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 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 only) | 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
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 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. |
| 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. |
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 (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: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 (Spring in 2022, then 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:3310 | Landscape Ecology | 3 s.h. |
| GEOG:3570 | LiDAR: Principles and Applications (Spring only) | 3 s.h. |
| STAT:6513 | Intermediate Statistical Methods (Fall and Spring) | 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 (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| ECON:3625 | Environmental and Nat Resource Economics (Fall only) | 3 s.h. |
| EES:1115 | The History and Science 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. |