Placing Advanced Placement^® Human Geography: Its Role in U.S. Geography Education

ABSTRACT

This article examines Advanced Placement Human Geography (AP HG) in the context of its place in efforts to reform geography education. It presents a critical analysis of the AP program and its curriculum, asserting that it represents “powerful knowledge” as conceptualized by Young. It concludes with a call for research in AP HG aligned with recommendations to focus geography education research. Geographers in higher education are encouraged to embrace AP HG as a mechanism to recruit students and majors.

Key Words::

• AP Human Geography
• geography education
• powerful knowledge

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah Witham Bednarz

Sarah Witham Bednarz is a professor of geography at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA, with research interests in geography education and spatial thinking.