Environmental Studies (Env S)

(Interdepartmental Undergraduate Program)
William G. Crumpton: Coordinator

The Environmental Studies Program deals with the relationship between humans and nature, or between humans and natural systems. The curriculum is designed to give students an understanding of regional and global environmental issues and an appreciation of different perspectives regarding these issues. Courses are provided for students pursuing careers related to the environment and for others who simply want to know more about environmental issues. In addition, students in any college may elect to take a secondary major or minor in Environmental Studies. Additional information is available in the Environmental Programs Office, 131 Bessey Hall.

Secondary Major

The Environmental Studies secondary major is taken in addition to one's first major and provides the breadth of preparation and integrated perspective necessary to understand environmental issues. Regardless of their home college, students seeking a secondary major in Environmental Studies complete 24 credits of approved course work including (1) Env S 120 or 201, and 303, (2) at least two integrative/issues courses chosen from Env S 324, 340, 345, 404, 424, and 450, and (3) at least three human/societal perspectives courses chosen from Env S 334, 380, 382, 425, 472, 482, and 491. Beyond these three requirements, any Environmental Studies course or approved departmental course may be applied toward the 24 credit total for the major. A list of approved departmental courses is available in the Environmental Programs Office. Environmental Studies majors must take 12-18 credits of approved course work in natural science which may include some courses used in the 24 credits for the major. Some courses used in the major may also be used to satisfy general education and other requirements of departments and colleges, but at least 15 credits of course work must be unique to the major (i.e. not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement). A combined average grade of C or higher is required in courses applied to the major.

Minor

Students seeking a minor in Environmental Studies complete 15 credits in Environmental Studies courses including (1) Env S 120 or 201, and 303, (2) at least one integrative/ issues course chosen from Env S 324, 340, 345, 404, 424, and 450, and (3) at least one human/societal perspectives course chosen from Env S 334, 380, 382, 425, 472, 482, and 491. Beyond these three requirements, any Environmental Studies course may be applied toward the 15 credit total for the minor. A combined average grade of C or higher is required in courses applied to the minor, and the minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement.

Courses open for nonmajor graduate credit: 303, 330, 334, 404, 407, 415, 421, 425, 461I, 472, 480I, 482.

Courses Primarily for Undergraduate Students

Env S 101. Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis (Same as Geol 101.)
(3-0) Cr. 3 or (3-1) Cr. 4. F.S. Cody, Seifert. 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. Students who enroll for the 4 credit option must register for a one hour discussion section.

Env S 120. Introduction to Renewable Resources (Same as A Ecl 120, Agron 120, AST 120, For 120.)
(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 123. Environmental Biology (Same as Biol 123.)
(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.

Env S 201. Introduction to Environmental Issues
(4-0) Cr. 2. F.S. First 8 weeks. Prereq: Sophomore classification. Ecological and human/societal dimensions of environmental issues; how humans and their institutions interact with and affect the environment; how societies are affected by environmental change. Selected issues such as human population growth, loss of biodiversity, and effects of agriculture on the environment.

Env S 293. Environmental Planning (Same as C R P 293.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Sophomore classification. 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 303. Great Environmental Writings
(4-0) Cr. 2. F.S. Second 8 weeks. Tanner. Students will read works by such authors as Thoreau, Muir, Leopold, and Abbey. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Env S 324. Energy and the Environment
(4-0) Cr. 2. F. Second 8 weeks. Prereq: 201. Hodges. Renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Fossil fuels, nuclear energy, solar energy, and energy efficiency. Air pollution, acid precipitation, global climate change; their causes and remedies.

Env S 330. Environmental Systems (Same as Bot 330, EnSci 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.

Env S 334. Environmental Ethics (Same as Phil 334.)
(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 340. Biodiversity (Same as Bot 340.)
(4-0) Cr. 2. S. Second 8 weeks. Prereq: One course in life sciences. Clark. Survey of the major groups of organisms and biological systems. Definition, measurement, and patterns of distribution of organisms. Sources of information about biodiversity. Not intended for major credit in the biological sciences.

Env S 345. Population Problems and Society (Same as Soc 345.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Soc 130 or 134. Human overpopulation; impact on food, resources, and services; population growth and development; trends of births, deaths, and geographic movement; projecting future population; population control and family planning; population policies and laws; comparison of the United States with other societies throughout the world..

Env S 380. Environmental and Resource Economics (Same as Econ 380.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: Econ 101. Natural resource availability, use, conservation, and government policy, including energy issues. Environmental quality and pollution control policies.

Env S 382. Environmental Sociology (Same as Soc 382.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: Soc 130, 134, or Env S 201. 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 390. Internship in Environmental Studies
Cr. var. 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 grading basis only.

Env S 404. Global Change (Same as Agron 404, EnSci 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.

Env S 407. Watershed Management (Same as For 407.)
(3-3) Cr. 4. S. Prereq: A course in general biology. Managing human impacts on the hydrologic cycle. Field and watershed landscape 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. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Env S 415. Environmental Studies Seminar
(1-0) Cr. 1 each time taken. Offered on an irregular basis. Prereq: Junior classification. Current or historic topics in Environmental Studies. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Env S 421. Field Seminar
(0-6) Cr. 1 to 2. Offered on an irregular basis. Field trips during semester or break to varied sites of environmental interest in or outside of Iowa, preceded by readings, lectures, and examinations about the areas to be visited. Focus on development vs. preservation. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Env S 424. Sustainable and Environmental Horticulture Systems (Same as Hort 424.)
(2-0) Cr. 2. S. Inquiry into ethical issues and environmental consequences of horticultural cropping systems and production practices. Emphasis on production systems that are resource efficient, environmentally sound, socially acceptable, and profitable.

Env S 425. Sociopolitical Analysis of Environmental Issues
(3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 201 and one other Environmental Studies course. Institutional behaviors which underlie environmental problems and controversies here and overseas. The roles of government, business, citizen activists, the press, international development banks, and others. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Env S 450. Issues in Sustainable Agriculture (Same as Agron 450.)
(2-0) Cr. 2. F. Salvador. 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.

Env S 461I. Introduction to GIS Landscape Modeling (Same as Ia LL 461I. )
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Env S 472. American Environmental History (Same as Hist 472.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Sophomore classification. Taylor. Conceptual approach to human history in North America by examining the impact of nature from precontact through the 20th century. Explores material interactions; intellectual modes; aesthetic relationships; and management strategies from aboriginal society through the environmental age. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Env S 480I. Introduction to Environmental Planning (Same as Ia LL 480I.)
See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Env S 482. Environmental Politics and Policies (Same as Pol S 482.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 3 credits in political science or 3 credits in Environmental Studies; junior 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. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Env S 484. Sustainable Communities (Same as C R P 484.)
(3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Senior status or permission of instructor. The theory and application of sustainability to the physical and social planning of communities. We will examine environmental ethics as a basis for sustainability, the history of the idea itself, and the movement toward indicators as outcome measurements both in the U.S. and internationally. We then explore how these ideas have been applied in communities here and abroad.

Env S 490. Independent Study
Cr. var. Prereq: Permission of instructor and approval of Environmental Studies coordinator.