AP® Human Geography Self-Paced
Syllabus
Course Essential Questions
- How are the spatial patterns and organization of human society arranged according to political, historical, cultural, and economic factors?
- How do complex relationships of cause and effect develop among people, their environments, and historical and contemporary actions?
- How does the spatial perspective demonstrate ways phenomena are related to one another in particular places?
Course Learning Objectives
- Examine geographic theories, approaches, concepts, processes, or models in theoretical and applied contexts.
- Visualize geographic patterns, relationships, and outcomes in applied contexts.
- Interpret quantitative geographic data represented in maps, tables, charts, graphs, satellite images, and infographics.
- Analyze and interpret qualitative geographic information in maps, images, and landscapes.
- Apply geographic theories, approaches, concepts, processes, and models across geographic scales to explain spatial relationships.
Unit 1: Thinking Geographically (Topics 1-4)
Unit Level Essential Questions
- Why do geographers study relationships and patterns among and between places?
- How do geographers use maps to help them discover patterns and relationships in the world?
- How do geographers use a spatial perspective to analyze complex issues and relationships?
Unit 2: Population and Migration Patterns and Processes (Topics 5-8 )
Unit Level Essential Questions
- How does where and how people live impact global culture, political, and economic patterns?
- How does the interplay of environmental, economic, cultural, and political factors influence changes in populations?
- How do changes in population affect a place’s economy, culture, and politics?
Unit 3: Cultural Processes and Patterns (Topics 9-15 )
Unit Level Essential Questions
- How does where people live and what resources they have access to impact their cultural practices?
- How does the interaction of people contribute to the spread of cultural practices?
- How and why do cultural ideas, practices, and innovations change or disappear over time?
Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes (Topics 17-20 )
Unit Level Essential Questions
- How do historical and current events influence political structures around the world?
- How are balances of power reflected in political boundaries and government power and structures?
- How can political, economic, cultural, or technological changes challenge state sovereignty?
Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes (Topics 21-24)
Unit Level Essential Questions
- How do a people’s culture and the resources available to them influence how they grow food?
- How does what people produce and consume vary in different locations?
- What kind of cultural changes and technological advances have impacted the way people grow and consume food?
Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes (Topics 25-27)
Unit Level Essential Questions
- How do physical geography and resources impact the presence and growth of cities?
- How are the attitudes, values, and balance of power of a population reflected in the built landscape?
- How are urban areas affected by unique economic, political, cultural, and environmental challenges?
Unit 7: Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes (Topics 28-30 )
Unit Level Essential Questions
- Why does economic and social development happen at different times and rates in different places?
- How might environmental problems stemming from industrialization be remedied through sustainable development strategies?
- Why has industrialization helped improve standards of living while also contributing to geographically uneven development.
Unit 8: AP Practice Exam and Review (Topics 31-33)