The Bachelor of Science 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 Science with a major in environmental sciences requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 71–77 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.

Bachelor of Science students majoring in environmental sciences must complete requirements in three areas: environmental sciences foundation; one environmental sciences track; and elective courses.

During their third year of study, students are assigned a faculty advisor who specializes in their track.

The environmental sciences foundation develops fundamental skills and comprehension in biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, and statistics. The foundation includes an introductory course in environmental science and additional courses that focus on remote sensing techniques, design and use of geographic information technologies, the geomorphic and environmental processes that shape the earth's surface, and ecological factors that influence the distribution and abundance of organisms.

The tracks aim to prepare scientists who can tackle problems that require particular areas of expertise and to help students develop the skills needed for future employment or graduate study.

The BS with a major in environmental sciences requires the following coursework. Students in the environmental bioscience track complete 30–32 s.h. of track courses and 18 s.h. of electives. Students in the environmental geoscience track complete 39 s.h. of track courses and 15 s.h. of electives. All students complete the same foundation courses.

Degree Requirements
TitleHours
Foundation Courses23
Track Courses30-39
Elective courses15-18

For help planning your courses, please contact the Environmental Science Program's undergraduate academic advisor.
 

Foundation

Students must complete 23 s.h. of coursework, as follows.

Course #TitleHours
All of these: 
ENVS:1085/EES:1085Fundamentals of Environmental Science4
ENVS:2010/EES:2010/GEOG:2010Interdisciplinary Environmental Seminar1
CHEM:1110Principles of Chemistry I4
GEOG:1070Contemporary Environmental Issues3
GEOG:2050Foundations of GIS4
MATH:1850Calculus I4
One of these: 
STAT:2010Statistical Methods and Computing3
STAT:3510/IGPI:3510Biostatistics3

 

Tracks

Students majoring in environmental sciences must choose one of two tracks: environmental bioscience or environmental geoscience. Courses taken to complete a track requirement may not also be used to satisfy the elective requirements.

Environmental Bioscience Track

Students in the environmental bioscience track complete 30–32 s.h. in track courses.

Course List
Course #TitleHours
All of these: 
ENVS:2673/BIOL:2673Ecology3
ENVS:3020/EES:3020/GEOG:3020Earth Surface Processes3
BIOL:1411Foundations of Biology4
BIOL:1412Diversity of Form and Function4
CHEM:1120Principles of Chemistry II4
GEOG:3315Ecosystem Ecology3
One of these: 
EES:3070Marine Ecosystems and Conservation3
GEOG:2374/BIOL:2374Biogeography3
GEOG:2950Environmental Conservation4
One of these: 
ENVS:2020/EES:2020Earth's Climate System3
GEOG:2310/EES:2310Introduction to Climatology3
One of these (minimum 3 s.h.): 
BIOL:1261Introduction to Botany4
BIOL:2246Entomology Lab4
EES:3220Evolution of the Vertebrates4
GEOG:4600Biogeography, Ecology, and Conservation of Mammals4
IALL:3109Ecology and Systematics of Algae4
IALL:3117Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms4
Additional courses taken with advisor approval 

Environmental Geoscience

Students in the environmental geoscience track complete 39 s.h. in track courses.

Course List
Course #TitleHours
One of these sequences: 
PHYS:1511-PHYS:1512College Physics I-II8
PHYS:1611-PHYS:1612Introductory Physics I-II8
All of these: 
ENVS:2673/BIOL:2673Ecology3
ENVS:3020/EES:3020/GEOG:3020Earth Surface Processes3
EES:1050Introduction to Geology4
EES:3300Sedimentary Geology4
EES:3360/GEOG:3360Soil Genesis and Geomorphology3
EES:4630Hydrogeology4
EES:4790Applied Environmental Geology3
MATH:1860Calculus II4
One of these: 
ENVS:2020/EES:2020Earth's Climate System3
GEOG:2310/EES:2310Introduction to Climatology3

Electives

Students in the environmental bioscience track complete at least 18 s.h. in electives; students in the environmental geoscience track complete at least 15 s.h. in electives. All students must complete at least 3 s.h. from the field study list plus one course from each of at least three of four elective categories: chemistry; earth systems; ecology and the biosphere; and research and internships. At least 9 s.h. of electives must be courses numbered 3000 or above. Students may not use any course to satisfy more than one requirement.

Field Study Electives

Course List
Course #TitleHours
At least 3 s.h. from these: 
ENVS:2001/EES:2001Second-Year Field Trip for Earth and Environmental Sciences1
ENVS:3001/EES:3001Third-Year Field Trip for Earth and Environmental Sciences1
ENVS:3095Field Ecology4
ENVS:3096Winter Ecology2
ENVS:3097Introduction to Bird Study2
ENVS:3230Special Topics (when topic is Prairie Restoration, or with advisor approval)0-4
ENVS:4001/EES:4001Fourth-Year Field Trip for Earth and Environmental Sciences2
EES:1179 & EES:1180Geology of National Parks: Preparation and Planning - Geology of National Parks: Field Trip3
EES:2831Geologic Field Methods3
EES:4680Field Methods in Hydrologic Science3
GEOG:4010Field Methods in Physical Geography3
Approved Iowa Lakeside Laboratory courses (prefix IALL) 

Chemistry Electives

Course List
Course #TitleHours
ENVS:3110/EES:3110Chemical Evolution of the Oceans3
CEE:4150/CBE:4420Environmental Chemistry3
CEE:4158/OEH:4920Solid and Hazardous Wastes3
CEE:5440Foundations of Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology3
CHEM:2021Fundamentals of Chemical Measurements3
CHEM:2210Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM:3110Equilibria and Electrochemistry3
CHEM:3120Spectroscopy and Separations3
CHEM:3430Analytical Measurements3
EES:4490Elements of Geochemistry3

Earth Systems Electives

Course List
Course #TitleHours
ENVS:2200/EES:2200Historical Geology4
EES:1050Introduction to Geology4
EES:2410Mineralogy4
EES:3080Introduction to Oceanography2
EES:3300Sedimentary Geology4
EES:3360/GEOG:3360Soil Genesis and Geomorphology3
EES:3380/CEE:3328Fluvial Geomorphology3
EES:3390Integrated Watershed Analysis3
EES:3500Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology4
EES:3840Structural Geology4
EES:4630Hydrogeology4
EES:4640Contaminant Hydrogeology3
EES:4720Paleoclimatology3
EES:4750Mineral and Petroleum Exploration Geology3
EES:4790Applied Environmental Geology3
EES:4820Tectonics and Basin Analysis3
GEOG:2310/EES:2310Introduction to Climatology3
GEOG:3500/IGPI:3500Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing3
GEOG:3570Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR): Principles and Applications3
GEOG:4310Climate Change3

Ecology and the Biosphere Electives

Course List
Course #TitleHours
BIOL:1261Introduction to Botany4
BIOL:2246Entomology Lab4
BIOL:2663Plant Response to the Environment3
BIOL:3244Animal Behavior3
EES:3070Marine Ecosystems and Conservation3
EES:3210Principles of Paleontology3
EES:3220Evolution of the Vertebrates4
GEOG:2374/BIOL:2374Biogeography3
GEOG:2950Environmental Conservation4
GEOG:3315Ecosystem Ecology3
GEOG:3350Urban Ecology3
GEOG:4470Ecological Climatology3
GEOG:4600Biogeography, Ecology, and Conservation of Mammals4

Research and Internship Electives

Course List
Course #TitleHours
BIOL:3994Introduction to Research1-3
BIOL:4999Honors Research in Biologyarr.
EES:2190Directed Studyarr.
EES:3190Directed Studyarr.
EES:4999Honors Thesis in Geosciencearr.
Other approved research registered with a course number

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.