Urban Arts (UA) is pleased to announce a partnership with Unity to design and develop a new course curriculum that will prepare high school students across the country to take the Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles Exam (AP CSP). A typical AP CSP course is intended to provide students with a broad introduction to computer science and explore how it relates to other fields. The course and its corresponding exam serve as a gateway for students to access postsecondary and career pathways in computer science.

This new curriculum will harness the power of Unity’s real-time 3D development platform and utilize game design as a lens through which students will learn computational thinking skills, explore concepts related to digital citizenship, and create a portfolio submission piece. The goal is to provide teachers and students with additional resources in order for there to be broader and more equitable student achievement when it comes to the APCSP specifically and computer science education in general.

Unity’s platform is a cornerstone of UA programming and gives its student creators access to technology that allows them to shape and change the world around them through dynamic, issue-inspired games. Unity’s partnership with UA includes a grant from Unity’s Charitable Fund, a fund of the Tides Foundation, for curriculum development as well as opportunities for collaboration with the Unity Education Team.

“We’ve found that there’s no better way to get students excited about exploring computer science than through games, and we believe that the Unity game engine is an exquisite tool when it comes to powering student learning and achievement.” said UA Chief Program Officer Kevin Kim Wright.

“UA and Unity have a shared belief that all students should have access to a quality education, regardless of their zip code,” said Jessica Lindl, Vice President, Social Impact at Unity. “We’re honored and humbled to be able to donate our resources to organizations like UA who are creating innovative STEAM programs that prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.”

About Urban Arts:

UA’s mission is to help students explore their creativity and harness technology in order to defy the odds and define their future. Since 1991, UA has served over 250,000 students and 2,000 teachers across 150 schools.