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 Liberal Arts and 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 21 credits.
A combined average grade of C or higher is required in courses applied in the major.
1. Environmental Science: 33 credits
| ENSCI 110 | Orientation to Environmental Science | 1 |
| ENSCI 201 | Introduction to Environmental Issues | 2 |
| ENSCI 202 | Exploration of Environmental and Sustainability Issues | 1 |
| ENSCI 203 | Exploration of Environmental Science | 1 |
| ENSCI 250 | Environmental Geography | 3 |
| ENSCI 251 | Biological Processes in the Environment | 3 |
| ENSCI 312 | Ecology | 4 |
| ENSCI 318 | Introduction to Ecosystems | 3 |
| ENSCI 319 | Analysis of Environmental Systems | 3 |
| Addional ENSCI choice courses | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
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 Credits | 6-8 | |
3. Physical & Life Sciences: 21-24 credits
| BIOL 211 | Principles of Biology I | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 5-6 | |
| 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 | ||
or GEOL 201 | 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 | ||
or PHYS 131 | General Physics I | |
or PHYS 231 | Introduction to Classical Physics I | |
| Total Credits | 20-22 | |
4. Communications: 7-10 credits
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| Embedded communication coursework in ENSCI 203 and ENSCI 312 | ||
| Total Credits | 7 | |
Additional communication courses required of majors in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
| Choose 1 of the following: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences | ||
| Professional Communication | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
5. General Education: 15-21 credits
Additional general education requirements in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
| Humanities | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Ethics | 3 | |
| International Perspectives course from university approved list | 3 | |
| US Diversity course from university approved list | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
additional general education requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
| Arts and Humanities courses from college approved list | 12 | |
| Social Science courses from college approved list | 9 | |
| (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 | ||
| LAS 203 | Professional Career Preparation | 1 |
| Total Credits | 22 | |
Electives (28-35 credits)
As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Environmental Science students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.
LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 300/400 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.
Bachelor of Science B.S. (LAS)
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | ENSCI 203 | 1 |
| ENSCI 1101 | 1 | BIOL 211 | 3 |
| ENSCI 201 | 2 | BIOL 211L (or elective) | 1 |
| ENSCI 202 | 1 | CHEM 178 | 3 |
| CHEM 177 | 4 | CHEM 178L | 1 |
| CHEM 177L | 1 | Mathematics, Programming, or Data Science choice | 3-4 |
| STAT 101 or 104 | 3-4 | Arts and Humanities choice2 | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | ||
| 16-17 | 15-16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENSCI 2501 | 3 | ENSCI 251 | 3 |
| Social science choice2 | 3 | Organic chemistry choice3 | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | 3 | Physical or Life Science choice3 | 3 |
| Physical or Life Science choice3 | 3 | Arts and humanities choice2 | 3 |
| Elective | 1-2 | Social science choice2 | 3 |
| LAS 203 | 1 | Summer: Consider field experience such as an intership or field station courses. | |
| 14-15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENSCI 312 | 4 | ENSCI 318 | 3 |
| Environmental science choice1 | 3 | ENSCI 319 | 3 |
| Arts and humanities choice3 | 3 | Arts and humanities choice2 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 1-2 | Elective | 3 |
| Summer: Consider field experience such as an intership or field station courses. | |||
| 14-15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Environmental science choice1 | 3 | Environmental science choice1 | 3 |
| Social science choice2 | 3 | Environmental science choice1 | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | Electives | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
Students in all ISU majors must complete a 3 credits in U.S. diversity and a 3 credits in international perspectives. Check the Environmental Science website (http://www.ensci.iastate.edu) for a list of approved courses.
Minimum of 120 credits required , including a minimum of 45 credits at the 300/400 level.
- 1
Students complete at least 32 credits in Environmental Science including ENSCI 110, ENSCI 201, ENSCI 250, ENSCI 312, ENSCI 318, ENSCI 319 and 12 additional credits of approved ENSCI coursework.
- 2
Students complete at least 12 credits in arts and humanities and 9 credits in social science from approved lists. These credits can also be used to meet the U.S. Diversity and International Perspectives requirements.
- 3
Students choose one course from the following Physical or Life Science related courses: AGRON 182, AGRON 282, BIOL 212, CHEM 178 & CHEM 178L, 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/).