Tamarac seniors will be able to take a new Advanced Placement Environmental Science class next year, a full-year course including a lecture and lab work.
Teacher Mary McManus explained the goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world.
Students also will study how to identify and analyze environmental problems and examine alternative solutions to resolve or prevent such problems.
Mrs. McManus said she’s excited about the opportunity to offer the course which she believes will engage students by encouraging them to use education and technology to become vehicles of change.
“The course challenges students to use innovative, creative and critical thinking skills to tackle the complex problems facing our society and planet,” explained Mrs. McManus. “I hope high school juniors will consider adding this challenging but worthwhile course to their schedules.”
The Board of Education approved the new course at its November 3 meeting.
Prerequisites for the course include successful completion of two years of regents level lab sciences (chemistry preferred) and one year of algebra.
The interdisciplinary course embraces a wide variety of topics including: science as a process, energy conversions, Earth as an interconnected system, human impacts on natural systems, cultural and social contexts of environmental problems, and the critical need to develop practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
The seven main categories for study are Earth Systems and Resources, the Living World, Population, Land and Water Use, Energy Resources and Consumption, Pollution, and Global Change. Students who wish to receive college credit will take the three hour long advanced placement exam in the spring.
