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Environmental Science

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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Interdepartmental Undergraduate Programs

Environmental Science provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems. The magnitude and complexity of environmental problems are creating a growing need for scientists with rigorous, interdisciplinary training in environmental science. The Environmental Science program is designed to prepare students for positions of leadership in this rapidly changing discipline. Environmental Science graduates have a solid foundation in biological and physical natural sciences and the specialized training necessary for integrated analysis of environmental systems.

Undergraduate Study

The Environmental Science undergraduate major is offered through both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Environmental Science majors complete foundation courses in natural sciences and mathematics, plus a major consisting of an integrated core of Environmental Science courses and additional advanced course work in Environmental Science. Scientific rigor is stressed throughout the program, beginning with the foundation courses in the first two years of the curriculum. The upper level core courses emphasize a dynamic systems approach that provides a framework for integrating physical, chemical, and biological aspects of environmental systems. Beyond the required core, students select from a broad array of advanced courses to either develop greater breadth, or specialization in areas including, but not limited to, water resources, climate impacts and adaptation, environmental restoration and management, and geographic information systems (see https://www.ensci.iastate.edu/ for additional information on areas of specialization).

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students should be able to:

Demonstrate a broad understanding of environmental systems and issues utilizing an interdisciplinary framework to integrate ideas and concepts from biological and physical natural sciences

Demonstrate proficiency in data analysis and problem-solving of relevant environmental systems/problems

Use a systems approach to conduct integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary analyses and modeling of environmental systems and problems

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Students seeking an Environmental Science major complete the following:

1. A foundation of approved supporting courses in science and mathematics including biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, mathematics, and statistics.

2. 33 credits of course work in the major, including a required core of 20 credits.

A combined average grade of C or higher is required in courses applied in the major.

1. Environmental Science: 33 credits

ENSCI 110Orientation to Environmental Science1
ENSCI 201Introduction to Environmental Issues2
ENSCI 202Exploration of Environmental and Sustainability Issues1
ENSCI 203Exploration of Environmental Science1
ENSCI 250Environmental Geography3
ENSCI 251Biological Processes in the Environment3
ENSCI 312Ecology4
ENSCI 318Introduction to Ecosystems3
ENSCI 319Analysis of Environmental Systems3
Additional ENSCI choice courses12
Total Credits33

2. Mathematics & Statistics: 6-8 credits

Choose one of the following:3-4
Introduction to Probability
Discrete Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences
Calculus for Business and Social Sciences
Survey of Calculus
Calculus I
Introduction to Web Programming
Windows Application Programming
Introduction to Data Science
Data Acquisition and Exploratory Data Analysis
Choose one of the following:3-4
Principles of Statistics
Introduction to Statistics
Total Credits6-8

3. Physical & Life Sciences: 21-24 credits

BIOL 211Principles of Biology I3
Choose from one of the following:5
College Chemistry
and Laboratory in College Chemistry
General Chemistry for Engineering Students
and Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering
General Chemistry I
and Laboratory in General Chemistry I
Advanced General Chemistry
and Laboratory in Advanced General Chemistry
Choose from one of the following:3-4
Elementary Organic Chemistry
and Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry I
and Laboratory in Organic Chemistry I
Structure and Reactions in Biochemical Processes
Organic Compounds in Plants and Soils
Choose 3 of the following:9
Introduction to Soil Science
Soil Conservation and Land Use
How the Earth Works
Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists
Introduction to Weather and Climate
Principles of Biology II
General Chemistry II
and Laboratory in College Chemistry II
Physics for the Life Sciences
General Physics I
Introduction to Classical Physics I
Total Credits20-21

4. Communications: 7-10 credits

ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
LIB 160Introduction to College Level Research (Embedded communication coursework in ENSCI 203 and ENSCI 312)1
Embedded communication coursework in ENSCI 203 and ENSCI 312
Total Credits7
Additional communication courses required of majors in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Choose one of the following:3
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences
Professional Communication
Total Credits3

5. General Education:  15-21 credits

General Education requirements in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Humanities 3
Social Science3
Ethics3
International Perspectives course from university approved list3
US Diversity course from university approved list3
Total Credits15
General Education requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Arts and Humanities courses from college approved list12
Social Science courses from college approved list9
(Select courses to include 3 cr. of International Perspectives and 3 cr. of US Diversity)
Students must have completed 3 years of a single world language in high school or take 4-8 credits of World Languages at the university level
Total Credits21

Electives (28-35 credits)

LAS students must earn a minimum of 45 credits at the 300-/400-level.

A minimum of 120.0 Total Credits are needed for graduation

Environmental Science, B.S. (AGLS)

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 1503ENSCI 20311
ENSCI 11011BIOL 2113
ENSCI 20112BIOL 211L1
ENSCI 20211Physical or Life Science Choice33 or 4
CHEM 1774Social Science or Humanities Choice23
CHEM 177L1Mathematics, Programming, or Data Science choice3-4
LIB 1601 
STAT 101 or 1043-4 
 16-17 14-16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENSCI 25013ENSCI 2513
Social Science or Humanities Choice23Organic Chemistry Choice33
ENGL 2503Social Science or Humanities Choice23
Physical or Life Science choice3 Physical or Life Science choice3 
Elective3Communications (Speech)3
 12 12
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENSCI 3124ENSCI 3183
Environmental Science Choice13ENSCI 3193
Social Science or Humanities Choice23Social Science or Humanities Choice23
Elective6Electives6
 16 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Environmental Science Choice13Environmental Science Choice16
Elective12Elective9
 15 15
1

Students complete at least 32 credits in Environmental Science including ENSCI 110, ENSCI 201, ENSCI 202, ENSCI 203, ENSCI 250, ENSCI 251, ENSCI 312, ENSCI 318, ENSCI 319 and 15 additional credits of approved ENSCI coursework.

2

Students complete at least 15 credits in humanities and social science including at least 3 credits each in ethics, humanities, social science, U.S. Diversity, and International Perspectives from approved lists.

3

Students choose one course from the following Physical and Life Science related courses: AGRON 182, AGRON 282, BIOL 212, CHEM 178, GEOL 100, GEOL 201, MTEOR 206, PHYS 115, PHYS 131, PHYS 231. Students choose from one of the following Organic Chemistry options: CHEM 231 & CHEM 231L, CHEM 331 & CHEM 331L, BBMB 221, or AGRON 259.

Graduate Study

Contact information for the graduate program:
Lynette Edsall
camelot@iastate.edu
515-294-1191
https://enscigrad.iastate.edu/

The Environmental Science graduate program offers an interdepartmental curriculum leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees with a major in Environmental Science. Faculty from the colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Engineering, and Liberal Arts and Sciences cooperate to offer courses and research opportunities covering a broad array of environmental topics.  Cooperating departments include Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Agronomy; Animal Science; Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering; Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology; and Geological and Atmospheric Sciences.

Applicants should have completed an undergraduate or master’s degree in one of the biological, chemical, physical, or engineering sciences or should have equivalent preparation.

The Environmental Science Graduate Program emphasizes fundamental concepts and research, which at the same time address major environmental issues. The curriculum is designed to provide the interdisciplinary approach needed in environmental science education and research. In addition to work in their chosen area of specialization, students are afforded a broad exposure to the biological, chemical and physical aspects of environmental systems and the specialized training necessary for integrated analysis of these systems.

Information on application procedures, curriculum requirements, and faculty research areas is available on the Environmental Science Graduate Program website (https://enscigrad.iastate.edu/).