A.P. Environmental Science Syllabus
2009-2010

General scope and sequence for the course

|Unit |Topic |Relevant Text Chapters |
|1 |Sound Science, Stewardship and Sustainability |1, 22 |
|2 |Ecosystems and Biogeochemical Cycles |2, 3, 4 |
|3 |Human Demographics and Wealth Gap |5, 6 |
|4 |Biodiversity and Natural Capital |10, 11 |
|5 |Water Resources and Water Pollution |7, 17 |
|6 |Atmosphere and Global Warming |20 |
|7 |Conventional Non-renewable Energy |12, 13 |
|8 |Renewable Energy |14, 23 |
|9 |Soil, Food and Pest Control |8, 9, 17 |
|10 |Hazardous Chemicals and Human Health |14, 19, 22 |
|11 |Solid Waste and Atmosphere Pollution |18, 20.5, 21 |

AP Environmental Science Course Overview
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