Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
(Cross-listed with GEOL 1010).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Exploration of the interactions between humans and the geologic environment, and the consequences of those interactions, on local to global scales. Discussion of water, soil, mineral, and energy resources, pollution, climate change, and natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanism, mass wasting, and flooding. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
(Cross-listed with GEOL 1080).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Introduction to the study of oceans and the processes that helped shape them. A major focus is on how the oceans work, with special attention on geological, chemical, and biological processes. Ocean circulation and its influence on climate. Life of the oceans. Use and misuse of ocean resources. Anthropogenic impacts on the oceanic environment. (Typically Offered: Fall)
(Cross-listed with GEOL 1110).
Credits: 1. Contact Hours: Lecture 1.
Introduction to the catastrophic geologic processes with the potential to devastate human populations that continue to expand into regions at greatest risk from geologic hazards. Selected case studies and discussion of plate tectonics, climate, and earth processes explain the driving forces behind natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and floods. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
(Cross-listed with AGRON 1200/ NREM 1200).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Overview of soil, water, plants, and animals as renewable natural resources in an ecosystem context. History and organization of resource management. Concepts of integrated resource management. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
(Cross-listed with NREM 1300).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Survey of the ecology and management of fish, forest, and wildlife resources in areas of intensive agriculture, with emphasis on Iowa. Conservation and management practices for private agricultural lands. Designed for nonmajors. (Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with AGRON 1400/ MTEOR 1400/ GEOL 1400).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
The climate system of our planet. How nature and our actions alter the existing energy balance leading to climate change. Past climates on our planet. The influence of climate on society and resource availability during the Holocene (~ 11,000 years ago to present) with focus on changes post industrial revolution. Significant climate events that have altered our way of life in the past. Projected changes in future climate and potential impacts on society, environment and resources. Adaption to and mitigation of climate change. Meets International Perspectives Requirement. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
(Cross-listed with AGRON 1600/ MTEOR 1600/ GEOL 1600).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Study of the occurrence, history, development, and management of world water resources. Basic hydrologic principles including climate, surface water, groundwater, and water quality. Historical and current perspectives on water policy, use, and the role of water in society and the environment. Meets International Perspectives Requirement. (Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with BIOL 1730).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
An introduction to the structure and function of natural systems at scales from the individual to the biosphere and the complex interactions between humans and their environment. Discussions of human population growth, biodiversity, sustainability, resource use, and pollution. Does not satisfy biology major requirements. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
(Cross-listed with BIOL 2010/ ENSCI 2010).
Credits: 2. Contact Hours: Lecture 2.
Discussion of current and emerging environmental issues such as human population growth, energy use, loss of biodiversity, water resources, and climate change. (Typically Offered: Fall)
(Cross-listed with BIOL 2040).
Credits: 2. Contact Hours: Lecture 4.
Survey of the major groups of organisms and biological systems. Definition, measurements, and patterns of distribution of organisms. Sources of information about biodiversity. Does not satisfy biology major requirements. Half semester course. See list of life science courses (https://www.cals.iastate.edu/student-services/lifescience) for additional information. (Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with ANTHR 2200/ SOC 2200/ GLOBE 2200/ ME 2200/ MATE 2200).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
An introduction to understanding the key global issues in sustainability. Focuses on interconnected roles of energy, materials, human resources, economics, and technology in building and maintaining sustainable systems. Applications discussed will include challenges in both the developed and developing world and will examine the role of technology in a resource-constrained world. Graduation Restriction: Cannot be used for technical elective credit in any engineering department. Meets International Perspectives Requirement. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
(Cross-listed with AGRON 2500/ ENSCI 2500/ NREM 2500).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
The distribution, origins and functions of the earth's physical systems and the spatial relationship between human activity and the natural world. (Typically Offered: Fall)
(Cross-listed with NREM 2700/ LA 2700).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
The development of natural resource conservation philosophy and policy from the Colonial Era to the present. North American wildlife, forestry, and environmental policy; national parks and other protected lands; federal and state agencies. Relationship to cultural contexts, including urban reform and American planning movement. Discussion of common pool resources, public and private lands. (Typically Offered: Fall)
(Cross-listed with POLS 2830).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Introduction to major ideologies' relations to conservation and ecology. Processes, participants, and institutions involved in state, national, and global environmental policymaking. Case studies of environmental controversies and proposals for policy reform. (Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with CRP 2930).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Laboratory 2.
Comprehensive overview of the field of environmental relationships and the efforts being made to organize, control, and coordinate environmental, aesthetic, and cultural characteristics of land, air, and water. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
(Cross-listed with BIOL 3190/ ENSCI 3190).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: ENSCI 3120; junior classification
Systems approach to the analysis and modeling of material and energy flows in natural and managed environmental systems and the primary environmental factors controlling these systems. Applications in hydrology, biogeochemistry, and population dynamics.
(Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with WGS 3200).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: WGS 2010 or 3 credits in WGS at 3000 level or above
Women's relationships with the earth, non-human nature, and other humans. The course explores the connections between society's treatment of women and nature; origins of ecofeminism and how it relates to the science of ecology, conventional and sustainable agriculture as well as how ecofeminism relates to other branches of feminist philosophy. Evaluation and critique of modern science, technology, political systems and SOLUTIONS will be included.
(Cross-listed with ENSCI 3240/ GEOL 3240/ MTEOR 3240).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: CHEM 1630, CHEM 1670, or CHEM 1770
Exploration of the origin of Earth's energy resources and the environmental and climatic impacts of energy acquisition and consumption. Renewable and non-renewable energy resources within an Earth-system context. Various environmentally-relevant topics such as water quality and availability, habitat destruction, greenhouse-gas emissions, and health and safety hazards to wildlife and human communities.
(Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with PHIL 3340).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: 3 credits in PHIL or Permission of Instructor
Thorough study of some of the central moral issues arising in connection with human impact on the environment, e.g., human overpopulation, species extinction, forest and wilderness management, pollution. Several world views of the proper relationship between human beings and nature will be explored.
(Typically Offered: Fall)
(Cross-listed with POLS 3360X).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: 3 credits in POLS OR ECON 1010 OR Sophomore Classification
Policy-centered approach to climate-change solutions. Investigation, analysis, and evaluation of policy responses to the prospect and occurrence of climate change. Politics of climate-related technological, regulatory, and societal changes. Interaction of social movements, institutions, and economic interests in shaping national and global responses to climate change.
(Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with AGRON 3420/ FSHN 3420).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: Junior classification
Issues associated with global agricultural and food systems including ethical, social, economic, environmental, and policy contexts. Investigation of various causes and consequences of overnutrition/undernutrition, global health, poverty, hunger, access, and distribution. Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
(Cross-listed with SOC 3450).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: SOC 1340
Human population growth and structure; impact on food, environment, and resources; gender issues; trends of births, deaths, and migration; projecting future population; population policies and laws; comparison of the United States with other societies throughout the world. Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Typically Offered: Fall)
(Cross-listed with ENGL 3550).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: ENGL 2500
Focused study of texts that address a wide range of environmental issues, including the relationship between humans and natural/urban environments, views of other-than-human beings, food, climate change, extinction, and social and racial justice. Assignments for the course may include research, exams, writing, and/or individual/group projects.
(Cross-listed with HIST 3620).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Survey of the interactions of human communities with their environments from the beginnings of human history to the present. Topics include the domestication of animals, the agricultural revolution, industrialization, urbanization, deforestation, hydraulic management, fossil fuel consumption, and climate change.
(Typically Offered: Fall)
(Cross-listed with HIST 3630).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Survey of the interactions of human communities with the North American environment. Focus on the period from presettlement to the present, with a particular concentration on natural resources, disease, settlement patterns, land use, and conservation policies.
(Cross-listed with SOC 3820).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: 3 credits of ENVS or SOC 1340
Environment-society relations; social construction of nature and the environment; social and environmental impacts of resource extraction, production, and consumption; environmental inequality; environmental mobilization and movements; U.S. and international examples. Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
Credits: 1-30. Repeatable.
Prereq: Program Coordinator Permission for Course
Practical experience with nature centers, government agencies, schools, private conservation groups, and other organizations. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
(Cross-listed with AGRON 4040/ ENSCI 4040/ MTEOR 4040).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Recent changes in global biogeochemical cycles and climate; models of future changes in the climate system; impacts of global change on agriculture, water resources and human health; ethical issues of global environmental change. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
(Cross-listed with ENSCI 4070/ NREM 4070).
Credits: 4. Contact Hours: Lecture 3, Laboratory 3.
Prereq: 1 course in BIOL
Managing human impacts on the hydrologic cycle. Field and watershed level best management practices for modifying the impacts on water quality, quantity and timing are discussed. Field project includes developing a management plan using landscape buffers.
(Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with HORT 4240).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Inquiry into ethical issues and environmental consequences of horticultural cropping systems, production practices and managed landscapes. Emphasis on systems that are resource efficient, environmentally sound, socially acceptable, and profitable. Offered odd-numbered years. (Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with AGRON 4500).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: Junior classification
Agricultural science as a human activity; contemporary agricultural issues from agroecological perspective. Comparative analysis of intended and actual consequences of agricultural practices from the perspective of ethics and sustainable agriculture.
(Typically Offered: Spring)
(Cross-listed with NREM 4600).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: AECL 3120 or NREM 3010, NREM 1200, and Junior classification
Analysis of controversial natural resource issues using a case approach that considers uncertainty and adequacy of information and scientific understanding. Ecological, social, political, economic, and ethical implications of issues will be analyzed.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
(Cross-listed with CRP 4840).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: Junior classification
The history and theory of sustainable community planning. Procedural and substantive dimensions. Case studies of communities engaged in sustainability planning. Use and development of indicators.
(Typically Offered: Spring)
Credits: 1-30. Repeatable.
Prereq: Program Coordinator Permission for Course
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
Credits: 1-30. Repeatable.
Prereq: Program Coordinator Permission for Course
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
(Cross-listed with CRP 4910/ LA 4910).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: 6 credits natural sciences or permission of instructor
Environmental law and policy as applied in planning at the local and state levels. Brownfields, environmental justice, water quality, air quality, wetland and floodplain management, and local government involvement in ecological protection through land use planning and other programs.
(Typically Offered: Spring)
Credits: 1-30. Repeatable.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Extended field trips to study environmental topics in varied locations. Location and duration of trips will vary. Trip expenses paid by students. Check with department for current offerings.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
Credits: 1-30. Repeatable.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Extended field trips to study environmental topics in varied locations. Location and duration of trips will vary. Trip expenses paid by students. Check with department for current offerings.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)