APHUG+Course+Background

= = =Course Description = Advanced Placement Human Geography is a year-long college level course geared for 10th grade students who are looking to be academically challenged and learn more about how geography shapes people. Human Geography is the study of the way that humans live in, interact with, and impact the world. This course is designed to introduce students to the systematic study of the patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of the Earth’s surface. Learners employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to analyze human social, cultural, and economic organization and their environmental consequences. Students will also learn about and apply the methods and tools used by geographers in their science and practice such as maps, data sets, geographic models, GIS, aerial photographs, and satellite images. For each unit, students are required to link the material studied to current issues at various scales (local, national, and global).

=Course Overview = This course follows college-level goals that build on National Geography Standards and addresses Pennsylvania State Academic Standards. AP Human Geography course content and topics are outlined by the College Board in the following manner (% represents multiple choice coverage on AP Exam):


 * Nature and Perspectives on Geography (5-10%)
 * Cultural Patterns and Processes (13-17%)
 * Agricultural and Rural Land Use (13-17%)
 * Cities and Urban Land Use (13-17%)
 * Population (13-17%)
 * Political Organization of Space (13-17%)
 * Industrialization and Economic Development (13-17%)

The course begins with an overview of the history of geographic study, basic geographic concepts, mapmaking, and mapping systems. After the introduction the course is roughly divided into two parts. The first semester we will study cultural and political themes such as: population, migration, folk and popular culture, language, religion, ethnicity, and politics. The second semester deals with economic themes such as: development, agriculture, industry, services, urbanization, and resource problems. In each chapter, the United States and several other nations and regions will be examined as case studies.