Hey guys, I'm considering taking AP Environmental Science (APES) next year. Can someone fill me in on the main topics you learn in the class? What did y'all enjoy and find challenging about the course?
Hello! AP Environmental Science (APES) is an interdisciplinary course that covers a variety of topics related to the environment and natural resources. Here's a brief overview of some main topics you can expect to learn in the class:
1. Ecosystems: Includes concepts related to energy flow, food webs, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem services.
2. Biodiversity: Covers the importance of biodiversity, species interactions, and conservation efforts.
3. Population Ecology: Explores how populations change over time, including population size, growth patterns, and factors affecting their growth.
4. Earth Systems and Resources: This section discusses the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and climate change, as well as the significance of renewable and non-renewable resources.
5. Land and Water Use: Topics include agriculture, forestry, mining, urbanization, and strategies for sustainable land and water management.
6. Energy Resources and Consumption: Provides an insight into energy types, consumption patterns, and the environmental impacts of various energy sources.
7. Pollution: Covers air, water, and soil pollution, along with their sources, effects, and methods of prevention and remediation.
8. Global Change: Examines how human activities contribute to global changes like climate change, ozone depletion, and loss of biodiversity.
Many students enjoy APES because it provides them with a holistic understanding of our planet and the pressing environmental issues we face today. It encourages critical thinking about real-world problems and potential solutions, and students generally appreciate that applicability. Additionally, the course often includes hands-on activities, such as labs and field trips, which can make the learning experience even more engaging and enjoyable.
As for challenges, some students may find the breadth of topics in APES to be overwhelming, as it covers a diverse range of subjects from different scientific disciplines. Also, having a strong foundation in basic sciences like biology, chemistry, and earth science is key to succeeding in the course, as some concepts build upon that knowledge, so you may find APES challenging if you aren't comfortable with certain key concepts in these other fields.
Overall, though, if you have an interest in the environment and enjoy problem-solving, AP Environmental Science can be an enriching and rewarding class to take. If you want an even more comprehensive breakdown of the content covered by the course, I'd check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which even includes some practice problems from the culminating exam: https://blog.collegevine.com/ultimate-guide-to-the-environmental-science-ap-exam
Good luck!
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