Subject at Iowa
Building on Iowa's academic strengths in geoscience and geography, while engaging in environment and sustainability research and education of the future.
The University of Iowa School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES) combined the former Departments of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences (GSS) and Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES), with the Environmental Sciences Program. The school, which launched in July 2025, offers an integrated approach with natural science and social science majors in one place, making it easier for students to explore the issues from different disciplinary lenses and discover the academic and career path that is right for them.
Responding to growing student interest in these areas, the school offers a newly updated set of undergraduate majors across three core areas of study: Earth and environmental sciences, geographical and sustainability sciences, and environmental policy and planning. While each major will have a distinct focus, all will share a set of four introductory courses to give students a common foundation of knowledge.
Our graduates go on to pursue a variety of professions and careers including scientific research, analysis, and academia as well as environmental law, public health, urban planning, and policy.
Why Iowa?
Bringing our academic resources in the areas of the environment and sustainability together to focus on some of the most important grand challenges of the 21st century.
Many of society's largest environmental challenges will require working across disciplines to solve. The education offered in the University of Iowa School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability will prepare you to tackle these challenges through our majors, minors, and certificates.
The Iowa experience
Our dedicated faculty, whose passion for research and teaching inspires the next generation of Earth, environmental, and sustainability scientists and policymakers.
Go outside the classroom
Experience the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory as an outdoor classroom for applied coursework and student-led research. You could also take advantage of hands-on courses at Iowa’s Lakeside Laboratory on Lake Okoboji, and numerous multi-day field trips in and outside of Iowa.
9
Research areas
25
Full-time faculty
1874
Department of Natural History was established
Predecessor to the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability