Home study A level course in Environmental Studies. The Environmental Studies specification enables students to gain an 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.

Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary subject covering different branches of science and geography and there is much terminology that is associated with the subject. You are expected not only to recognise and understand these terms in examination papers, but use them correctly in your answers. If you have problems remembering terms it is a good idea to write them on index cards as you go along and use these to help you learn them.

Unit 1: ENVS1 – The Living Environment

An introduction to the biodiversity of life on Planet Earth.
The reasons why the conservation of life on Earth is important are investigated, as are the methods which may be used to achieve effective conservation.

Conservation in the UK, coral reefs, Antarctica and tropical rainforests are used to develop these issues further.

‘Life Processes in the Biosphere’ allows consideration of the ecological relationships between organisms and their abiotic and biotic environments in order to understand conservation problems further and how these may be managed.

Unit 2: ENVS2 – The Physical Environment

This unit introduces the available physical resources essential to life on Earth, how humans utilise these resources and issues relating to resource over-exploitation.

Additionally, the naturally occurring resources such as atmospheric gases, water and minerals, and cycles involving them are explored. The uses, management and threats to these resources are also investigated, including global climate change, water demands and management as well as mineral exploitation.

Unit 3: ENVS3 – Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution

Future problems of energy supply and how these may be resolved are investigated through the study of the energy resources which are available for use.

The properties of pollutants are considered to explain why some materials or forms of energy cause environmental damage. These issues are developed through the study of a range of atmospheric, aquatic and terrestrial pollutants.

The strategies which may be used to minimise releases, treat effluents and manage the damage caused are considered. These issues allow consideration of the issues related to Units 1 and 2 which involve pollution.

Unit 4: ENVS4 – Biological Resources and Sustainability

The factors controlling human population growth are considered in relation to the demands placed upon the planet’s resources and life-support systems.

Food production and forestry systems are analysed, with particular emphasis on the limiting factors affecting productivity, the environmental problems caused by these systems and the ways in which problems can be addressed.

The study of the sustainability of human lifestyles allows synoptic consideration of the other modules of the specification.

How Science Works
An understanding of How Science Works is a requirement. How Science Works is an underpinning set of concepts and is the means whereby students come to understand how scientists investigate scientific phenomena in their attempts to explain the world about us. Moreover, How Science Works recognises the contribution scientists have made to their own disciplines and to the wider world.

AQA A Level Environmental Studies

AS/A2 - A level in Environmental Studies. Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.

Specification: AQA (Full A Level) 2440, AQA (AS) 1441 and AQA (A2) 2441 

All students have one year to complete this course from date of registration. On average this course is completed in 200 hours.

We recommend that students complete 4-6 hours per week as a minimum to get the most from this course. Remember to work out a study plan / timetable before you start and try and stick to it. Coursework can be completed as quickly as you want as shown below.

Recommended Reading
The core text for this course is relevant to all units of the course and should be referred to throughout:

AQA A Level Environmental Studies Student book by Richard Genn (2008)
Published by Nelson Thornes ISBN-10: 1408513900 ISBN-13: 978-1408513903

Environmental Science: A Global Concern (Ninth Edition) by William P.
Cunningham, Mary Ann Cunningham and Barbara Woodworth Saigo (2007)
Published by McGraw Hill Higher Education Publisher: ISBN-10: 0071105964
ISBN13: 978-0071105965

Understanding GCSE Geography: For AQA Specification A (Understanding GCSE
Geography) by Ann Bowen and John Pallister (2006) Published by Heinemann
Educational Publishers; 3Rev Ed edition ISBN-10: 0435351710 ISBN-13: 978-
0435351717

Course Fee: Starting at: £349.00