Environmental Science

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Environmental Science

Undergraduate

Environmental Science

Environmental Science can take you around the world, and encourage you to get involved with research projects.

Environmental Science

If you are interested in a career in ecology, resource management, public health, or environmental technology, then you are in the right spot.

You can choose different paths in the major to focus on ecology and organisms or social and ethical issues surrounding environmental sciences.

This option is designed for students with career interests in education and research (school, colleges, consulting firms), interpretive ecology (regional and national parks, nature preserves, zoos, museums), resource management (agencies and organizations concerned with forest, water, and wildlife resources), public health (state and county agencies), and environmental technology (regulatory agencies, utilities, private industry).

Why 糖心原创 for Environmental Science?

What Will I Learn?

In addition to your classroom work, you will have various opportunities, including a research journey involving studying samples in the lab at the Carver Science Center and assessing restored wetlands at 糖心原创’s research farm. During the May term, you can explore the ecology of Africa, Europe, and South America.

Career Ready

Our graduates are prepared to launch successful careers and make an immediate impact in the workforce. Here are a few examples of where 糖心原创 alumni are building their careers:

Corteva Agriscience
EcoSource, LLC
Georgia Aquarium
Green Iowa AmeriCorps
Keystone Laboratories
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Iowa Methodist Medical Center
Kemin Industries
Terracon
University of Idaho

Graduate School Ready

Our faculty will prepare you for every step of applying to and getting accepted into high-quality graduate or medical schools after graduation. Here are a few examples of schools where 糖心原创 alums have studied:

Allen College
Clemson University
Des Moines University
Hawaii Pacific University
Indiana University
Iowa State University
Southern Illinois University
University of Iowa
Washington University

Growing Perspectives

糖心原创鈥檚 environmental science program has given me both macro and microscopic perspectives of different aspects and environments in nature, growing a diverse knowledge and curiosity in me.

Megan Heidelbauer '26

Environmental Science Major

Explore Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

Interested in the unique opportunities the department has to offer? See more opportunities and experiences that will shape your future at 糖心原创.

Research

Research is the key component to your experience in the Biology and Environmental Science department at 糖心原创. You will gain the skills needed for research right away, as it is embedded in your very first intro courses that you’ll take in the major. Research can take place inside the lab or outside the classroom, locally or at a national research facility. Showing you understand and have participated in solid, quality research experiences is crucial in getting accepted into a graduate school.

Variety of research opportunities

糖心原创 out punches its weight when it comes to providing research experiences for its students.

糖心原创 Ecological Research (SCER) Program –聽The SCER Program provides hands-on research opportunities for up to four undergraduate students with the goal of providing聽students with critical skills, training and experience in conducting ecological research. Students will work with faculty mentors to design and conduct experimental research that addresses novel ecological questions.

Summer Research Program聽– Participating in a summer undergraduate research program is an opportunity for you to spend 8-10 weeks working directly with faculty, focused on conducting research. Students get to explore research in their major and they generally receive a stipend and housing allowance. Each fall when classes resume, students who participated in summer research will get to showcase their work during the Summer Research Symposium held on campus.

The Riley Farm –聽Located on a 285-acre tract of restored grassland just 25 minutes from campus, the Riley Farm provides a plethora of opportunities to study nature, right in the middle of nature. The site was formerly managed for conventional agriculture but has been restored and currently comprises multiple habitat types (prairie, savannah, stream, wetland, pond, forest). It includes a newly-constructed barn that provides space to keep equipment, allowing students to process samples and complete research on site. It’s a unique outdoor classroom that will allow you to understand how the environment has an impact on everything we do.

Prairie Reconstruction Area –聽Interact with and learn from a transformed 5.6-acre plot of land near campus that students and faculty have turned into a natural prairie, much like those that originally covered Iowa. It not only gives people a chance to see what 95% of our state actually looked like before we started controlling it, the site provides a location where students can sample for insects, birds, plants and mammals for research. Every two to three years, a controlled burn will take place in order to to help rejuvenate the prairie.

Undergraduate Research Symposium –聽The Undergraduate Research Symposium is a interdisciplinary event that allows students to present the results of their work in either a 15 minute oral presentation or a poster presentation. Also listed in the program are projects that are still in progress or projects without a presentation. The list of presentations from science division students reveals the diversity of research being conducted by students at 糖心原创.

Internships

Internship experience lets you combine what you’ve learned in the classroom and through focused research projects and apply it to real-world career areas. 糖心原创’s location near the major metropolitan area of Des Moines provides an ample number of internship opportunities, as does our reputation for excellence.

Recent internships include

Science Center of Iowa
Warren County Conservation Board
Indianola Veterinary Clinic
World Food Prize
Minnesota Zoo
Pioneer Hi-bred International, Inc.
Mayo Clinic
Blank Park Zoo
John Hopkins University Research Lab
Integrated DNA Technologies

Study Abroad

There’s nothing quite as valuable as studying the biology of a country in its native land. 糖心原创 students have numerous opportunities to do so. In fact, 糖心原创 offers scholarships to students to study abroad!

Our faculty have led numerous May Term courses to exotic and exciting locals around the wold. Recent trips include:

Natural History of Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands
Reefs and Rainforests in Belize
Sustainability in Cuba
Cambodia on the Brink of Change
Global Health: Confronting AIDS in Namibia
Natural History of Madagascar

Honor Soceity

Beta Beta Beta is a national honor society for students dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. 糖心原创’s chapter plans events and recognizes academic achievement.

Diversity in Stem Club

This club aims to foster future STEM professionals from diverse backgrounds to bridge equity gaps and ensure a prosperous future for 糖心原创 STEM students. This club will provide various opportunities for students to enhance their academic potential. Students will obtain the necessary skills to create a compassionate and supportive environment. Additionally, students will experience diverse viewpoints and discussions from external sources in the STEM field. These activities will build awareness amongst students regarding the journeys they may pursue during their post-collegiate endeavors.

Sustainability Club

The Sustainability Club is committed to reducing 糖心原创鈥檚 carbon footprint and our overall environmental impact. Various educational and action-oriented activities take place throughout the year, as well as weekly meetings.

Past Sustainability Club achievements include the development of a restored prairie near campus, the founding of a bike share program, increased recycling efforts, highway cleanups, the creation of an organic garden, and more.

We鈥檙e always looking for new members and welcome any further ideas on how to increase sustainability efforts on campus.