AP Human Geography

The purpose of the AP course in Human Geography is to introduce 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 human social organization and its environmental
consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice.
Prerequisites: This class is open to advanced students of all grade levels.
Who Should Take This Course: Students who should take AP Human Geography enjoy learning about how
humans have impacted the world around them. These students are intelligent and enjoy challenging themselves
with college-level vocabulary, reading assignments, and tests. Students who are self-directed, curious, and
have exceeded the expectations in their prior social studies classes tend to most successful in AP Human
Geography.
Who Should NOT Take This Course: Students who struggle applying knowledge, understanding spatial
patterns, and comprehending complex reading assignments will regret registering for AP Human Geography.
Students involved in extracurricular activities or who work in the evenings after school, should also factor in
the amount of time they will have to commit to the class when registering.
Skills Needed for Success in This Course:
*Disciplined study habits
*Reading Comprehension skills
*Strong work ethic
*Ability to think critically
*Ability to apply knowledge and vocabulary to real-world situations.
Workload:
*Read approximately 8-14 pages of the textbook per night
*Answer approximately 20 questions about the reading per night.
*15 college-level multiple-choice tests throughout the year (with five answer choices).
* 5-7 Free Response Questions
Predicting your success on the AP Human Geography Exam using your PSAT score.
Find your combined Critical Reading, Writing, and Math score to see the probability that you will pass the
AP Human Geography exam. A score of 3 is passing. For example, if your PSAT score is 111 you have a 10%
chance of passing the test (earning a score of 3 or higher). If your PSAT score is 182 you have a 90% chance
of passing the test (earning a score of 3 or higher). To see a probability table for each AP class go to:
http://www.collegeboard.com/counselors/app/expectancy.html
AP Human Geography Probability Chart
PSAT/NMSQT CR + M + W Score
Probability (%)

90

182

207

80

169

193

70

160

184

60

153

176

50

146

169

40

140

162

30

133

155

20

124

146

10

111

132

Pacing of This Course:

I. Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives (5%10%)
A.
Geography as a field of inquiry
B.
Major geographical concepts underlying the geographical perspective: location,
space, place, scale, pattern, nature and society, regionalization, globalization,
and gender issues
C.
Key geographical skills
D.
Use of geospatial technologies, such as GIS, remote sensing, global positioning
systems (GPS), and online maps
E.
Sources of geographical information and ideas: the field, census data, online data,
aerial photography, and satellite imagery
F.
Identification of major world regions
II.
Population (13%17%)
A.
Geographical analysis of population
B.
Population growth and decline over time and space
C.
Migration
III. Cultural Patterns and Processes (13%17%)
A.
Concepts of culture
B.
Cultural differences and regional patterns
C.
Cultural landscapes and cultural identity
IV. Political Organization of Space (13%17%)
A.
Territorial dimensions of politics
B.
Evolution of the contemporary political pattern
C.
Challenges to inherited political-territorial arrangements
V.
Agricultural and Rural Land Use (13%17%)
A.
Development and diffusion of agriculture
B.
Major agricultural production regions
C.
Rural land use and settlement patterns
D.
Issues in contemporary commercial agriculture
VI. Industrialization and Economic Development (13%17%)
A.
Growth and diffusion of industrialization
B.
Social and economic measures of development
C.
Contemporary patterns and impacts of industrialization and development
VII. Cities and Urban Land Use (13%17%)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Development and characters of cities

Models of urban hierarchies: reasons for the distribution and size of cities
Models of internal city structure and urban development: strengths and limitations
of models
Built environment and social space
Contemporary urban issues

Suggested Groupings: AP Environmental Science

AP Human Geography Course Description and Example Test Questions:
http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-human-geography-course-description.pdf