Course title

Pre-requisite

Course description

***THIS IS A RESUBMISSION OF COURSE FOR THE AFUHSD - RESUBMITTING FOR LAB SCIENCE APPROVAL***

Welcome to Advanced Placement Environmental Science! (APES)

I ntrod u ction
The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a
one-semester; introductory college course in environmental science. Unlike most
other introductory-level college science courses; environmental science is offered
from a wide variety of departments; including geology; biology; environmental studies;
environmental science; chemistry; and geography. Depending on the department
offering the course; different emphases are placed on various topics. Some courses are
rigorous science courses that stress scientific principles and analysis and that often
include a laboratory component; other courses emphasize the study of environmental
issues from a sociological or political perspective rather than a scientific one. The
AP Environmental Science course has been developed to be most like the former; as
such; it is intended to enable students to undertake; as first-year college students; a
more advanced study of topics in environmental science or; alternatively; to fulfill a
basic requirement for a laboratory science and thus free time for taking other courses.
The AP Course Description and AP Exam have been prepared by environmental
scientists and educators who serve as members of the AP Environmental Science
Development Committee. In both breadth and level of detail; the content of the course
reflects what is found in many introductory college courses in environmental science.
The exam is representative of such a course and therefore is considered appropriate for
the measurement of skills and knowledge in the field of environmental science.
T he C o u rse
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 or preventing them.
Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from
different areas of study. Yet there are several major unifying constructs; or themes;
that cut across the many topics included in the study of environmental science. The
following themes provide a foundation for the structure of 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.
© 2013 The College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org. 5
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.

The AP Environmental course is a laboratory & field-based course; which is interdisciplinary in nature. The course is unique in that it contains various sciences coupled with a societal viewpoint; all intertwined to help students understand the environment and its sustainability. The goal of the course is to provide students with the scientific principles; concepts; and methodologies required to understand interrelationships of the natural world; to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made; to evaluate relative risks associated with these problems; and to examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. This course is designed to be the equivalent of a one semester introductory college course in environmental science.

Since this is a lab/field based course we will have at least one lab per week that will correspond to the content being learned. These labs will take place either in the classroom setting; school grounds or field trip.

APES Course Objectives/Outline:
1) Explain the process of Scientific Inquiry

2) Describe each aspect of the Earth Systems & Resources
Atmosphere
Global water resources
Soil

3) Analyze & describe the Living World in terms of:
Ecosystem structure emphasizing structure & function of the levels of organization that make a whole (atoms through biome)
Energy Flow
Ecosystem Diversity through genetics & evolution
Natural Ecosystem changes
Natural Biogeochemical cycles

4) Describe & Analyze Population Biology in terms of:
Carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship
Human population dynamics
Population size case studies
Impacts of uncontrolled population growth

5) Analyze; Discuss & Explain Land & Water Use in terms of:
Agriculture (feeding a growing population; controlling pests; genetic engineering; crop production; deforestation; irrigation & sustainability)
Forestry (management; fires)
Rangelands (overgrazing; desertification; deforestation)
Other Land Use (urbanization; transportation; public/federal lands; conservation; sustainable strategies)
Mining
Fishing
Global Economics (laws & treaties)

6) Analyze & Describe Energy Resources and Consumption in terms of:
Forms of energy; law of thermodynamics
Energy consumption (history; present global energy use & future needs)
Fossil fuel Resources & Use (coal; oil natural gas; extraction)
Nuclear Energy (advantages/disadvantages)
Hydroelectric Power (dams; flood control; salmon; silting)
Energy Conservation (energy efficiency; mass transit; hybrid)
Renewable Energy (solar; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; geothermal; advantages/disadvantages)

7) Analyze & Describe different types of pollution
Air pollution
Noise pollution
Water pollution
Solid waste

8) Describe & Predict Global change in terms of:
Stratospheric Ozone (ozone depletion; UV radiation; strategies for reducing ozone depletion)
Global Warming (greenhouse gases & effect; consequences of global warming; reducing climate change)
Loss of Biodiversity (habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered & extinction)

Major Themes in AP Environmental Science
I. Science as a Process
II. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes
III. The Earth itself is one interconnected system
IV. Humans alter natural systems
V. Environmental problems have cultural & social context
VI. Human Survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems

Grading Scale & Outline
90.0 - 100% A Approximate Outline: 30%Tests
80.0 – 89.9% B 10% Quizzes
70.0 – 79.9% C 30% Labs & Activities
60.0 – 69.9% D 20% Final

AP Environmental Science Schedule

Week Chapter APES Obj Assessments and Labs
Introduction; Scientific Process; Environmental Problems; Matter & Energy
1;2
-PxAxT = I activity
-GPP vs NPP
-Carbon Footprint

Ecosystems; Evolution & Biodiversity

2;3
-Begin Plotkin bk
-Biodiversity Lab
-Energy Flow Lab
-Ch 1 -4 Test
Atmosphere; Terrestrial Biodiversity

3;4;5;7
-Solar Insulation & Heat transfer activity
-Create a Biome
-Coriolis Effect Lab
Community & Population Ecology
3;4;5
-Lemna minor lab
-Human population growth activity
Human Populations; Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity/Management
3;4;5;8
-Mark & recapture lab
-Ch 5;7–9 Test
Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity (cont.)/ Aquatic Biomes
3;4;5;8
-Tragedy of the Commons activity
Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity/ Water and Its Usage
2;7;8
-Begin Davis bk
-Water Calculations
-Water Quality Lab
-Ch 6; 10-12 test
Water Pollution/ Geology
3;5;6
-Soil Formation Lab
Nonrenewable Resources

5;6;7
-Nonrenewable Resource Debate
-Soil Productivity lab
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
6
-Energy Calculations
-EcoHome Project
-Ch 14-17;21 Test
Food; Soil; Pest Control
2;4;5;8
-Pesticide Debate
-Sustainable Garden Project
Environmental Hazards (Toxicity)/ Air Pollution
5;6;7
-LD50 Activity
-Air Pollution Lab
Climate Change/ Ozone; Solid/ Hazardous Waste
4;5;6;7
-Climate Change Activity
-Wastewater Treatment Lab
-Ch 13;18-20 Test
Sustainable Cities
5;6;7;8
-Sustainable City project
Economics/ Politics
5;6;7;8
-Action Research Project/ United Nations
Worldviews
5;6;7;8
-Action Research Project/ United Nations Forum
-Ch 23-26 Test
Course material for final

-Action Research Project/ United Nations Forum
-Practice Exam
Course material for final

-A Place of Your Own presentations
-Final Exam

School country

School state

School city

School / district Address

School zip code

Requested competency code

Date submitted

Approved

Approved competency code

• LINT
• Integrated science

Approved date

Online / Virtual