Biosciences (Green) Track
The Environmental Biosciences Track provides the essential skills for entry-level positions that require a good knowledge of biotic systems and the ability to inventory biologic resources. This track aims to produce scientists capable of tackling environmental problems in which links/interactions with life sciences are crucial and a greater knowledge of biological/ecological sciences is required. It also lays a strong foundation for graduate or professional training in disciplines such as ecology, wildlife management, and natural resource management. Students must complete at least 33 s.h. of Environmental Biosciences Track course work for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences degree, including one 4 s.h. field course at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
Bachelor of Science students in the Biosciences track must complete the following coursework:
| Title | Hours |
|---|---|
| Biosciences Track: Foundation | 20 |
| Biosciences Track: Field Study | 3-4 |
| Biosciences Track: Electives | 6 |
| Biosciences Track: Policy | 3 |
| Total Hours | 33 |
Students who plan to apply to graduate programs may consider supplementing this degree with courses in Organic Chemistry and Physics.
For help planning your courses, please contact the Environmental Science Program's undergraduate academic advisor.
Environmental Biosciences Foundation (20 s.h.)
All three of these courses:
| BIOL:2374 | Biogeography (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| BIOL:2512 | Fundamental Genetics (Fall and Spring) | 4 s.h. |
| BIOL:3172 | Evolution (Fall and Spring) | 4 s.h. |
and at least 9 s.h. from these:
| BIOL:2246 | Entomology Lab (Fall only) | 4 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:3500 | Intro to Environmental Remote Sensing (Fall only) | 3 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. |
| GEOG:4470 | Ecological Climatology (every other Fall) | 3 s.h. |
Environmental Biosciences Field Study (3-4 s.h.)
At least 3 s.h. from the following list:
| 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 (e.g., Herpetology, Prairie Restoration) | 1-4 s.h. |
| GEOG:4600 | Biogeography, Ecology, & Conservation of Mammals (Spring only) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3034 | Topics in Ecology and Sustainability (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 2 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:3109 | Freshwater Algae (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3115 | Field Mycology (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3117 | Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3121 | Plant Ecology (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3123 | Prairie Ecology I (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 2 s.h. |
| IALL:3125 | Prairie Ecology II (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 2 s.h. |
| IALL:3126 | Ornithology (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 2 s.h. |
| IALL:3131 | Ecology (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3162 | Restoration Ecology (Summer only - Lakeside Labs) | 2 s.h. |
NOTE: New Lakeside Laboratory (IALL) courses are added regularly; check with your advisor to see if a course not listed below will count toward your major).
Environmental Biosciences Electives (6 s.h.)
At least 6 s.h. from the following list. Additional field courses or foundation courses may also be used for elective credit:
| BIOL:1261 | Introduction to Botany (Fall only) | 4 s.h. |
| BIOL:2663 | Plant Response to the Environment (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| BIOL:3244 | Animal Behavior (with or without lab) (Fall only) | 3 or 5 s.h. |
| BIOL:3676 | Evolution Lab (Fall only) | 4 s.h. |
| BIOL:3994 | Introduction to Research (Fall and Spring) | ARR |
| BIOL:4999 | Honors Investigation (Fall and Spring) | ARR |
| CEE:5440 | Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:2210 | Organic Chemistry I (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:3110 | Analytical Chemistry I (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:3120 | Analytical Chemistry II (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:2020 | Earth's Climate System (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:2200 | Historical Geology (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3080 | Introduction to Oceanography | 2 s.h. |
| EES:3110 | Chemical Evolution of the Oceans (Every other Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3210 | Principles of Paleontology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:4630 | Hydrogeology (Fall only) | 4 s.h. |
| EES:4790 | Applied Environmental Geology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| ENVS:3230 | Special Topics | 1-4 s.h. |
| GEOG:2310 | Introduction to Climatology (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3570 | LiDAR: Principles and Applications (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:4310 | Climate Change (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
NOTE: Students may petition their Environmental Science advisor to use other appropriate 2000-, 3000-, and 4000-level courses as electives.
Policy Course (3 s.h.)
At least 3 s.h. from the following list:
| BIOL:1260 | Plants and Human Affairs (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| ECON:3625 | Environmental and Nat Resource Economics (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:1115 | The History of Oil (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues (Fall and Spring) | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3340 | Ecosystem Services: Human Dependence (Fall 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 | Environmental and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |