Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in environmental sciences was revised for 2024-2025. To see former versions of the curriculum please visit the archived version at the Iowa Digital Library.
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in environmental sciences requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including a minimum of 55 s.h. of work for the major. Students must maintain a grade-point average 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 three areas: science and mathematics foundation; environmental sciences foundation; and elective 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, a course focused on environmental conservation and policy, a seminar designed to introduce students to field and research opportunities, and a course that deals with the use of geographic information technologies.
The BA in environmental sciences requires the following coursework.
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Science and Mathematics Foundation Courses | 28 |
| Environmental Sciences Foundation Courses | 12 |
| Elective Courses | 15 |
Science and Mathematics Foundation
Students must complete 28 s.h. of coursework, as follows.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| ENVS:2673/BIOL:2673 | Ecology | 3 |
| ENVS:3020/EES:3020/GEOG:3020 | Earth Surface Processes | 3 |
| BIOL:1411 | Foundations of Biology | 4 |
| BIOL:1412 | Diversity of Form and Function | 4 |
| CHEM:1110 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| EES:1050 | Introduction to Geology | 4 |
| STAT:3510/IGPI:3510 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| ENVS:2020/EES:2020 | Earth's Climate System | 3 |
| GEOG:2310/EES:2310 | Introduction to Climatology | 3 |
Environmental Sciences Foundation
Students must complete at least 12 s.h. of coursework, as follows.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| ENVS:1085/EES:1085 | Fundamentals of Environmental Science | 4 |
| ENVS:2010/EES:2010/GEOG:2010 | Interdisciplinary Environmental Seminar | 1 |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues | 3 |
| GEOG:2050 | Foundations of GIS | 4 |
Elective Courses
Students must complete at least 15 s.h. of elective coursework. They must select at least one course from each of two of the following elective categories: chemistry; earth systems; ecology and the biosphere; field study; and research and internships. At least 6 s.h. of electives must be courses numbered 3000 or above. Students may not use any course to satisfy more than one requirement.
Chemistry Electives
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS:3110/EES:3110 | Chemical Evolution of the Oceans | 3 |
| CEE:4150/CBE:4420 | Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| CEE:4158/OEH:4920 | Solid and Hazardous Wastes | 3 |
| CEE:5440 | Foundations of Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology | 3 |
| CHEM:2021 | Fundamentals of Chemical Measurements | 3 |
| CHEM:2210 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM:3110 | Equilibria and Electrochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM:3120 | Spectroscopy and Separations | 3 |
| CHEM:3430 | Analytical Measurements | 3 |
| EES:4490 | Elements of Geochemistry | 3 |
Earth Systems Electives
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS:2200/EES:2200 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| EES:2410 | Mineralogy | 4 |
| EES:3080 | Introduction to Oceanography | 2 |
| EES:3300 | Sedimentary Geology | 4 |
| EES:3360/GEOG:3360 | Soil Genesis and Geomorphology | 3 |
| EES:3380/CEE:3328 | Fluvial Geomorphology | 3 |
| EES:3390 | Integrated Watershed Analysis | 3 |
| EES:3500 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| EES:3840 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| EES:4630 | Hydrogeology | 4 |
| EES:4640 | Contaminant Hydrogeology | 3 |
| EES:4720 | Paleoclimatology | 3 |
| EES:4750 | Mineral and Petroleum Exploration Geology | 3 |
| EES:4790 | Applied Environmental Geology | 3 |
| EES:4820 | Tectonics and Basin Analysis | 3 |
| GEOG:2310/EES:2310 | Introduction to Climatology | 3 |
| GEOG:3500/IGPI:3500 | Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG:3570 | Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR): Principles and Applications | 3 |
| GEOG:4310 | Climate Change | 3 |
Ecology and the Biosphere Electives
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL:1261 | Introduction to Botany | 4 |
| BIOL:2246 | Entomology Lab | 4 |
| BIOL:2663 | Plant Response to the Environment | 3 |
| BIOL:3244 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| EES:3070 | Marine Ecosystems and Conservation | 3 |
| EES:3210 | Principles of Paleontology | 3 |
| EES:3220 | Evolution of the Vertebrates | 4 |
| GEOG:2374/BIOL:2374 | Biogeography | 3 |
| GEOG:2950 | Environmental Conservation | 4 |
| GEOG:3315 | Ecosystem Ecology | 3 |
| GEOG:3350 | Urban Ecology | 3 |
| GEOG:4470 | Ecological Climatology | 3 |
| GEOG:4600 | Biogeography, Ecology, and Conservation of Mammals | 4 |
Field Study Electives
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS:2001/EES:2001 | Second-Year Field Trip for Earth and Environmental Sciences | 1 |
| ENVS:3001/EES:3001 | Third-Year Field Trip for Earth and Environmental Sciences | 1 |
| ENVS:3095 | Field Ecology | 4 |
| ENVS:3096 | Winter Ecology | 2 |
| ENVS:3097 | Introduction to Bird Study | 2 |
| ENVS:3230 | Special Topics (when topic is Prairie Restoration, or with advisor approval) | 0-4 |
| ENVS:4001/EES:4001 | Fourth-Year Field Trip for Earth and Environmental Sciences | 2 |
| EES:1179 & EES:1180 | Geology of National Parks: Preparation and Planning - Geology of National Parks: Field Trip | 3 |
| EES:2831 | Geologic Field Methods | 3 |
| EES:4680 | Field Methods in Hydrologic Science | 3 |
| GEOG:4010 | Field Methods in Physical Geography | 3 |
| Approved Iowa Lakeside Laboratory courses (prefix IALL) | ||
Research and Internship Electives
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 Apply 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.