Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in environmental sciences requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including a minimum of 63 s.h. of work for the major. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core; some courses required for the major in environmental sciences may be used to satisfy GE CLAS Core requirements.
Students complete requirements in four areas: the science and mathematics foundation, the environmental sciences foundation, environmental sciences field study, and environmental sciences track courses.
The science and mathematics foundation develops fundamental skills and comprehension in biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, and statistics. The environmental sciences foundation includes an introductory course in environmental science and additional courses that focus on the geomorphic and environmental processes that shape the Earth’s surface, the ecological factors that influence the distribution and abundance of organisms, and a choice of one course that deals with remote sensing techniques or with the use of geographic information technologies. The environmental sciences field study gives students hands-on experience with methods of analysis and interpretation of natural systems/organisms.
Each of the program's four tracks focuses on areas of specialization within environmental sciences:
- Biosciences (Green) Track: biological systems and ecological approaches;
- Chemical Sciences (Yellow) Track: environmental systems and chemistry;
- Geosciences (Brown) Track: earth materials and surficial geologic processes; and
- Hydrosciences (Blue) Track: hydrogeology and hydrogeologic systems, and water chemistry.
Students select one course from each of the four tracks in order to develop breadth of understanding and skill in these areas.
Listed below are the general categories of coursework required to earn the degree; for more specific information on courses, curriculum, and requirements of the Bachelor of Arts in environmental sciences, visit the UI General Catalog.
| Title | Hours |
|---|---|
| Science and Mathematics Foundation Courses | 27 |
| Environmental Sciences Foundation Courses | 15-16 |
| Environmental Sciences Field Study Course | 3-4 |
| Environmental Sciences Policy Courses | 6 |
| Environmental Sciences Track Courses | 12-15 |
| Total Hours | 63-68 |
For help planning your courses, please contact the Environmental Science Program's undergraduate academic advisor.
Science and Mathematics Foundation (27 s.h.)
Students must complete ALL of the following:
| BIOL:1411 | Foundations of Biology (Fall and Spring) | 4 s.h. |
| BIOL:1412 | Diversity of Form and Function (Fall and Spring) | 4 s.h. |
| CHEM:1110 | Principles of Chemistry I (Fall and Spring) | 4 s.h. |
| CHEM:1120 | Principles of Chemistry II (Fall and Spring) | 4 s.h. |
| EES:1050 | Introduction to Geology (Fall and Spring) | 4 s.h. |
and ONE of these courses:
| MATH:1460 | Calculus for the Biological Sciences (Fall and Spring) | 4 s.h. |
| MATH:1850 | Calculus I (Fall and Spring) | 4 s.h. |
and ONE of these courses:
| CHEM:2021 | Fundamentals of Chemical Measurements (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| STAT:3510 | Biostatistics (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
Environmental Sciences Foundation (15 s.h.)
Students must complete ALL of the following:
| ENVS:1085 | Fundamentals of Environmental Science2 (Fall only) | 4 s.h. |
| ENVS:2673 | Ecology (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| ENVS:2010 | Interdisciplinary Environmental Seminar: Discovering Research, Exploring Careers, Building Connections3 (Fall Only) |
1 s.h. |
| ENVS:3010 | Interdisciplinary Environmental Seminar: Presenting Research, Preparing for Careers, Strengthening Connections4 (Spring only) |
1 s.h. |
| ENVS:3020 | Earth Surface Processes (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
and ONE of these:
| GEOG:2050 | Foundations of GIS (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3500 | Intro to Environmental Remote Sensing (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
2 - In special circumstances, ENVS:1080 may be used as a substitute. Students should contact their academic advisor if they think they have a need to make this substitution.
3 - take sometime during FIRST 2 years of degree.
4 - take sometime during LAST 2 years of degree.
Environmental Sciences Field Study (3-4 s.h.)
Students must complete 3-4 s.h. from this list:
| EES:4680 | Field Methods in Hydrologic Science (Summer only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:2831 | Geologic Field Methods (Summer only) | 3 s.h. |
| ENVS:3095 | Field Ecology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| ENVS:3096 | Winter Ecology (Spring only) | 2 s.h. |
| ENVS:3097 | Introduction to Bird Study (Spring only) | 2 s.h. |
| ENVS:3230 | Special Topics (when topic involves field work / field trips) | 1-4 s.h. |
| GEOG:4010 | Field Methods in Physical Geography (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| IALL:3103 | Aquatic Ecology (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3105 | Plant Taxonomy (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3117 | Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3126 | Ornithology (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3163 | Conservation Biology (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
Environmental Sciences Policy Courses (6 s.h.)
Students must complete TWO of these:
| BIOL:1260 | Plants and Human Affairs (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| ECON:3625 | Environmental and Nat Resource Economics (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:1115 | The History and Science of Oil (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:2910 | The Global Economy (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:2930 | Water Resources (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3760 | Hazards and Society (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3780 | U.S. Energy Policy in Global Context (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:4770 | Environmental Justice (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| PBAF:2020 | Environment and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
Environmental Sciences Track Courses (at least 12 s.h.)
Students must complete ONE course from each of the four tracks (Biosciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Hydrosciences):
Biosciences (Green) Track:
| BIOL:1261 | Introduction to Botany (Spring only) | 4 s.h. |
| BIOL:2374 | Biogeography (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| BIOL:2246 | Entomology Lab (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3070 | Marine Ecosystems and Conservation (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3220 | Evolution of the Vertebrates (Spring only) | 4 s.h. |
| GEOG:2950 | Environmental Conservation (Spring; but moving to Fall only in 2023) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3315 | Ecosystem Ecology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3350 | Urban Ecology (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| IALL:3105 | Plant Taxonomy (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3117 | Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
Chemical Sciences (Yellow) Track:
| BIOC:3110 | Biochemistry (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| CEE:4150 | Environmental Chemistry (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| CEE:5440 | Foundations of Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:2210 | Organic Chemistry I (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:3120 | Spectroscopy and Separations (formerly Analytical Chemistry II) (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:3250 | Inorganic Chemistry (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:4431 | Chemical Thermodynamics (formerly Physical Chemistry I) (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:4873 | Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry (Every other Spring) | 3 s.h. |
Geosciences (Brown) Track:
| EES:2020 | Earth's Climate System (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:2200 | Historical Geology (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:2310 | Introduction to Climatology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:2410 | Mineralogy (Fall only) | 4 s.h. |
| EES:3070 | Marine Ecosystems and Conservation (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3300 | Sedimentary Geology (Fall only) | 4 s.h. |
| EES:3360 | Soil Genesis and Geomorphology (Every other Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3380 | Fluvial Geomorphology (Every other Fall) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3390 | Integrated Watershed Analysis (Every other Fall) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3840 | Structural Geology (Spring only) | 4 s.h. |
| EES:3500 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (Spring only) | 4 s.h. |
| EES:4490 | Elements of Geochemistry (Every other Fall) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:4520 | Isotope Geochemistry (Currently on hiatus) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:4720 | Paleoclimatology (Every other Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:4790 | Applied Environmental Geology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| ENVS:3110 | Chemical Evolution of the Oceans (Every other Spring) | 3 s.h. |
Hydrosciences (Blue) Track:
| CEE:3371 | Principles of Hydraulics & Hydrology (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3300 | Sedimentary Geology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3390 | Integrated Watershed Analysis (Every other Fall) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:4490 | Elements of Geochemistry (Every other Fall) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:4630 | Hydrogeology (Fall only) | 4 s.h. |
| EES:4640 | Contaminant Hydrogeology (Every other Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:4790 | Applied Environmental Geology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:4470 | Ecological Climatology (Every other Fall) | 3 s.h. |
Joint B.A./M.A.T. with Science Education Subtrack
Bachelor of Arts students majoring in environmental sciences who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in teaching may apply to the joint Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in Teaching program offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. For more information, visit the UI General Catalog Environmental Sciences Program page.
Teacher Licensure
Students interested in teaching in elementary and/or secondary schools should seek admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) in the College of Education.
To qualify for licensure in secondary teaching, students in the TEP complete a degree in education as well as a related College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree. See Teacher Education Program Application and Admission on the College of Education website for details on requirements and deadlines for applying to the College of Education and about TEP choices of majors leading to licensure.