Earth & Space Science Part 2 builds on the foundations established in Part 1 by examining Earth’s interconnected systems and the interactions between the environment and human activity. Students investigate the hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and climate system, exploring topics such as the water cycle, oceans, weather, climate change, and the carbon cycle. The course also examines Earth’s natural resources, biodiversity, pollution, sustainability, and human impacts on ecosystems before concluding with the study of natural hazards, environmental policy, and strategies for reducing risk and protecting communities. Throughout the course, students apply scientific reasoning, analyze real-world data, and evaluate evidence to better understand the complex processes that shape Earth’s environment and influence life on our planet. The course is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and approved by the University of California A-G as a laboratory science – Earth and Space Sciences (category D).

Upon completion of this course, the student is awarded 5 credits. Each credit corresponds to 15 hours of study. Of course, some students work more quickly than others, and some can devote more hours to study, so some students are able to complete the course at an accelerated rate.