s just that CS concepts have to be taught through a programming language, and Java is a commonly used introductory language (although not universal - MIT, for example, uses Python).</p>
<p>Hope that helped.</p>