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, including one 4 s.h. field course at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
For help planning your courses, please see the green track's Example Plan of Study, or contact the ES Program's undergraduate academic advisor, Hannah Whitcomb: hannah-whitcomb@uiowa.edu
Students who plan to apply to graduate programs may consider supplementing this degree with courses in Organic Chemistry and Physics.
Environmental Biosciences Foundation
All three of these courses:
| BIOL:2374 | Biogeography (fall semesters only) | 3 s.h. |
| BIOL:2512 | Fundamental Genetics | 4 s.h. |
| BIOL:3172 | Evolution | 4 s.h. |
and at least 9 s.h. from these:
| BIOL:2246 | Entomology Lab | 4 s.h. |
| EES:3070 | Marine Ecosystems and Conservation | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3220 | Evolution of the Vertebrates | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3500 | Intro to Environmental Remote Sensing | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:2950 | Environmental Conservation | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3315 | Ecosystem Ecology | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3350 | Urban Ecology | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:4470 | Ecological Climatology | 3 s.h. |
Environmental Biosciences Field Study
At least 3 s.h. from the list below. 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):
| ENVS:3095 | Field Ecology (Fall semesters) | 3 s.h. |
| ENVS:3096 | Winter Ecology (Spring semesters) | 2 s.h. |
| ENVS:3097 | Introduction to Bird Study (Spring semesters) | 2 s.h. |
| ENVS:3230 | Special Topics (when topic involves field work / field trips) | 1-4 s.h. |
| IALL:3034 | Topics in Ecology and Sustainability (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 2 s.h. |
| IALL:3103 | Aquatic Ecology (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3105 | Plant Taxonomy (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3109 | Freshwater Algae (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3115 | Field Mycology (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3117 | Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3121 | Plant Ecology (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3123 | Prairie Ecology I (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 2 s.h. |
| IALL:3125 | Prairie Ecology II (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 2 s.h. |
| IALL:3126 | Ornithology (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 2 s.h. |
| IALL:3131 | Ecology (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 4 s.h. |
| IALL:3162 | Restoration Ecology (Summer - at Lakeside Labs) | 2 s.h. |
Iowa Lakeside Laboratory is located in northwestern Iowa on Lake Okoboji. It offers unique summer educational opportunities, including the courses listed above. Information on Lakeside Lab courses is on ISIS, but registration is handled separately via the Lakeside Lab website. Note that you need to register for Lakeside Lab courses before mid-April (registration begins in January). If you have a GPA of at least 2.5, you also should apply for a scholarship to cover the cost of room and board.
Environmental Biosciences Electives
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 | 4 s.h. |
| BIOL:2663 | Plant Response to the Environment | 3 s.h. |
| BIOL:3244 | Animal Behavior (with or without lab) | 3 or 5 s.h. |
| BIOL:3676 | Evolution Lab | 4 s.h. |
| BIOL:3994 | Introduction to Research | ARR |
| BIOL:4999 | Honors Investigation | ARR |
| CEE:5440 | Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:2210 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:3110 | Analytical Chemistry I | 3 s.h. |
| CHEM:3120 | Analytical Chemistry II | 3 s.h. |
| EES:2200 | Historical Geology | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3080 | Introduction to Oceanography | 2 s.h. |
| EES:3110 | Chemical Evolution of the Oceans | 3 s.h. |
| EES:3210 | Principles of Paleontology | 3 s.h. |
| EES:4630 | Hydrogeology | 4 s.h. |
| EES:4790 | Applied Environmental Geology | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:2310 | Introduction to Climatology | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3310 | Landscape Ecology | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3570 | LiDAR: Principles and Applications | 3 s.h. |
| STAT:6513 | Intermediate Statistical Methods | 3 s.h. |
Students may petition their Environmental Science advisor to use other appropriate 2000-, 3000- and 4000-level courses as electives.
Policy Course
At least 3 s.h. from the following list:
| BIOL:1260 | Plants and Human Affairs | 3 s.h. |
| ECON:3330 | Environmental and Nat Resource Economics | 3 s.h. |
| EES:1115 | The History and Science of Oil | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3340 | Ecosystem Services: Human Dependence | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3400 | Iowa Environmental Policy in Practice | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3780 | U.S. Energy Policy in Global Context | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:4750 | Environmental Impact Analysis | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:4770 | Environmental Justice | 3 s.h. |