Introductory-Level General Education Courses for Biology Majors

Special fall-only opportunity for first- and second-year Biology students: 

BIOL/GEN 1140X: Explorations in Life Sciences (1 credit)

 

Why join?

  • Connect with like-minded peers within and outside of your major
  • Engage with knowledgeable and experienced Peer Mentors in The Sky is the Limit learning community who care about your career and academic progress
  • Network with faculty in your field of interest
  • Develop goal-oriented academic and professional skills

Sect

Title

Description

Meets

1

Save Planet EarthAn environmental and conservation-themed section where students learn and connect via hands-on sustainability projects, as well as field trips to research sites around Ames.Wednesdays
9:55 - 11:50 AM

2

Helping People: The Healthcare Career SpectrumLearn about the myriad of healthcare-related career options, have the opportunity to take a tour of the Iowa State cadaver lab, and meet with practicing professionals including a physician and a pharmacist.Mondays
3:20 - 5:15 PM

3

Exploring the Secret Life of CellsLearn how basic cell biology research in different organisms can help us improve our world in areas such as medicine, agriculture, and technology. Experiences include hands-on lab activities and visits to research labs around campus.Wednesdays
3:20 - 5:15 PM

4

Decoding Genetic Mechanisms of Metabolism and AgingThis section will help you discover how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) can play a role in your broader interests. It will provide you with opportunities to explore interdisciplinary career paths through interactions with upperclassmen, faculty, and leaders outside academia and to find study buddies for first-year STEM courses.Wednesdays
3:20 - 5:15 PM

 

 

These following courses are commonly selected by Biology majors.  

Most of these require no previous college classes.

This is not an exhaustive list; many other courses in the Course Catalog are available for students to take!  Check the Schedule of Classes for availability.

One of Iowa State University's goals is to prepare its students to meet the challenges of responsible citizenship and effective professional roles in a culturally diverse global community. To help achieve this goal, all undergraduate students must fulfill graduation requirements in two areas: U.S. Diversity ("USD" in the table below) and International Perspectives ("IP" in the table below).  These requirements will be fulfilled upon completion of 3 credits of each USD and IP courses.

Visit the Iowa State University Catalog "Academics" entry for more information about these requirements and their outcomes.

 

Select a topic to jump to courses in that department:

African American Studies (AFAM)
Agronomy (AGRON)
American Indian Studies (AMIN)
Animal Science (ANS)
Anthropology (ANTHR)
Apparel, Merchandising, and Design (AMD)
Archaeology (ARCH)
Art History (ARTH)
Astronomy (ASTRO)
Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology (BBMB)
Chemistry (CHEM)
Classical Studies (CLST)
Communication Studies (COMST)
Community and Regional Planning (CRP)
Computer Science (COMS)
Criminal Justice (CJ)
Dance (DANCE)
Data Science (DS)
Design (DES)
Design Studies (DSNS)
Economics (ECON)
Education (EDUC)
English (ENGL)
Entomology (ENT)
Environmental Science (ENSCI)
Environmental Studies (ENVS)
Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN)
Geology (GEOL)
Global Resource Systems (GLOBE)		Health Studies (HS)
History (HIST)
Horticulture (HORT)
Hospitality Management (HSPM)
Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS)
Integrated Studio Arts (ARTIS)
International Studies (INTST)
Journalism and Mass Communication (JLMC)
Kinesiology (KIN)
Leadership Studies (LDST)
Microbiology (MICRO)
Meteorology (MTEOR)
Music (MUSIC)
Philosophy (PHIL)
Political Science (POLS)
Psychology (PSYCH)
Public Relations (PR)
Religious Studies (RELIG)
Sociology (SOC)
Speech Communication (SPCM)
Technology Systems Management (TSM)
Theater (THTRE)
U.S. Latina/o Studies Program (USLS)
Women and Gender Studies (WGS)
Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
World Film Studies (WFS)
World Language and Cultures (WLC)
Foreign Language Courses

 

General Education Courses

The links below will take you to full course descriptions in the Iowa State Course Catalog.

Course

Title

Cr.

Req.

AFAM 2010Introduction to African American Studies3USD
AGRON 1800Global Agriculture in a Changing World3IP
AGRON 1810Introduction to Crop Science3 
AMIN 2010Native People in American Culture3 
AMIN 2100Introduction to American Indian Studies3USD
AMIN 2250American Indians of Iowa3USD
ANS 1010Working with Animals2 
ANS 1140Survey of the Animal Industry2 
ANTHR 2010Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3IP
ANTHR 2020Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Archaeology3 
ANTHR 2300Globalization and the Human Condition3IP
AMD 1310Fashion Products and Markets3 
AMD 1650Dress, Appearance, and Diversity in Society3USD
ARCH 2210History of Pre-Modern Architecture3IP
ARTH 2800History of Art I3IP
ASTRO 1200The Sky and the Solar System3 
ASTRO 1500Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology3 
BBMB 1200The Biochemistry of Beer2 
CHEM 1600Chemistry in Modern Society3 
CLST 2730Greek and Roman Mythology3IP
CLST 2750The Ancient City3IP
COMST 1010Introduction to Communication Studies3 
COMST 2100Communication and U.S. Diversity3USD
COMST 2110Interpersonal Communication3 
COMST 2140Professional Communication3 
COMST 2180Conflict Management3 
CRP 2010The North American Metropolis3 
CRP 2510Fundamentals of GIS3 
COMS 1030Computer Literacy and Applications4 
COMS 1040Introduction to Programming2 
COMS 1060Introduction to Web Programming3 
COMS 1070Windows Application Programming3 
COMS 1130Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases3 
COMS 2070Fundamentals of Computer Programming3 
COMS 2270Object-Oriented Programming4 
CJ 2200Introduction to Forensic Science3 
CJ 2400Introduction to the U.S. Criminal Justice System3 
CJ 2410Youth and Crime3 
DANCE 2700Dance Appreciation
Note: one-credit dance classes in various styles may be available!		3 
DS 2010Introduction to Data Science3 
DES 2300Design Thinking3 
DSNS 1020Design Studio I4 
DSNS 1830Design in Context3 
DSNS 2320Digital Design Communication3 
ECON 1010Principles of Microeconomics3 
ECON 1020Principles of Macroeconomics3 
EDUC 2040Social Foundations of Education in the U.S.3 
EDUC 2190Orientation to Teacher Education: FCS, History, Math, Science, and WLC Majors
Note: Required course for students seeking teacher licensure in grades 5-12.  
Students still exploring the option of teaching are encouraged to take this course!		1 
ENGL 2010Introduction to Literature
Prerequisite: credit in or exemption from ENGL 1500		3 
ENGL 2140Introduction to Technical Communication
Prerequisite: credit in or exemption from ENGL 1500		3 
ENGL 2370Survey of Film History
Prerequisite: credit in or exemption from ENGL 1500		3 
ENGL 2400Introduction to American Indian Literature
Prerequisite: credit in or exemption from ENGL 1500		3 
ENGL 2600Introduction to Literary Study
Prerequisite: credit in or exemption from ENGL 1500		3 
ENT 2010Introduction to Insects (5 weeks)1 
ENT 2110Insects and Society (11 weeks)
Prerequisite: ENT 2010		1 
ENSCI 2010Introduction to Environmental Issues2 
ENSCI 2500Environmental Geography3 
ENSCI 2700Geospatial Technologies3 
ENVS 1010Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis3 
ENVS 1200Introduction to Renewable Resources3 
ENVS 2200Globalization and Sustainability3IP
ENVS 2700Foundations of Natural Resource Policy and History3 
FSHN 1010Food and the Consumer3 
FSHN 1670Introductory Human Nutrition and Health3 
GEOL 1000How the Earth Works3 
GEOL 1080Introduction to Oceanography3 
GLOBE 1200Geography of Global Resource Systems3IP
GLOBE 2010Global Resource Systems3 
HS 1050First Aid and Emergency Care2 
HS 1100Personal and Consumer Health3 
HIST 2010Introduction to Western Civilization I3IP
HIST 2110Ancient Empires: From Sargon to Caesar3IP
HIST 2210Survey of United States History I3 
HIST 2550Intro to World History, 1500-Present3IP
HIST 2840Wonders of the World, Global History of Innovation3IP
HORT 1210Home Horticulture3 
HORT 2210Principles of Horticultural Science3 
HORT 2400Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping3 
HSPM 1010Introduction to the Hospitality Industry3 
HSPM 2600Global Tourism Management3IP
HDFS 1020Individual and Family Development, Health, and Well-being3 
HDFS 2230Child Development and Health3 
HDFS 2390Consumer Issues3USD
HDFS 2400Literature for Children3USD
HDFS 2490Parenting and Family Diversity Issues3USD
HDFS 2700Family Communications and Relationships3USD
HDFS 2760Human Sexuality3USD
HDFS 2830Personal and Family Finance3USD
ARTIS 2010Creative Visual Thinking3 
INTST 2350Introduction to International Studies3IP
INTST 2500The World's Regions in a Global Context3IP
JLMC 1010Mass Media and Society3 
JLMC 2400Principles of Journalism3 
JLMC 2420Visual Principles for Mass Communicators3 
KIN 2100Concepts of Fitness and Wellness
Note: one-credit kinesiology classes in various athletic activities may be available!		2 
LDST 2700Campus Leadership Development3 
MICRO 1010Microbial World3 
MICRO 2650Predicting the Next Epidemic: Living in a One Health World2 
MTEOR 1400Climate and Society3IP
MTEOR 2060Introduction to Weather and Climate3 
MUSIC 1010Fundamentals of Music
Note: various ensembles are available for student musicians of all skill levels!		2 
MUSIC 1020Introduction to Music Listening3IP
PHIL 2010Introduction to Philosophy3 
PHIL 2060Introduction to Logic and Scientific Reasoning3 
PHIL 2070Introduction to Symbolic Logic3 
PHIL 2300Moral Theory and Practice3 
PHIL 2350Ethical Issues in a Diverse Society3USD
POLS 2150Introduction to American Government3 
POLS 1210Introduction to International Politics3IP
POLS 2350Introduction to American Government3 
POLS 1210Introduction to International Politics3 
POLS 2350Introduction to Ethics and Politics3 
PSYCH 1010Introduction to Psychology3 
PSYCH 1310Academic Learning Skills1 
PSYCH 2300Developmental Psychology3 
PSYCH 2800Social Psychology3 
PR 2200Principles of Public Relations3 
RELIG 2050World Religions3IP
RELIG 2100Religion in America3USD
RELIG 2420History of Christianity: Early to Medieval3IP
RELIG 2430History of Christianity: Modern3 
SOC 1340Introduction to Sociology3 
SOC 2300Rural Society in Transition3 
SPCM 1100Listening3 
SPCM 2120Fundamentals of Public Speaking3 
SPCM 2160America Speaks: Great Speakers and Speeches in U.S. History3USD
TSM 1160Introduction to Design in Technology3 
THTRE 1060Introduction to the Performing Arts3 
THTRE 1100Theatre and Society3 
THTRE 2510Acting Foundations3 
THTRE 2550Introduction to Theatrical Production4 
USLS 2110Intro to U.S. Latino/a Studies3USD
WGS 2010Introduction to Women and Gender Studies3USD
WGS 2050Introduction to Queer Studies
Prerequisite: credit in or exemption from ENGL 1500		3USD
WGS 2100Gender and Sexuality in American Pop Culture3 
WISE 2010Foundations in Development for Women* in STEM
Note: includes all female-identifying persons in STEM majors.		3USD
WFS 2780Introduction to Global Film3IP
WLC 1190Introduction to World Languages3IP

 

Foreign Language

If you have previously taken any of the following languages before attending ISU, a placement exam is highly recommend to ensure you are placed in the appropriate level course.  Full details of language placement can be found here.

 

The language courses listed below do not require a placement test.

Course

Title

Cr.

Req.

ASL 1010American Sign Language4USD
ARABC 1010Elementary Arabic I4 
LATIN 1010Elementary Latin I4 
PORT 1010Elementary Portuguese4