Scope:
* APUSH: Focuses exclusively on the history of the United States from pre-Columbian times to the present day. It's a much narrower scope.
* AP World History: Covers the history of the world from approximately 1200 CE to the present. This encompasses a vastly broader geographical area and a more diverse range of cultures and civilizations. A newer offering, AP World History: Modern, covers only the period from 1450 to the present.
Focus:
* APUSH: Dives deeply into the political, social, economic, and cultural developments within the United States. It emphasizes specific events, figures, and movements crucial to shaping American identity and institutions.
* AP World History (and Modern): Provides a broader, comparative perspective on world history. While it covers major events and figures, its emphasis is on understanding global interconnectedness, the interaction of different civilizations, and long-term patterns of change. It also examines major themes across regions and time periods.
Depth:
* APUSH: Offers more in-depth analysis of specific events and their consequences within the American context. There's more time dedicated to exploring nuances and complexities of American history.
* AP World History (and Modern): Due to its broad scope, the depth of analysis for individual events or regions is necessarily less. It prioritizes understanding overarching trends and comparing different historical experiences.
Themes & Content:
While both courses employ thematic analysis, the themes will differ considerably. APUSH will examine themes specific to the United States (e.g., westward expansion, the Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War's impact on America). AP World History will explore broader global themes (e.g., the spread of religions, the impact of colonialism, globalization).
Assessment:
Both courses have similar assessment structures (DBQs, LEQs, multiple-choice), but the content and focus of the questions will reflect the differing scopes and focuses of the courses. APUSH questions will be entirely focused on US history, while AP World History questions will draw upon diverse global events and contexts.
In short: APUSH is a deep dive into one nation's history, while AP World History provides a broader, comparative overview of global developments. Choosing between them depends on your interests and college plans.