About AP Human Geography

Human Geography allows students to study the arrangement of people, places, and environments. We learn how humans have changed and shaped the Earth to better fit their needs. We examine the way social and economic factors influence other people around the world. We look at the social, economic, and environmental consequences of these influences around the world.

This course introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications. The curriculum reflects the goals of the National Geography Standards (2012).

Units of study include: (1) Nature and Perspectives of Geography, (2) Population, (3) Cultural Patterns and Processes, (4) Political Organization of Space, (5) Agriculture and rural land use, (6) Industrialization and Economic Development, and (7) Cities and Urban Land Use.

Skills You'll Learn

• Connecting geographic concepts and processes to real-life scenarios

• Understanding information shown in maps, tables, charts, graphs, infographics, images, and landscapes

• Seeing patterns and trends in data and in visual sources such as maps and drawing conclusions from them

• Understanding spatial relationships using geographic scales