Environmental Science (EnSci)
(Interdepartmental Undergraduate Program)
William G. Crumpton: Coordinator
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 curriculum 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. 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.
The Environmental Science major is offered through both
the College of Agriculture and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Environmental
Science majors complete foundation courses in biology, chemistry, earth science, geology,
physics and mathematics, plus a major consisting of an integrated core of Environmental
Science courses and additional advanced course work in Environmental Science. General
requirements for the major are outlined below, and additional information is available in
the Environmental Programs Office, 131 Bessey Hall.
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, calculus, and statistics, (2)
Twenty-nine credits of course work in the major, including the Environmental Science core
(EnSci 295, 330, 402, 403, 404 and 495) and 12 additional credits of approved course work
in Environmental Science. A combined average grade of C or higher is required in courses
applied in the major. (3) Practical experience consisting of EnSci 290, 390, or equivalent
experience.
English proficiency requirement: Beyond first-year
composition (Engl 104 and 105) Environmental Science majors must demonstrate proficiency
in written communication by completing an approved advanced course and maintaining a
portfolio of term papers and other major writing assignments for departmental evaluation.
A minor in Environmental Science may be earned by
completing 15 credits in Environmental Science including EnSci 330 and at least 7 credits
from EnSci 402, 403, and 404.
Courses open for nonmajor graduate credit: 301, 330,
402, 402I, 403, 404, 405, 410, 410L, 411, 422, 422I, 434, 461I, 473, 473I, 475, 485, 487.
Courses Primarily for Undergraduate Students
EnSci 290. Apprenticeship
Cr. Var. Staff. Prereq: Approval of the Environmental Science Coordinator. Practical
experience in an approved setting such as a research laboratory, government office, or
private office. This should be completed prior to being classified as a senior or
completing EnSci 390. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.
EnSci 295. Sophomore Seminar
(1-0) Cr. R. F. Burras. Prereq: Sophomore classification in EnSci. Discussion of
current issues in Environmental Science. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis
only.
EnSci 301. Forest Ecology and Soils
(Same as For 301.)
See Forestry. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 304I. Physical Geology (Same as Ia LL
304I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
EnSci 312. Ecology (Same as Biol 312.)
See Biology.
EnSci 312I. Ecology (Same as Ia LL 312I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
EnSci 330. Environmental Systems (Same as Bot
330, Env S 330.)
(2-4) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Biol 202 or Micro 201, Chem 164 or 178, Math 165 or 181. Crumpton.
Dynamics of natural environmental systems. Systems approach to the analysis of material
and energy flows, including physical and biological aspects of environmental systems and
their functional connections. Laboratory emphasizes environmental modeling and simulation.
Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 360. Environmental Soil Science (Same as
Agron 360.)
(2-3) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Agron 260 or Geol 100 or 201. Burras, Killorn. Application of soil
science to contemporary environmental problems; comparison of the impacts that different
management strategies have on short-and long-term environmental quality and land
development. Emphasis on participatory learning activities.
EnSci 390. Internship in Environmental Science
Cr. var. Prereq: Approval of the Environmental Science coordinator. Supervised
off-campus work experience in the field of environmental science. Offered on a
satisfactory-fail grading basis only.
EnSci 402. Watershed Hydrology and
Surficial Processes (Same as Agron 402, For 402, Geol 402.)
(3-3) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in EnSci 330 or Geol 100 or 201, Phys 111, 3
credits in biology and 6 credits in chemistry. Burras, Simpkins. Examination of watersheds
as systems wherein biological and physical factors control hydrology, soil formation, and
nutrient transport. Laboratory emphasizes field investigation of watershed-scale
processes. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 402I. Watershed Hydrology and Surficial
Processes (Same as Ia LL 402I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 403. Environmental Biogeochemistry (Same as
Bot 403, Geol 403.)
(3-2) Cr. 4. S. Prereq: EnSci 330 or permission of the instructor. Raich. Biological,
chemical, and physical phenomena controlling material, energy, and elemental fluxes in the
environment. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 404. Global Change (Same as Agron 404, Env
S 404, Mteor 404.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Four courses in physical or biological sciences or engineering.
Takle. Biogeochemical cycles, ozone chemistry, global energy balance, structure and
circulation of the atmosphere and oceans, climate modeling, climate variability; and
implications for agriculture, water resources, energy use, sustainable development and
public policy. Human dimensions and ethical issues of global environmental change.
Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 405. GIS and Natural Resources Management
(Same as A E 405.)
(2-2) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Working knowledge of computers and Windows environment.
Introduction to fundamental concepts and applications of GIS in natural resources
management with specific focus on watersheds. Topics include: basic GIS technology, data
structures, database management, spatial analysis, and modeling; visualization and display
of natural resource data. Case studies in watershed and natural resource management using
ArcView GIS. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 410. Aquatic Ecology (Same as A Ecl 410.)
See Animal Ecology. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 410L. Aquatic Ecology Laboratory (Same as A
Ecl 410L. )
See Animal Ecology. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 411. Hydrogeology (Same as Geol 411.)
(3-2) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Geol 100 or 201; Math 165 or 181; Phys 111 or 221. Simpkins.
Physical principles of groundwater flow, nature and origin of aquifers and confining
units, well hydraulics, and groundwater geochemistry. Introduction to groundwater flow
modeling. Lab emphasizes applied field and laboratory methods for hydrogeological
investigations. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 422. Environmental Geochemistry (Same as
Geol 422.)
(2-2) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 402 or 411 or equivalent, Chem 163 or equivalent background in
chemistry. Staff. Geochemistry of natural waters, including inorganic and organic
constituents and water-rock interactions. Interpretation of water quality data.
Geochemical equilibrium modeling and introduction to kinetics. Laboratory emphasizes
chemical analysis of waters and computer modeling. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 422I. Prairie Ecology (Same as Ia LL 422I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 434. Contaminant Hydrogeology (Same as Geol
434.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 411 and 422 or their equivalent. Staff. Brief review of organic
and inorganic contaminants in industrial and agricultural settings. Process-oriented
approach to abiotic and biological fate and transport of contaminants. Investigation of
coupled processes (dispersion, diffusion, advection, sorption, biodegradation) using
computer models. Remediation strategies. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 459. Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry
(Same as Agron 459.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2001. Prereq: 401 or Agron 354, Chem 210 or 211. Evangelou.
An introduction to the chemical properties of soils, chemical reactions and
transformations occurring in the soils and their impact on the environment. Topics include
composition of soils, acid-base equilibria, buffer systems, mineral dissolution and
precipitation, speciation, ion exchange, redox reactions, adsorption phenomena, soil
pollution and chemical-equilibria computer programs.
EnSci 461I. Introduction to GIS Landscape Modeling
(Same as Ia LL 461I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 473. Soil Genesis and Landscape Relationships
(Same as Agron 473.)
(2-3) Cr. 4. S. Prereq: 402 or Agron 154 or 402. Sandor. Relationships between soil
formation, geomorphology, and environment. Soil description, classification, geography,
mapping, and interpretation for land use. Two weekend field trips. Credit for 473 or 473I
may be applied for graduation, not both. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 473I. Soil Genesis and Landscape Relationships
(Same as Ia LL 473I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 475. Surficial Processes (Same as Geol
475.)
(2-2) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Geol 100 or 201 or equivalent experience. Iverson. Study of
surficial processes in modern and ancient geological environments. Topics include
weathering, sediment transport, and landform genesis with emphasis on fluvial, glacial,
hillslope, eolian, and coastal processes. Applications to engineering and environmental
problems. Laboratory emphasizes aerial photo and topographic map interpretation. Nonmajor
graduate credit.
EnSci 485. Soil Microbial Ecology (Same as Agron
485, Micro 485.)
(2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Agron 154, Micro 201 (Micro 203 recommended). Loynachan. The
living organisms in the soil and what they do. Emphasis on soil-plant-microbial
relationships and environmental issues. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 487. Aquatic and Wetland Microbial Ecology
(Same as Bot 487, Micro 487.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 6 credits in biology and 6 credits in chemistry. Crumpton.
Introduction to major functional groups of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms
and their roles in aquatic and wetland ecosystems. Emphasis on energy flow and nutrient
dynamics. Nonmajor graduate credit.
EnSci 490. Independent Study
Cr. Var. Prereq: Permission of the instructor and approval of the Environmental
Science coordinator.
EnSci 495. Integrated Case Studies
(1-3) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: Senior classification in Environmental Science. Schultz.
Integrated approach to the analysis and management of environmental systems. The course
will focus on cooperative group activities to identify and assess environmental problems
in heavily impacted landscapes and to develop and evaluate alternative management plans
Field trips.
Courses Primarily for Graduate
Students, Open to Qualified Undergraduate Students
EnSci 505I. Watershed Modeling and GIS (Same as
Ia LL 505I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
EnSci 508I. Aquatic Ecology (Same as Ia LL 508I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
EnSci 513. Ecological Toxicology (Same as A Ecl
513.)
See Animal Ecology.
EnSci 518. Stream Ecology (Same as A Ecl 518.)
See Animal Ecology.
EnSci 535. Restoration Ecology (Same as A Ecl
535.)
See Animal Ecology.
EnSci 535I. Restoration Ecology (Same as Ia LL
535I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
EnSci 544. Aquatic Toxicology (Same as A Ecl
544.)
See Animal Ecology.
EnSci 564. Wetland Ecology (Same as Bot 564.)
See Botany.
EnSci 564I. Wetland Ecology (Same as Ia LL 564I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
EnSci 584. Ecosystem Ecology (Same as Bot 584.)
See Botany.
