The APES course is to provide students with the scientific principle, concepts and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and man- made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, an to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. There are several unifying constructs or themes that provide the foundation for this course.

1. Science is a process
2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes
3. The Earth itself is an interconnected system
4. Humans alter natural systems
5. Environmental problems have a social and cultural context
6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems