This year AP psychology is a year-long course, where it was once a semester-long course. Anatomy and physiology is now dual-credit and weighted.

The AP psychology course length has been lengthened to fit a more in-depth curriculum that can better prepare students for the AP psychology test.

AP psychology teacher Bryan Szweda supported the change in terms of length.

“Two years ago, College Board made some drastic changes that made it nearly impossible for us to teach the course in a semester. As teachers, we did advocate for the change [from a semester-long to a yearlong].” Szweda said.

Szweda recalled the struggles his students faced.

“It was extremely difficult for us to get through everything. It also caused significant stress for our students due to the speed at which we needed to move,” Szweda said.

As of this year, students now take anatomy and physiology through the College of DuPage in order to receive college credit. The class is now weighted on the five-point scale, allowing increased GPA potential.

Anatomy teacher Nadine Kahl outlined the changes made to the class to fulfill COD’s dual-credit curriculum requirements.

“We are going more in-depth, which we didn’t have the opportunity to go over last year. As our anatomy curriculum has to fit COD’s expectations for a college-level anatomy class,” Kahl said.

Senior Maximillian Tylka, who is currently taking anatomy, expressed his sentiments towards the new
dual-credit course.

“It’s an introduction to the career I would like to pursue later in life: medicine. Because it’s now a dual-credit class, my effort in high school will help me get into better colleges,” Tylka said.

Kahl reflected on how anatomy’s dual credit and weight create more incentives for students to take
the class.

“With dual-credit, as long as they earn a C or above, they earn a credit in COD. You’re saving time and money by taking college-level courses,” Kahl said