AP Human Geography

Description

The AP® Human Geography course is designed to provide college level instruction on the patterns and processes that impact the way humans understand, use, and change Earth’s surface. Students use geographic models, methods, and tools to examine human social organization and its effect on the world in which we live. Students are challenged to use maps and geographical data to examine spatial patterns and analyze the changing interconnections among people and places. Access the link below to view the PDF of the course description from the College Board: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap-human-geography-course-description.pdf 

Major Topics and Concepts

Semester 1:

Human Geography as a field of study
Evolution of geography
Key Questions geographers seek to answer
Cartography including history, tools and evolution of field of study
Types of maps
Geographical technologies including GIS and GPS
Sources of geographical data
Toponoymy
Interpreting maps
Map bias
Five themes of geography
Absolute and relative location
Spatial perspective
Physical and human characteristics of place
Types of regions
Population distribution, density and scale
Analyze population trends
Population pyramids
Population growth theory
Demographic transition model
Population policy
Impact of population growth
Population and natural disasters
Migration: Push and pull factors
Newton’s gravity model
Internal and global migration patterns
Involuntary and voluntary migration
Impacts of migration on home and host country
Cultural diffusion, acculturation, assimilation and globalization
Cultural differences in language, religion, ethnicity, gender
Pop and folk culture
Cultural landscape and identity

Semester 2:

Nationality and nationalism
Nation-state concept
Territorial morphology
Boundaries: Identify, interaction and exchange
Federal and Unitary States
Electoral geography
Imperialism and colonialism
International alliances
Devolution
Political conflict and terrorism
Agriculture revolutions
Agriculture and place
Commercial agriculture
Scientific agriculture
Economics of agriculture
Major agricultural regions
Linkages and flows among agricultural regions
Rural land use models
Rural settlement patterns
Environmental impacts of agriculture; deforestation, desertification
Green revolution
Bioagriculture
Economic indicators of development
Development models
Industrial Revolution
Deindustrialization
Industrial growth and diffusion
Industrial location models
Industrial regionalism, economic development and world systems
Environmental impact of industrialization
Natural resources and environmental concerns
Women in development
Sustainable development
Globalization of industry; trade
Commodity chains
Industrial interdependence; transnational corporations
Millennium development goals
Development of cities; origin, growth; suburbanization; megacities
Urban development models
Internal city models
Urban planning and design
Urban housing
Urban transportation and infrastructure
Changing demographics
Urban social structure patterns