# Computer Science Principles vs. Computer Science A

**URL:** <https://forum.code.org/t/computer-science-principles-vs-computer-science-a/40489>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [March 4, 2025, 12:12pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/computer-science-principles-vs-computer-science-a/40489 "2025-03-04T12:12:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dyochum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@dyochum](https://forum.code.org/u/dyochum)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 12:12pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/computer-science-principles-vs-computer-science-a/40489/1 "2025-03-04T12:12:44Z")

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I am preparing for the next school year. Which course for 9-12 Graders should be taught first, Computer Science Principles or Computer Science A.

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**Author:** ![lindsay.davis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.code.org/lindsay.davis/32/7632_2.png) [@lindsay.davis](https://forum.code.org/u/lindsay.davis)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://forum.code.org/t/computer-science-principles-vs-computer-science-a/40489/2 "2025-03-04T15:17:53Z")

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Computer Science Principles should be taught first. CS Principles is a survey course that gives students an overview of many different areas of Computer Science including Cybersecurity and how the internet works, and has intro level Coding topics.

Computer Science A is taught second in most schools, since it is a deep dive into coding with Java, and covers the coding topics that are presented in CS Principles, and then goes further.

As you plan your CS courses feel free to reach out on the forum with more questions, there is a lot of experience here!  
I hope this helps,  
Lindsay