The Earth and Environmental Sciences major at Iowa is perfect for students fascinated by the natural world.
Do you wonder how Earth and other planets work? Want to help society address environmental challenges like a changing climate and preserving safe drinking water? The Earth and Environmental Sciences major trains students to use an integrated approach to understand the natural world. Our unique program offers flexibility to discover your passion within Earth and environmental science, preparing you for diverse careers or graduate studies.
Iowa’s Earth and Environmental Sciences major gives you the freedom and flexibility to seamlessly move between tracks within the program without having to change departments, colleges, or universities. The integrated biological, chemical, physical, and geological components of the degree program offer students the ultimate flexibility and exposure to the entire discipline while at Iowa and prepare them for either direct employment following graduation or continuation onto graduate school.
Students experience multiple, leveled courses that provide field-based training using a cohort model. They can expect research opportunities and access to the on-campus Ashton Research Prairie (to survey biodiversity or study water quality), Lakeside Laboratory and Lake MacBride (to study ecosystems or collect insects), and diverse geological field experiences (to study Earth systems). In all of these experiences, students learn and utilize cutting-edge technical equipment to prepare them for a range of careers.
In addition to your Earth and Environmental Sciences major, you may choose to double major with Environmental Policy and Planning, pursue K-12 teaching licensure through the combined B.A. + M.A.T. in Education, or earn a certificate in Sustainability, Geographic Information Science, or Museum Studies.
Students interested in this major need to meet the requirements for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
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Iowa graduates have a 95 percent job/grad school placement rate within six months of graduation. Our Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Students with an Earth and Environmental Sciences degree from Iowa go on to careers in a range of fields including environmental consulting, natural hazard assessment and mitigation, renewable energy, science communication and outreach, nature facility and program managers, and resource exploration and extraction. They find work in a range of places, including state geological surveys and regulatory agencies, federal surveys and agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service, and conservation organizations.
In addition to more than 500 student organizations, Iowa students choose from more than 100 study abroad programs and multiple undergraduate research opportunities.
Student organizations of special interest to Earth and Environmental Sciences students include the Earth and Environmental Sciences Club, Women in STEM (WISE), and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).
The University of Iowa provides a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students through the Iowa Scholarship Portal. Scholarships are available to first-year, transfer, and currently enrolled students. For additional details on scholarships for your program of study, check directly with the department or college.
The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid are great resources for students seeking scholarships.
Students entering the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability all take a set of four core courses that introduce them to natural and social science environmental topics, tools and methods, and research and career opportunities.
Students majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences can earn a BA or a BS degree.
The BA program is ideal for students who want to pursue careers in education, law, public policy, or management. The smaller course load and greater flexibility are ideal for students who wish to double major, and students frequently pair this degree with a second major in Environmental Policy and Planning or certificates in Museum Studies, Sustainability, or GIS.
The BS program is designed to prepare students for a career in any geoscience or environmental science field or for graduate study. Students gain extensive field, laboratory, and analytical training, and apply those skills through integrated classroom and outdoor activities. BS students choose one of three tracks: Earth and Planetary Science, Environmental Geoscience, and Ecology.
Students in both programs can take field-based courses to apply their classroom and laboratory training in the real world. Field courses visit local, regional, national, and international destinations and occur as standalone courses or are integrated into other coursework.
Earth and Environmental Sciences majors also must complete the requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.
While earning a BA or a BS, students are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research project with a faculty mentor. Most Earth and Environmental Sciences students participate in undergraduate research, and many formally publish their findings in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
View Earth and Environmental Sciences in the UI General Catalog to learn more about the course requirements for the major or minor and graduating with honors.