Course Description

The goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study: biology, chemistry, physics, geology, oceanography, economics and political science. APES has a required laboratory and field component. A transportation fee is requested.

• In AP Environmental Science, students study the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.
• Topics of study include: earth systems and resources, the living world, population, land and water use, energy resources and consumption, pollution, and global change.
• Students also complete AP Environmental Science labs and field investigations to collect and analyze data and communicate observations and results.
  
  

Topics:

First Semester

I. Ecology
II. Biomes
III. Population Dynamics
IV. Toxicology and Disease
V. Air
VI. Water

Second Semester

VII. Climate Change
VIII. Geology
IX. Agriculture
X. Land Use and Biodiversity
XI. Energy
XII. Solid and Hazardous Waste
XIII. Urbanization and Sustainability

Prerequisites: Biology P or Biology HP (B or better) Chemistry P or Chemistry HP highly recommended (B or better highly recommended)