The diploma distinction that sets you apart

John Carroll was the first Catholic school in Maryland approved by the College Board to offer the AP Capstone Diploma Program, a unique opportunity for top academic performers to participate in one of the most rigorous high school programs available.

The AP Capstone Diploma Program helps students develop critical thinking skills that allow them to think independently, analyze issues from different perspectives, communicate clearly and conduct independent research — the types of skills most in demand by colleges.

About the AP Capstone program

Students participating in the AP Capstone Diploma Program will take six AP courses, including the required AP Seminar and AP Research. The other four AP courses are selected by the students. After successfully passing all six AP courses, the student graduates with the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma, which can help open the door to competitive colleges and universities.

How it works

AP Seminar is the first course in the AP Capstone Diploma Program and is taken Sophomore year. In this year-long course, students complete a team project and presentation, write and present an individual, research-based essay, and take an end-of-course exam.

Subsequently, students take AP Research where they draft an academic paper, present it and orally defend their research.

If students earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research AP Exams, they will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. Additionally, students who take any four additional AP courses and score a 3 or higher on AP exams for all four of those courses will receive the AP Capstone Diploma. AP Capstone students take AP Human Geography in their Freshman year.

Contact Kelly Smith for further information.

Kelly Smith
College Counselor

For more information regarding AP Capstone, please follow the links below.