AP Human Geography

WHAT IS AP  HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Advanced Placement ® Human Geography (APHG) is a college level course designed to represent a systematic study of the Earth and its inhabitants. APHG mirrors a typical undergraduate level Introduction to Human Geography course and covers the following seven units: the geographic perspective; population; cultural patterns and processes; political organization of space; agricultural and rural land use; industrialization and economic development, and cities and urban land use. This course should help students understand how cultural, economic and political systems relate to the distribution of human activities, the nature of places, and people’s interaction with their environment.

In addition to mastering the course content, each student should be prepared to pass the national college-level Advanced Placement Examination in May. Students may be eligible for college credit for successfully completing the exam. This course prepares students to enroll in intermediate level human geography courses at the college level.

Teacher professional development opportunities, resources, and support are available from:

  • National Council for Geographic Education. NCGE is the only national organization that supports geography teaching at all levels. They offer daily resources, professional development opportunities, and an annual conference. If you choose to become a member of NCGE, affiliation with the California Geographic Alliance reduces your membership fee by 50% (to $25 annually).
  • American Geographical Society. The Geography Educator Initiative incorporates daily resources, micro-grants, and professional development opportunities.