Mr. John Jung
AP Environmental Science
The goal of A.P.E.S. 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 man-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:
1. Science is a process
2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes
3. The Earth itself is a interconnected system
4. Humans alter natural systems
5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context
6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
As outlined in the Course Description for AP Environmental Science (available at AP Central), the course emphasizes six main content areas:
1. Interdependence of Earth's Systems: Fundamental Principles and Concepts (25%)
2. Human Population Dynamics (10%)
3. Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources: Distribution, Ownership, Use, Degredation (15%)
4. Environmental Quality (20-25%)
5. Global Changes and Their Consequences (15-20%)
6. Environment and Society: Trade-Offs and Decision Making (10%)