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AP United States History

Course Overview and Philosophy

In AP U.S.History, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change. The course also provides eight themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections among historical developments in different times and places: American and national identity; work, exchange, and technology; geography and the environment; migration and settlement; politics and power; America in the world; American and regional culture; and social structures.
(Source: AP® United States History Course and Exam Description)

Expectations & Support

Successful AP students will have the dedication, self-discipline, and the desire to apply themselves as a college student, and will budget their time effectively to manage the workload. AP courses maintain a level of rigor and a commensurate workload of a college-level course. This requires students to be organized and manage their time to support the demands of the class. Academic integrity is expected at all times, for students are given additional authority over their learning and as such, are expected to conduct themselves accordingly.

Exams and Assessment

  • Weekly Short Answer Questions

  • Biweekly Multiple Choice Tests

  • Required AP Exam (May 2026)

  • 20+ pages of reading per week

  • Document Based Writing in Class

Materials and Resources

  • AP Classroom

  • Brinkley US History Book

  • AMSCO US History Book

  • Other materials as provided by the instructor

Time Commitment

AP United States History requires students to write and study extensively in the field of history. While time spent on these tasks may differ from student to student, on average, a student should expect to spend at least 2-4 hours of work outside of class per week.