Environmental Studies - AS/A2 Level

Environmental Studies - AS/A2 Level
Exam Board: AQA NCS course code: AS-ASENVAP/ A2-A2ENVAP
Aim The Environmental Studies course enables students to gain a deep and well-informed insight into the environment and the scientific processes that control and affect it. The central theme is the development of an understanding of how different events and cycles within the environment interrelate, how they influence subsequent environmental events, the human impacts on these events and cycles, and the strategies that can be used to minimise the problems caused. Key aspects within the course include areas such as â€-wildlife conservation†, â€-pollution†, â€-global climate change†and â€-sustainability†.
Content The AS specification has 2 units:
Unit 1: The living environment
· Reasons why the conservation of life on Earth is important
· Methods which may be used to achieve effective conservation
· Conservation in the UK, coral reefs, Antarctica and tropical rainforests
· Ecological relationships between organisms and their abiotic and biotic environment.

Assessment is by a 1-hour written examination paper.

Unit 2: The physical environment
Topic list
· Atmospheric gases, water and mineral nutrients
· Human exploitation and management of physical resources to provide higher material living standards
· Unsustainable natural resources.

Assessment is by a 1 hour 30 minute examination paper.
At A2, the course enables candidates to further develop their skills and understanding of â€-how science works†. Students will examine energy resources and environmental pollution, and biological resources and sustainability.

The A2 course has 2 units:
Unit 3: Energy resources and environmental pollution
· Future problems of energy supply and how these may be resolved
· Properties of pollutants to explain why some materials or forms of energy cause environmental damage
· Minimising releases, treating effluents and managing the damage caused by pollutants.

Assessment is by a 1 hour 30 minute written examination paper.

Unit 4: Biological resources and sustainability
· Factors controlling human population growth in relation to the demands placed upon the planet's resources and life-support systems
· Food production and forestry systems
· Study of the sustainability of human lifestyles.

Assessment is by a 2 hour written examination paper.

Progression/career opportunities
As part of a group of science or arts A level courses, Environmental Studies provides an ideal base for employment, a range of vocational qualifications and a very wide variety of Higher Education courses, including degrees in areas related to the environment, geography, geology, science, climate, planning and teaching.

Screening
Students will also be screened (in the College) and must achieve literacy and numeracy at the level appropriate to the course.