AP Environmental Science (APES) Syllabus
Teacher: Mrs. Kadhim
Room: 308
Teacher Contact Information:
E-mail: kadhime@qvsd.org
Phone Number: 412.749.5557, ext. 2308
Course Overview
AP Environmental Science is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester,
introductory college course in environmental science.
The goal of this interdisciplinary course is to provide you 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 risks associated with
these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing
them. The following themes provide a foundation for the structure of the course:
1. Science is a process.
2. Energy conversions underline all ecological processes.
3. The Earth itself is one 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.
Expectations
You must be prepared to work outdoors for many labs, as well as be prepared to
utilize technology both inside and outside of the classroom. Attendance on field trips
will be required. You will also be expected to demonstrate the ability to work
together in teams, as well as independently.
A class wikispaces page, www.kadhimclasses.wikispaces, will be used to access
course notes, assignments, and materials. In order to access this site, you must first
create a wikispaces account and request membership.
In addition, you are expected to read your entire textbook, and utilize the class notes
provided for you on the class page as listed above. You must have strong reading,
writing, and data analysis skills. You will not be allowed to use a calculator, as you
will not be allowed a calculator when taking the AP exam.
Textbook
Environmental Science for AP by Andrew Friedland, Rick Relyea, and David CourardHauri, 2012, W.H. Freeman and Company/BFW (ISBN-13: 978-0-7167-3849-7)
Additional Resources
In addition to the textbook, we will draw information from supplemental
environmental science textbooks, lab manuals, periodicals, essays, case studies,
books, videos, and the Internet.
Evaluation Methods
You will be assessed using a variety of methods, including tests, quizzes, laboratory
reports, projects, presentations, essays, reading and presenting journal articles on
current environmental topics, case studies, as well as other class activities and
homework. In addition, there will be a midterm and final exam.
Although there will be some variation, for every unit be prepared to complete a
vocabulary set and quiz, chapter questions to turn in on test days, a case study, a set
of mathematical calculation practice problems, and a test. Multiple labs, videos, or
other activities will be completed in each unit, and you will be required to complete
formal lab reports for select labs.
Please be aware that every test you take this year will consist of multiple choice
questions and essay questions, since this is the format of the AP Exam.
The following is how grades will be determined:
Summative Evaluation = 90%(e.x. tests, quizzes, projects, labs)
Formative Evaluation = 10%(e.x. journals, case studies, math practice, homework)
Late Work:
Late work is accepted, but with a 25% penalty per day late.
Plagiarism and Cheating:
Plagiarism and cheating results in an automatic zero for both the student who
copied as well as the student who actually did their work! This behavior will also be
turned into the office to be placed on the academic record for all involved students;
further disciplinary action may be taken. Keep in mind this does not just mean tests,
it means all work – including simple homework assignments.
Summer Work
Refer to the class wikispaces page. There are two rounds of work due – one during
the summer and one on the first day of school for upperclassmen.
Course Outline
Although subject to change, the course outline below should give you a rough
estimate of how much time we will be spending on each of the course topics.
Duration
Topic
3 weeks
Introduction to Environmental Science
 Chapter 1: Studying the State of Our Earth (Earth Science Concepts)
 Chapter 2: Environmental Systems (Earth Science Concepts)
 Tropospheric Ozone (Air Pollution)
5 weeks
3 weeks
3 weeks
2 weeks
3 weeks
6 weeks
3 weeks
Earth Systems and Resources & Water Use/Pollution
 Chapter 8: Earth Systems (Soil and Soil Dynamics, Mining)
 Chapter 9: Water Resources (Global Water Resources and Use)
 Chapter 14: Water Pollution (Pollution Types, Impacts on the Environment and Human
Health, Economics Impacts)
The Living World
 Chapter 3: Ecosystem Ecology (The Atmosphere, Ecosystem Structure, Energy Flow,
Natural Ecosystem Change, Natural Biogeochemical Cycles)
 Chapter 4: Global Climates and Biomes (The Atmosphere, Natural Biogeochemical Cycles)
 Chapter 5: Evolution of Biodiversity (Ecosystem Structure, Natural Ecosystem Change)
Biological and Human Populations
 Chapter 6: Population and Community Ecology (Population Biology Concepts)
 Chapter 7: The Human Population (Human Population)
Midterm Exam
Land Use
 Chapter 10: Land, Public and Private (Agriculture, Forestry, Rangelands, Other Land Use)
 Chapter 11: Feeding the World (Agriculture, Fishing)
Energy Resources and Consumption
 Chapter 12: Nonrenewable Energy Sources (Energy Concepts, Energy Consumption,
Fossil Fuel Resources and Use, Nuclear Energy, Hydroelectric Power)
 Chapter 13: Achieving Energy Sustainability (Energy Conservation, Renewable Energy)
Pollution
 Chapter 15: Air Pollution and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion (Pollution Types, Impacts
on the Environment and Human Health, Economic Impacts)
 Chapter 16: Waste Generation and Waste Disposal (Pollution Types, Impacts on the
Environment and Human Health, Economic Impacts)
 Chapter 17: Human Health and Environmental Risks (Impacts on the Environment and
Human Health)
Global Change and a Sustainable Future
 Chapter 18: Conservation of Biodiversity (Loss of Biodiversity)
 Chapter 19: Global Change (Global Warming)
 Chapter 20: Sustainability, Economics, and Equity (Global Economics)
Final Exam