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AP Human Geography | Curriculum

Human Geography Unit 1 Curriculum Outline

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Disclaimer: This outline is sourced directly from the AP Human Geography Course Framework released by the College Board. This is a lightweight, web-friendly format for easy reference. Omninox does not take credit for this outline and is not affiliated with the College Board. AP is a reserved trademark of the College Board.

Table of Contents

Unit 1 (you are here)
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Unit 7

TOPIC 1.1 - Introduction to Maps

IMP-1.A: 􏰈􏰦􏰒􏰖􏰓􏰧􏰛􏰨Identify types of maps, the types of information presented in maps, and different kinds of spatial patterns and relationships portrayed in maps.

  • IMP-1.A.1: 􏰐􏰨􏰪􏰒􏰜 􏰗􏰛 􏰞􏰘􏰪Types of maps include reference maps and thematic maps. 􏰧􏰖􏰯􏰚􏰔􏰦􏰒 􏰕􏰒􏰛􏰒􏰕􏰒􏰖􏰯􏰒 􏰞􏰘􏰪􏰜 􏰘􏰖􏰦 􏰓􏰩􏰒􏰞􏰘􏰓􏰧􏰯 􏰞􏰘􏰪􏰜􏰣􏰐􏰨􏰪􏰒􏰜 􏰗􏰛 􏰞􏰘􏰪􏰜 􏰧􏰖􏰯􏰚􏰔􏰦􏰒 􏰕􏰒􏰛􏰒􏰕􏰒􏰖􏰯􏰒 􏰞􏰘􏰪􏰜 􏰘􏰖􏰦 􏰓􏰩􏰒􏰞􏰘􏰓􏰧􏰯 􏰞􏰘􏰪􏰜
  • IMP-1.A.2:  􏰓􏰨􏰪􏰒􏰜􏰈􏰦􏰒􏰖􏰓􏰧􏰛􏰨 Types of spatial patterns represented on maps include absolute and relative distance and direction, clustering, dispersal, and elevation.
  • IMP-1.A.3:  􏰓􏰨􏰪􏰒􏰜􏰈􏰦􏰒􏰖􏰓􏰧􏰛􏰨All maps are selective in information; map projections inevitably distort spatial relationships in shape, area, distance and direction.

TOPIC 1.2 - Geographic Data

IMP-1.B: Identify different methods of geographic data collection

  • IMP-1.B.1: 􏰐􏰨􏰪􏰒􏰜Data may be gathered in the field by organizations or by individuals.
  • IMP-1.B.2: 􏰐􏰨􏰪􏰒􏰜􏰈􏰗􏰖􏰈􏰘Geospatial technologes include geographic information systems (GIS), satellite navigation systems, remote sensing, and online mapping and visualization.  􏰗
  • IMP-1.B.3: 􏰐􏰨􏰪􏰒􏰜Spatial information can come from written accounts in the form of field observations, media reports, travel narratives, policy documents, personal interviews, landscape analysis, and photographic interpretation.

TOPIC 1.3 - The Power of Geographic Data

IMP-1.C: Explain the geographical effects of decisions made using geographical information.

  • IMP-1.C.1:  􏰖􏰔Geospatial and geographical data, including census data and satellite imagery, are used at all scales for personal, business and organizational, and governmental decision-making purposes.

TOPIC 1.4 - Spatial Concepts

PSO-1.A: Define major geographic concepts that illustrate spatial relationships.

  • PSO-1.A.1: Spatial concepts include absolute and relative location, space, place, flows, distance decay, time-space compression, and pattern.

TOPIC 1.5 - Human-Environmental Interaction

PSO-1.B: Explain how major geographic concepts illustrate spatial relationships.

  • PSO-1.B.1: Concepts of nature and society include sustainability, natural resources, and land use.  
  • PSO-1.B.2: 􏰚Theories regarding the interaction of the natural environment with human societies have evolved from environmental determinism to possibilism.

TOPIC 1.6 - Scales of Analysis 􏰄􏰤􏰈􏰗􏰖􏰈􏰘 􏰃􏰅􏰘􏰈􏰗􏰖􏰁􏰔􏰄􏰜􏰖􏰤􏰎

PSO-1.C: Define scales of analysis used by geographers.

  • PSO-1.C.1:  Scales of analysis include global, regional, national, and local.

PSO-1.D: Explain what scales of analysis reveal.

  • PSO-1.D.1: Patterns and processes at different scales reveal variations in, and different interpretations of, data.

TOPIC 1.7 - Regional Analysis􏰈􏰔􏰈􏰘􏰞􏰄􏰖􏰄

SPS-1.A: Describe different ways that geographers define regions.

  • SPS-1.A.1: Regions are defined on the basis of one or more unifying characteristics or on patterns of activity.  
  • SPS-1.A.2: Types of regions include formal, functional, and perceptual/vernacular.
  • SPS-1.A.3: Regional boundaries are transitional and often contested and overlapping.
  • SPS-1.A.4: Geographers apply regional analysis at local, national, and global scales.