AP Environmental Science is a college level course with the ability to transfer college credits if you pass the AP Exam in May. The goal of AP Environmental Science 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. The curriculum draws upon various scientific disciplines including:

• Earth Systems and Resources

• The Living World

• Human Population Dynamics (and Policies)

• Land and Water Use

• Energy Resources and Consumption

• Pollution

• Global Change

In addition the course will provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world including:

Analyzing and interpreting information and experimental data, including mathematical calculations.

How to identify and analyze environmental problems, to evaluate the ecological and human health risks associated with these problems, and to critically examine various solutions for

resolving or preventing them.

A laboratory and/or field investigation component. A minimum of one class period per week will be spent engaged in laboratory and/or field work.

The following themes provide the foundation for the AP Environmental Science course:

1. Science is a process.
Science is a method of learning more about the world. Science constantly changes the way we understand the world.

2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.
As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.

3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
Natural systems change over time and space.
Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.

4. Humans alter natural systems.
Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment.

5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
Understanding the role of cultural, social, and economic factors is vital to the development of
solutions.

6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
A suitable combination of conservation and development is required.
Management of common resources is essential.

Course Structure and Prerequisites
Students enrolling in AP Environmental Science must have completed 2 years of science coursework AND must complete a summer assignment.