This page is to be used as a planning tool. Your degree audit is the official record of degree requirements. Updated August 2022.

Sustainability Science B.S. Requirements

CORE COURSES, 28-30 S.H.

Sustainability Science

Complete both of the following:

  • GEOG/BUS/SUST:2013 Intro to Sustainability (3)
  • GEOG:3340 Ecosystem Services: Human Dependence on Natural Systems (3)

Choose one of the following:

  • GEOG:4200 Sustainability as a System Science (3)
  • CBE:4410/CEE: 4107 Sustainable Systems (3)

Human Systems

Complete both of the following:

  • GEOG/GHS:2110 Seven Billion & Counting: Intro to Population Dynamics (3)
  • GEOG:3800 Environmental Economics & Policy (3)

Choose one of the following:

  • GEOG/GHS:4770 Environmental Justice (3)
  • POLI:2417 Comparative Environmental Policy (3)

 

ANALYTICAL TOOLS COURSES, 14 S.H.

Complete all the following:

  • GEOG:1050 Foundations of GIS (4)
  • STAT:2010 Statistical Methods and Computing (3)
  • STAT:3200/ISE:3760 Applied Linear Regression (3)

Choose one of the following:

  • CS:1210 Computer Science I: Fundamentals (4)
  • CS:2110 Programming for Informatics (4)
  • MATH:1460 Calculus for the Biological Sciences (4)
  • MATH1380 Calculus & Matrix Algebra for Business (4)

 

COMMUNICATION COURSE, 2-3 S.H.

Choose one of the following:

  • CNW:2730 The Art and Craft of Science Writing (3)
  • CNW:2740 The Art and Craft of Writing about the Environment (3)
  • CNW:3664 Writing About Science (3)
  • JMC:1800 Environmental Communication (3)
  • JMC:3185 Topics in Understanding Media (3)
  • POLI:3107 Writing in Political Science: Writing for “Science” and for “Politics” (3)
  • WRIT:2600 Science Communication I: Fundamentals of Science Communication (2)
  • WRIT:2601 Science Communication II: Science Outreach and Engagement (2)
Natural Systems

 Choose one of the following:

  • CHEM:1070 General Chemistry I (3)
  • CHEM:1110 Principles of Chemistry I (4)

Choose one of the following:

  • EES/ENVS:1085 Fundamentals of Environmental Science (4)
  • GEOG:1020 The Global Environment (3)

Choose one of the following:

  • BIOL/ENVS:2673 Ecology (3)
  • GEOG:4470 Ecological Climatology (3)
Sustainability Sciences Seminar

 A sustainability science seminar course (consult advisor)(1)

 

EQUITY/ETHICS/EQUALITY COURSE, 3 S.H.

Choose one of the following:

  • GEOG/GHS:4770 Environmental Justice (3)
  • PHIL:2402 Introduction to Ethics (3)
  • SOC/SSW:1022 Social Justice and Social Welfare in the United States (3)
  • SOC/HIST:1219 Big Ideas: Equality, Opportunity, and Public Policy in America (3)

 

RESEARCH/INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE, 3 S.H.

Students must complete a minimum of 3 s.h. for the research/experience requirement. They can fulfill this requirement through active participation in research with faculty, an internship at a public or private agency, or an honors thesis.

Students can apply an additional 3 s.h. of research experience to their Electives requirement.

Electives, 18 S.H.

Students cannot use an elective course to satisfy more than one requirement.

Students must select a minimum of 18 s.h. from the following, with at least 9 s.h. numbered above 3000. Students who seek to develop depth in an area may take up to 12 s.h. in a single focal area.

NATURAL SYSTEMS
  • GEOG/BIOL:2374 Biogeography (3)
  • GEOG:3310 Landscape Ecology (3)
  • GEOG:3315 Ecosystem Ecology (3)
  • GEOG:3350 Urban Ecology (3)
  • GEOG:4010 Field Methods in Physical Geography (3)
  • BIOL/ENVS:2673 Ecology (3)
  • EES/ENVS:4700 Evolution of Ecosystems (3)
  • ENVS:3095 Field Ecology (4)
  • Iowa Lakeside Lab course (prefix IALL); approved by advisor
human Systems
  •  GEOG:3300 Envisioning Future Worlds: Sustainable Development and its Alternatives (3)
  • GEOG:3780/HIST:3240 US Energy in Global Context (3)
  • GEOG/URP:4750 Environmental Impact Analysis (3)
  • GEOG/GHS:4770 Environmental Justice (3)
  • ANTH:2100 Anthropology and Contemporary World Problems (3)
  • ECON:3650 Policy Analysis (3)
  • ENTR:3700 Sustainable Product Innovation and Management (3)
  • POLI:2417 Comparative Environmental Policy (3)
  • POLI:3126 Environmental Policy (3)
  • URP:3001/GEOG:3920 Planning Livable Cities (3)
Analytical Methods & Decision Support
  • GEOG:3050 Geospatial Programming (3)
  • GEOG:3500 Intro to Environmental Remote Sensing (3)
  • GEOG:3520 GIS for Environmental Studies (3)
  • GEOG:3540 Intro to Geographic Visualization (3)
  • GEOG/GHS:4150 Health and Environment: GIS Applications (3)
  • GEOG:4580 Introduction to Geographic Databases (3)
  • GEOG:4650 Simulation in Enviro. Geography (3)
  • CS:1110 Introduction to Computer Science (3)
  • CS:1210 Computer Science I: Fundamentals (4)
  • CS:2110 Programming for Informatics (4)
  • CS:2230 Computer Science II: Data Structures (4)
  • CS:3210 Programming Languages and Tools (3)
  • CS:4720/MATH:4820 Optimization Techniques (3)
  • MSCI:3005 Information Systems (3)
  • MSCI:3200 Database Management (3)
  • MSCI:3800 Optimization and Simulation Modeling (3)
  • MSCI/CS/ECE:4480 Knowledge Discovery (3)

 

Integrated natural & human systems
  •  GEOG:2930 Water Resources (3)
  • GEOG:2950 Environmental Conservation (3)
  • GEOG:3331 Human Dimensions of Climate (3)
  • GEOG/GHS:3760 Hazards and Society (3)
  • ANTH:2261 Human Impacts on the Environment (3)