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Environmental Studies Academy

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ACADEMY

This four-year program hosted by Fauquier High School is perfect for students who are interested in environmental science, forestry, game and wildlife, ecology, natural resources, sustainable agriculture, horticulture, and more! Students spend significant time learning outdoors at the Fauquier Outdoor Lab and on field trips to gain a better understanding of environmental research and methods.

 

Key Elements of the Environmental Studies Program include:

  • Cross-curricular courses with an environmental emphasis
  • Hands-on experiences at the Fauquier Outdoor Lab, FHS Greenhouse, and off-campus research facilities
  • Science-related extracurricular and co-curricular community activities

 

To earn the Environmental Studies Academy Honors Medal and Board of Education Seal for Excellence in Science and the Environment, students must:

  • complete all required courses and maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA
  • complete 3 different introductory lab sciences with a final grade of B or higher
  • complete AP Environmental Science with a final grade of B or higher (unweighted)
  • complete laboratory or field-science research to be presented in a formal, juried setting
  • complete a minimum of 50 total hours of voluntary community service or extracurricular activities that involve the application of science by graduation (examples: environmental monitoring, protection, management or restoration, writing scientific articles)

To earn the Environmental Studies Academy Graduation Cords, students must:

  • complete all required courses and maintain at least a 2.5 overall GPA
  • complete 3 different introductory lab sciences with a final grade of C or higher
  • complete AP Environmental Science with a final grade of C or higher (unweighted)
  • complete laboratory or field-science research to be presented in a formal, juried setting
  • complete a minimum of 30 total hours of voluntary community service or extracurricular activities that involve the application of science by graduation

To earn the Environmental Studies Academy Certificate, students must:

  • complete all required courses and maintain at least a 2.0 overall GPA
  • complete 3 different introductory lab sciences with a final grade of C or higher
  • complete AP Environmental Science with a final grade of C or higher (unweighted)
  • complete laboratory or field-science research to be presented in a formal, juried setting
  • complete a minimum of 20 total hours of voluntary community service or extracurricular activities that involve the application of science by graduation.

 

ALL Environmental Studies Academy students must maintain a C average and be enrolled in at least one required class each year.

 

Required Courses for the Environmental Studies Academy:

  • 9th Grade: Environmental Science (for ESA) and Intro to Natural Resources
    • Students will receive an introduction to environmental concepts including human impact on the environment, conservation, and the study of natural resources with their academy cohort.
  • 10th Grade: Biology (for ESA) and Environment in Literature
    • Students will learn basic principles of biological science and explore the natural world through hands-on activities and readings. Ecology, conservation, sustainability, and biotechnology are emphasized.
  • 11th Grade: Chemistry (for ESA)
    • Students will learn basic chemistry principles through an environmental science lens.
  • 11th/12th Grade: Environmental Science AP
    • Students will reinforce and elevate their understanding of environmental science through the Advanced Placement Environmental Science curriculum.
  • 12th Grade: Academy Capstone
    • Students will demonstrate their acquired knowledge and skills through completion of an independent scientific research project in the laboratory or in the field. Results will be presented in a formal, juried setting. *If students take AP Research and conduct scientific research in the lab or in the field, this experience may meet this requirement if approved by the academy director.

Recommended Courses for the Environmental Science Academy:

  • Biology AP
  • Chemistry AP
  • Marine Biology
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Physics
  • Physics I AP
  • Geology
  • Oceanography
  • Journalism I
  • Media Literacy
  • AP Seminar
  • AP Research*
  • Greenhouse Plant Production & Management
  • Horticulture Sciences
  • Landscaping
  • Technical Drawing & Design
  • Computer Science Principles AP
  • Probability & Statistics
  • Statistics AP
  • Geospatial Science through JMU
  • Human Geography AP

*If students take AP Research and conduct scientific research in the lab or in the field, this experience may meet this requirement if approved by the academy director.