Next year, students will have the opportunity to explore Environmental Science AP for the first time.

Biology teacher Greg Stoehr has researched Environmental Science AP, giving the school and the administration feedback to make the new course possible.

Stoehr will teach the new course since he has a strong background in the field of Environmental Science and has taught the course for 10 years.

According to College Board, Environmental Science AP incorporates many fields of science, including an extensive look into ecology and how humans can alter natural systems. A key difference in Environmental Science is incorporating a human aspect to science, which is only taught briefly in other science courses.

“The core content is different,” Stoehr said. “It has more to do with the human impact on the planet.”

Stoehr views the human effects on the environment as a significant issue that should be addressed through this course. As an advisor for the Green Team, the school’s environmental club, he is excited that some members have already expressed interest in the class even though it has not yet been promoted.

Green Time vice president junior Flora Champenois heard during a club meeting in her sophomore year that Stoehr would teach the class, and she has planned to take it during her sophomore year.

“I think it would be nice to establish my own opinion about the environment based on science, not the things I hear,” Flora said.

The course will be similar to Environmental Field Studies, a course that was previously offered at the school and taught by Craig Seran. Environmental Field Studies was removed a couple of years ago.

The class has no official prerequisite classes due to the school’s open access policy, but biology and chemistry are strongly recommended. As with every AP class, Environmental Science AP will provide students with college credit.

The course curriculum has not yet been audited by the state but is expected to pass.

“I am hoping [students] will get a string foundation in environmental science that will help them better understand the world they live in,” Stoehr said.”