Welcome to AP Biology! This course is designed to be the equivalent of a two‐semester introductory biology course usually taken in the first year of college. In other words, it’s a little like drinking from a fire hose. It will be a rewarding experience, but as with most things that are, it will also be very challenging. Throughout the course, you will become familiar with major recurring ideas that persist throughout all topics and material. The 4 Big Ideas are:

·   Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.

·   Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.

·   Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes.

·   Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

To successfully complete the course and meet all of the required objectives, you will need to do independent work on your own at home. It will not replace classroom instruction or labs. It is to ensure all material is covered, as we do not have enough time allotted to cover every single topic in AP Biology. During the school year, you will be reading chapters in the book and taking some of your own notes to supplement notes taken in class. You will also check out other resources and links I may give to you in class or online, as they will help your understanding of the topic. It is necessary that you do this throughout the year.