• AP Environmental Science - Course Content

    You’ll begin to explore a view of planet Earth as one system made up of regional ecosystems composed of interdependent environmental features, processes, and relationships between species.

    You’ll learn about the importance of biodiversity within ecosystems and the impact of outside factors on the evolution of organisms.

    You’ll examine how populations within ecosystems change over time, and the factors that affect population growth.

    You’ll study the natural components that make up the environment, from geologic features to the atmosphere and climate.

    You’ll examine how humans use and consume natural resources, and the ways in which we disrupt ecosystems, both positively and negatively.

    You’ll learn about renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy, where they’re used, and their impact on the environment.

    You’ll learn more about air pollution, including how human actions can cause it, and you’ll analyze legislation intended to regulate emissions and improve air quality.

    You’ll examine the impact of pollution on ecosystems and learn how to determine its source.

    You’ll come to understand the global impact of local and regional human activities and evaluate and propose solutions.

     

    Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems

    You’ll begin to explore a view of planet Earth as one system made up of regional ecosystems composed of interdependent environmental features, processes, and relationships between species.

    Topics may include:

    • Introduction to ecosystems
    • Terrestrial and aquatic biomes
    • Primary productivity
    • Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles
    • Trophic levels
    • The flow of energy in an ecosystem and the 10% rule
    • Food chains and food webs

    On The Exam 6%–8% of exam score

    Unit 2: The Living World: Biodiversity

    You’ll learn about the importance of biodiversity within ecosystems and the impact of outside factors on the evolution of organisms.

    Topics may include:

    • Introduction to biodiversity 
    • Ecosystem services
    • Island biogeography
    • Ecological tolerance
    • Natural disruptions to ecosystems
    • Ecological succession

    On The Exam

    6%–8% of exam score

    Unit 3: Populations

    You’ll examine how populations within ecosystems change over time and the factors that affect population growth.

    Topics may include:

    • Generalist and specialist species
    • Survivorship curves
    • Population growth and resource availability
    • Age structure diagrams
    • Human population dynamics

    On The Exam

    10%–15% of exam score

    Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources

    You’ll study the natural components that make up the environment, from geologic features to the atmosphere and climate.

    Topics may include:

    • Tectonic plates
    • Soil formation and erosion
    • Earth's atmosphere
    • Global wind patterns
    • Earth's geography and climate
    • El Niño and La Niña

    On The Exam

    10%–15% of exam score

    Unit 5: Land and Water Use

    You’ll examine how humans use and consume natural resources, and the ways in which we disrupt ecosystems, both positively and negatively.

    Topics may include:

    • The tragedy of the commons
    • The Green Revolution
    • Types and effects of irrigation
    • Pest-control methods
    • Meat production methods and overfishing
    • The impacts of mining
    • Urbanization and ecological footprints
    • Introduction to sustainable practices including crop rotation and aquaculture

    On The Exam 10%–15% of exam score

    Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption

    You’ll learn about renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy, where they’re used, and their impact on the environment.

    Topics may include:

    • Energy sources and fuel types, including fossil fuels, ethanol, and nuclear power
    • Global energy consumption and distribution of natural resources
    • Natural sources of energy, including solar power, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power
    • Energy conservation methods

    On The Exam

    10%–15% of exam score

    Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution

    You’ll learn more about air pollution, including how human actions can cause it, and you’ll analyze legislation intended to regulate emissions and improve air quality.

    Topics may include:

    • Introduction to air pollution
    • Photochemical smog
    • Indoor air pollution
    • Methods to reduce air pollutants
    • Acid rain
    • Noise pollution

    On The Exam

    7%–10% of exam score

    Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution

    You’ll examine the impact of pollution on ecosystems and learn how to determine its source.

    Topics may include:

    • Sources of pollution
    • Human impact on ecosystems
    • Thermal pollution
    • Solid waste disposal and waste reduction methods
    • Pollution and human health
    • Pathogens and infectious diseases

    On The Exam

    7%–10% of exam score

    Unit 9: Global Change

    You’ll come to understand the global impact of local and regional human activities and evaluate and propose solutions.

    Topics may include:

    • Ozone depletion 
    • Global climate change 
    • Ocean warming and acidification
    • Invasive species
    • Human impacts on diversity

    On The Exam

    15%–20% of exam score