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AP Environmental Science

Course Overview

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science, through which students engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.

Expectations

Students in AP Environmental Science should have completed two years of high school laboratory science such as a year of biology and a year of chemistry. Due to the quantitative analysis required in the course, students should also have taken at least one year of algebra. Additionally, a course in earth science is helpful but not necessary. Students should have a desire to want to learn more about the environment and their impact on it. Students can expect to spend 25% or more of their class time engaged in laboratory or field investigations where they will collect and analyze data.

Exams & Assessment

  • 9 Unit assessments

  • Midterm

  • Final Exam

  • AP Test in the Spring

Materials & Resources

  • AP Classroom

  • AP Articles

  • Scholarly Articles

  • Textbook

Big Ideas

In addition, the following big ideas serve as the foundation of the course, enabling students to create meaningful connections among concepts and develop deeper conceptual understanding:

  • Energy Transfer: 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.

  • Interactions Between Earth Systems: The Earth is one interconnected system. Natural systems change over time and space. Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.

  • Interactions Between Different Species and the Environment: Humans alter natural systems and 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.

  • Sustainability: Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems. A suitable combination of conservation and development is required. The management of resources is essential. Understanding the role of cultural, social,

Science Practices

  • Concept Explanation: Explain environmental concepts, processes, and models presented in written format.

  • Visual Representations: Analyze visual representations of environmental concepts and processes.

  • Text Analysis: Analyze sources of information about environmental issues.

  • Scientific Experiments: Analyze research studies that test environmental principles.

  • Data Analysis: Analyze and interpret quantitative data represented in tables, charts, and graphs.

  • Mathematical Routines: Apply quantitative methods to address environmental concepts.

  • Environmental Solutions: Propose and justify solutions to environmental problems.

Time Commitment

In AP Environmental Science students are expected to apply content to natural phenomena and analyze a wide variety of data points. Throughout the term class time is a mixture of lecture, notes, as well as investigations. Often students will be required to complete readings, video lectures or notes outside of class. Additionally, dependent on class time, students may need to complete lab analysis questions or writing assignments outside of class. The time spent on these tasks may differ from student to student, on average a student can expect to spend about 2 hours of work outside of class per week.