12th Grade Advanced Placement Human Geography

Social Studies

Curriculum

Course Title: 12^th Grade Advanced Placement Human Geography

Department: Social Studies

Primary Resource: The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography (Pearson)

Units of Study:

• Thinking Geographically

• Population and Migration Patterns and Processes

• Cultural Patterns and Processes

• Political Patterns and Processes

• Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes

• Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes

• Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes

Curriculum-Based Assessments: N/A

Standardized Assessments: N/A

Description of Course: The AP Human Geography course introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of the Earth’s surface. Students will make use of spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools that geographers use in applying their science and practices. Human Geography allows students to learn about world population issues, border disputes, and international conflicts. In addition, students are exposed to economic theories and models as well as world religions and the origins and diffusion of languages. Students will study urban development, industrialization, and city planning. Human Geography prepares students for intermediate and advanced level college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by a one semester introductory level college course. Students must be able to draw upon factual knowledge in order to exercise analytic skills intelligently. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote time to independent reading, homework, and study are necessary to succeed. It is recommended that students taking this course take the Advanced Placement (AP) National Exam at the end of the course.