Environmental Studies (ENV S)

ENV S 101. Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis.

(Cross-listed with GEOL). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
An introduction to geologic processes and the consequences of human activity from local to global scales. Discussion of human population growth, resource depletion, pollution and waste disposal, global warming and ozone depletion, desertification, and geologic hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and volcanism.

ENV S 108. Introduction to Oceanography.

(Cross-listed with GEOL). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Introduction to study of the oceans. Ocean exploration. Waves and currents. Shape, structure, and origin of the ocean basins. Sedimentary record of oceanic life. Composition of seawater and its significance for life. Ocean circulation and its influence on climate. Life of the oceans, including coral reefs. Use and misuse of ocean resources. Anthropogenic impacts on the oceanic environment.

ENV S 111. Geological disasters.

(Cross-listed with GEOL). (1-0) Cr. 1. F.S.SS.
Introduction to the catastrophic geologic processes that disrupt ecosystems and human activity. Includes a discussion on the role of plate tectonics, the hydrologic cycle, and humans as the driving forces behind selected case studies on volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and floods. Summer - online only.

ENV S 120. Introduction to Renewable Resources.

(Cross-listed with AGRON, NREM). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
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.

ENV S 130. Natural Resources and Agriculture.

(Cross-listed with NREM). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
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.

ENV S 160. Water Resources of the World.

(Cross-listed with AGRON, GEOL, MTEOR). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
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.

ENV S 173. Environmental Biology.

(Cross-listed with BIOL). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
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. Intended primarily for non-majors; available to biology majors for elective credit.

ENV S 201. Introduction to Environmental Issues.

(Cross-listed with BIOL, ENSCI). (2-0) Cr. 2. F.S.
Discussion of current and emerging environmental issues such as human population growth, energy use, loss of biodiversity, water resources, and climate change.

ENV S 204. Biodiversity.

(Cross-listed with BIOL). (4-0) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: One course in life sciences
Survey of the major groups of organisms and biological systems. Definition, measurements, and patterns of distribution of organisms. Sources of information about biodiversity. Intended primarily for non-majors; available to biology majors for elective credit. Half semester course.

ENV S 220. Globalization and Sustainability.

(Cross-listed with ANTHR, GLOBE, MAT E, M E, SOC, T SC). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
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. Cannot be used for technical elective credit in any engineering department.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

ENV S 250. Environmental Geography.

(Cross-listed with ENSCI). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
The distribution, origins and functions of the earth?s physical systems and the spatial relationship between human activity and the natural world.

ENV S 260. Soils and Environmental Quality.

(Cross-listed with AGRON). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Burras. Role of soils in environmental quality and natural resources management. Emphasis on soil erosion and conservation, water quality, and environmental planning. Saturday field trip.

ENV S 270. Foundations in Natural Resource Policy and History.

(Cross-listed with L A, NREM). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2011.
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.

ENV S 293. Environmental Planning.

(Cross-listed with DSN S, C R P). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
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.

ENV S 320. Ecofeminism.

(Cross-listed with W S). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2011. Prereq: W S 201 or 3 credits in Women's Studies at the 300 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. Nonmajor graduate credit.

ENV S 324. Energy and the Environment.

(Cross-listed with GEOL, MTEOR). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Origin, occurrence, and extraction of fossil fuels. Nuclear, wind,geothermal, biomass, hydroelectric, and solar energy. Biofuels. Energy efficiency. Environmental effects of energy production and use, including air pollution, acid precipitation, coal ash, mountaintop removal mining, oil drilling, hydraulic fracturing, groundwater contamination, nuclear waste disposal, and global climate change. Carbon sequestration and geoengineering solutions for reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. GEOL 324 does not count toward credits required in the Geology major.

ENV S 334. Environmental Ethics.

(Cross-listed with PHIL). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Three credits in philosophy or junior classification
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. Nonmajor graduate credit.

ENV S 342. World Food Issues: Past and Present.

(Cross-listed with AGRON, FS HN, T SC). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: Junior classification
Zdorkowski, Ford. Issues in the agricultural and food systems of the developed and developing world. Emphasis on economic, social, historical, ethical and environmental contexts. Causes and consequences of overnutrition/undernutrition, poverty, hunger and access/distribution. Explorations of current issues and ideas for the future. Team projects. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

ENV S 342H. Honors Section. (Honors Program students only.).

(Cross-listed with AGRON, FS HN, T SC). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: Junior classification
Zdorkowski, Ford. Issues in the agricultural and food systems of the developed and developing world. Emphasis on economic, social, historical, ethical and environmental contexts. Causes and consequences of overnutrition/undernutrition, poverty, hunger and access/distribution. Explorations of current issues and ideas for the future. Team projects. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

ENV S 345. Population and Society.

(Cross-listed with SOC). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: SOC 130 or SOC 134
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.

ENV S 355. Literature and the Environment.

(Cross-listed with ENGL). (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: ENGL 250
Study of literary texts that address the following topics, among others: the relationship between people and natural/urban environments, ecocriticism, and the importance of place in the literary imagination. Nonmajor graduate credit.

ENV S 380. Environmental and Resource Economics.

(Cross-listed with ECON). (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq: ECON 101
Natural resource availability, use, conservation, and government policy, including energy issues. Environmental quality and pollution control policies.

ENV S 381. Environmental Systems I: Introduction to Environmental Systems.

(Dual-listed with 581). (Cross-listed with BIOL, ENSCI, MICRO). Cr. 3-4. F. Prereq: 12 credits of natural science including biology and chemistry
Introduction to the structure and function of natural environmental systems. Emphasis on the analysis of material and energy flows in natural environmental systems and the primary environmental factors controlling these systems. Nonmajor graduate credit.

ENV S 382. Environmental Sociology.

(Cross-listed with SOC). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: SOC 130, SOC 134 or 3 credits of ENV S
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.

ENV S 383. Environmental Politics and Policies.

(Cross-listed with POL S). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: sophomore classification
Major ideologies relation 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.

ENV S 384. Religion and Ecology.

(Cross-listed with RELIG). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Introduction to concepts of religion and ecology as they appear in different religious traditions, from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Special attention to religious response to contemporary environmental issues. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

ENV S 390. Internship in Environmental Studies.

Cr. arr. Repeatable. F.S.SS. Prereq: Approval of the Environmental Studies Coordinator
Practical experience with nature centers, government agencies, schools, private conservation groups, and other organizations. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.

ENV S 404. Global Change.

(Dual-listed with 504). (Cross-listed with AGRON, ENSCI, MTEOR). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Four courses in physical or biological sciences or engineering; junior standing
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. Nonmajor graduate credit.

ENV S 407. Watershed Management.

(Dual-listed with 507). (Cross-listed with ENSCI, NREM). (3-3) Cr. 4. S. Prereq: A course in general biology
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.

ENV S 417. Urban and Peri-urban Watershed Assessment.

(Dual-listed with 517). (Cross-listed with L A). (2-3) Cr. 3. Prereq: Junior classification and 6 credits of natural science
Assessment and reduction of impacts in urban and peri-urban watershed areas. Course prepares students to work with various analysis methods for vegetation, topography, stormwater and stream condition as well as work with data from other disciplines. Emphasis on communicating with the public. Introductory GIS and GPS technologies are utilized. Learning is largely field-based.

ENV S 424. Sustainable and Environmental Horticulture Systems.

(Dual-listed with 524). (Cross-listed with HORT). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2013.
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.

ENV S 442. The Policy and Politics of Coastal Areas.

(Dual-listed with 542). (Cross-listed with POL S). (3-0) Cr. 3. SS.
Exploration of political implications of coastal policy. Issues include: "Carrying capacity," zoning, regulation of human development activities, trade-offs between conservation and jobs, the quality of coastal lifestyle, ways in which citizens participate in policy for coastal areas.

ENV S 450. Issues in Sustainable Agriculture.

(Cross-listed with AGRON). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Zdorkowski. Agricultural science as a human activity; contemporary agricultural issues from agroecological perspective. Comparative analysis of intended and actual consequences of development of industrial agricultural practices. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Meets International Perspectives Requirement.

ENV S 460. Controversies in Natural Resource Management.

(Cross-listed with NREM). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: NREM 120, and A ECL 312 or NREM 301, 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. Nonmajor graduate credit.

ENV S 461I. Introduction to GIS.

(Cross-listed with ENSCI, L A, IA LL). Cr. 4. SS.
Descriptive and predictive GIS modeling techniques, spatial statistics, and map algebra. Application of GIS modeling techniques to environmental planning and resource management. Nonmajor graduate credit.

ENV S 472. U. S. Environmental History.

(Cross-listed with HIST). (3-0) Cr. 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. Nonmajor graduate credit.

ENV S 484. Sustainable Communities.

(Dual-listed with 584). (Cross-listed with DSN S, C R P). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. 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.

ENV S 490. Independent Study.

Cr. arr. Repeatable. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of instructor and approval of Environmental Studies coordinator

ENV S 491. Environmental Law and Planning.

(Dual-listed with 591). (Cross-listed with DSN S, C R P, L A). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 6 credits in natural sciences
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.

ENV S 496. Travel Course.

Cr. arr. Repeatable. Prereq: Permission of instructor
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.

ENV S 496A. International Tour.

Cr. arr. Repeatable. Prereq: Permission of instructor
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.

ENV S 496B. Domestic Tour.

Cr. arr. Repeatable. Prereq: Permission of instructor
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.

ENV S 504. Global Change.

(Dual-listed with 404). (Cross-listed with AGRON, ENSCI, MTEOR). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Four courses in physical or biological sciences or engineering; junior, senior, or graduate standing
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.

ENV S 507. Watershed Management.

(Dual-listed with 407). (Cross-listed with ENSCI, NREM). (3-3) Cr. 4. S. Prereq: A course in general biology
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.

ENV S 517. Urban and Peri-urban Watershed Assessment.

(Dual-listed with 417). (Cross-listed with L A). (2-3) Cr. 3. Prereq: graduate standing
Assessment and reduction of impacts in urban and peri-urban watershed areas. Course prepares students to work with various analysis methods for vegetation, topography, stormwater, and stream condition as well as work with data from other disciplines. Emphasis on communicating with the public. Introductory GIS and GPS technologies are utilized. Learning is largely field-based.

ENV S 524. Sustainable and Environmental Horticulture Systems.

(Dual-listed with 424). (Cross-listed with HORT). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2013.
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.

ENV S 542. The Policy and Politics of Coastal Areas.

(Dual-listed with 442). (Cross-listed with POL S). (3-0) Cr. 3. SS.
Exploration of political implications of coastal policy. Issues include: "Carrying capacity," zoning, regulation of human development activities, tradeoffs between conservation and jobs, the quality of coastal lifestyle, and ways in which citizens participate in policy for coastal areas.

ENV S 581. Environmental Systems I: Introduction to Environmental Systems.

(Dual-listed with 381). (Cross-listed with BIOL, ENSCI, MICRO). Cr. 3-4. F. Prereq: 12 credits of natural science including biology and chemistry
Introduction to the structure and function of natural environmental systems. Emphasis on the analysis of material and energy flows in natural environmental systems and the primary environmental factors controlling these systems.

ENV S 584. Sustainable Communities.

(Dual-listed with 484). (Cross-listed with DSN S, C R P). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Graduate 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.

ENV S 591. Environmental Law and Planning.

(Dual-listed with 491). (Cross-listed with DSN S, C R P, L A). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Graduate classification
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.