Course Overview

AP Environmental Science A introduces students to the scientific principles and methodologies used to examine the interrelationships of the natural world. Equivalent to the first semester of a college-level environmental science course, this class emphasizes the foundations of environmental systems and human interactions with them. Students explore topics across multiple disciplines—geology, biology, chemistry, and geography—while developing inquiry-based and analytical skills that prepare them for the AP® exam.

Key Learning Focus

Students will:

• Study Earth's natural systems, including energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and ecosystem dynamics.
• Investigate populations, communities, and ecological pyramids, learning how energy and matter move through living systems.
• Examine renewable and nonrenewable resources and their role in human development.
• Analyze the scientific method in environmental studies through laboratory activities and field-based investigations.
• Explore case studies of biodiversity, conservation, and sustainability as global challenges.

Instructional Approach

The course combines hands-on labs, field investigations, data analysis, and problem-based learning. Students work with real-world scenarios to strengthen scientific reasoning and apply cross-disciplinary concepts to environmental issues.

Outcome

By the end of AP Environmental Science A, students will:

• Understand the fundamental processes that sustain Earth's natural systems.
• Analyze the impact of resource use on ecological stability.
• Apply data and evidence to construct scientific explanations and solutions.
• Be prepared to transition into AP Environmental Science B, focusing on human impacts and environmental policy.