Earn your BS in Sustainability Science
Are you interested in building a more sustainable world for future generations? The National Academy of Science defines sustainability science as "an emerging field dealing with the interactions between natural and social systems, and with how those interactions affect the challenge of sustainability: meeting the needs of the present and future generations while substantially reducing poverty and conserving the planets life support systems." Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon states that defining what such a world should look like and developing strategies to create such a world is the "central challenge of our times"–a challenge that encapsulates many of the most pressing threats facing humans an the planet. Climate change, access to sufficient water, clean water, and healthy air, safe and reliable energy, long-term economic wellbeing, equity, responsibility to other species, and conflict over limited resources are all central to the concept of sustainability.
A sustainable world is, in the most general sense, one in which key environmental, social, and economic systems remain vital and productive through time. Through a sustainability lens, managers recognize and seek to support the interdependency of these systems, as well as the need for equity and respect among diverse cultures and regions. Sustainability science is, therefore, the study of complex interacting processes that operate across time and space and directly impact the long-term well-being of humankind. Studying this challenging science prepares students to enter a world that increasingly recognizes and prioritizes sustainable outcomes.
Program outcomes
The sustainability science BS major at the University of Iowa is built on an integrative curriculum, with coursework in the social, natural, and analytical disciplines, thereby providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to help build a more sustainable future in Iowa, the United States, and around the world.
Sustainability science graduates will be able to:
- Address complex problems emerging from growing populations and increasingly stressed resources
- Understand the complex processes that connect humans to natural systems
- Communicate the importance of sustainability science and management to leaders and the public
- Analyze the potential impact of decisions given competing information, perceptions, and goals
- Adapt and flourish in a rapidly changing world in order to work toward a better tomorrow
The sustainability science program cultivates students who are forward thinking, able to envision a future with equity, high environmental quality, and economic opportunity, and are equipped to work towards that future.
Requirements
The Bachelor of Science with a major in sustainability science requires a minimum of 120 semester hours, including at least 68-71 semester hours of work for the major. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.00 for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences GE CLAS Core. Transfer students must earn a minimum of 40 semester hours for the major in residence at the University of Iowa.
The BS with a major in sustainability science requires the following work:
| Course type | Semester hours |
|---|---|
| Core courses | 28-30 |
| Analytical tools courses | 14 |
| Communication course | 2-3 |
| Equity/ethics/equality course | 3 |
| Electives | 18 |
| Research/internship experience | 3 |
| Total hours | 68-71 |
Core courses introduce students to key elements of sustainability science.
| Course number | Course name | Semester hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| SUST:2013/GEOG:2013 | Introduction to Sustainability | 3 |
| GEOG:3340 | Ecosystem Services: Human Dependence on Natural Systems | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| GEOG:4200/SUST:4200 | Sustainability as a System Science | 3 |
| CBE:4410/CEE:4107 | Sustainable Systems | 3 |
| Course number | Course name | Semester hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| CHEM:1070 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM:1110 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| One of these: | ||
| EES:1085/ENVS:1085 | Fundamentals of Environmental Science | 4 |
| GEOG:1020 | The Global Environment | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| BIOL:2673/ENVS:2673 | Ecology | 3 |
| GEOG:4470 | Ecological Climatology | 3 |
| Course number | Course name | Semester hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| GEOG:2110/GHS:2110 | Eight Billion and Counting: Introduction to Population Dynamics | 3 |
| GEOG:3800 | Environmental Economics and Policy | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| GEOG:4770/GHS:4770 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| POLI:2417 | Comparative Environmental Policy | 3 |
| This course: |
| A sustainability science seminar course (consult advisor) |
These courses address solid analytical skills needed to address sustainability problems.
| Course number | Course name | Semester hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| GEOG:2050 | Foundations of GIS | 4 |
| STAT:3200/IGPI:3200/ISE:3760 | Applied Linear Regression | 3 |
| STAT:2010 | Statistical Methods and Computing | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| CS:1210 | Computer Science I: Fundamentals | 4 |
| CS:2110 | Programming for Informatics | 4 |
| MATH:1460 | Calculus for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| MATH:1380 | Calculus and Matrix Algebra for Business | 4 |
| Course number | Course name | Semester hours |
|---|---|---|
| At least one of these: | ||
| 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 |
| Course number | Course name | Semester hours |
|---|---|---|
| At least one of these: | ||
| GEOG:4770/GHS:4770 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| PHIL:2402 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| SOC:1022/SSW:1022 | Social Justice and Social Welfare in the United States | 3 |
| SOC:1219/HIST:1219 | Big Ideas: Equality, Opportunity, and Public Policy in America | 3 |
Elective coursework ensures that students gain depth in their areas of interest or they may continue to build a broad platform on which to build subsequent academic or professional careers. They may choose to take 12 semester hours in one of the following focal areas or develop their own plan of study. Students must consult with their advisor as they develop and fine-tune their plan of study.
Students cannot use an elective course to satisfy more than one requirement.
Students must select a minimum of 18 semester hours from the following, with at least 9 semester hours numbered above 3000.
| Course number | Course name | Semester hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG:2374/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:2673/ENVS:2673 | Ecology | 3 |
| EES:4700/ENVS:4700 | Evolution of Ecosystems | 3 |
| ENVS:3095 | Field Ecology | 4 |
| Iowa Lakeside Lab courses (Prefix IALL) | Approved by advisor |
| Course number | Course name | Semester hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG:3300/GHS:3300 | Envisioning Future Worlds: Sustainable Development and Its Alternatives | 3 |
| GEOG:3780/GHS:3780/HIST:3240 | U.S. Energy Policy in Global Context | 3 |
| GEOG:4750/URP:4750 | Environmental Impact Analysis | 3 |
| GEOG:4770/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 |
| Course number | Course name | Semester hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG:2930 | Water Resources | 3 |
| GEOG:2950 | Environmental Conservation | 3 |
| GEOG:3331 | Human Dimensions of Climate | 3 |
| GEOG:3760/GHS:3760 | Hazards and Society | 3 |
| ANTH:2261 | Human Impacts on the Environment | 3 |
| Course number | Course name | Semester hour |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG:3050 | Introduction to Geospatial Programming | 3 |
| GEOG:3500/IGPI:3500 | Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG:3520/IGPI:3520 | GIS for Environmental Studies | 3 |
| GEOG:3540/IGPI:3540 | Introduction to Geographic Visualization | 3 |
| GEOG:4150/GHS:4150/IGPI:4150 | Health and Environment: GIS Applications | 3 |
| GEOG:4580/IGPI:4580 | Introduction to Geographic Databases | 3 |
| GEOG:4650 | Simulation in Environmental 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:4480/CS:4480/ECE:4480 | Knowledge Discovery | 3 |
Students must complete a minimum of 3 semester hours for the research/internship experience requirement. They can fulfill this requirement through active participation on research with faculty, an internship at a public or private agency, or an honors thesis. Students can apply an additional 3 semester hours of research experience to their Electives requirement.
Sustainability science majors may earn a second major or minor in geography, environmental policy and planning, and environmental sciences, as well as other majors, minors, or certificates at the University of Iowa (except for the Certificate in Sustainability). Students may count a maximum of 6 semester hours completed for another major toward the sustainability science major, and they may count a maximum of 3 semester hours toward another minor. See the University of Iowa General Catalog for more information.
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Honors in the major
Students have the opportunity to graduate with honors in the major. Departmental honors students must maintain a cumulative University of Iowa GPA of at least 3.33 and a GPA of at least 3.33 in all work for the major. Students also must complete 6 semester hours of research/internship credit, and successfully complete an honors thesis and presentation.