Soil Science, B.S.

Program Overview

This Soil Science program delves into the environmental, agricultural, and natural resource aspects of soils, covering topics such as soil ecology, fertility, and contaminants. Students can specialize in Environmental Soil Science, Soil and Food Systems, or Turf and Grounds, preparing them for careers in environmental science, land management, and the turf industry. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through laboratory and field experiences.

Program Outline

Outline:

Content:

• Environmental, agricultural, and natural resource aspects of soils
• Soil ecology
• Soil erosion management
• Soil fertility and plant nutrition
• Soil physical and chemical characterization
• Biogeochemistry
• Urban soils
• Soil carbon
• Soil health
• Soil contaminants
• Waste management
• Pedology
• Land use analysis

Structure:

• Courses may not double count within the major (unless specifically noted otherwise)
• Courses counted toward the major requirements may also be used to satisfy a university requirement and/or a college requirement
• A minimum of 15 credits must be completed in the major that are not used elsewhere

Course Schedule:

• Mathematics and Statistics:
• MATH 112, 114, or 171
• STAT 371 (recommended)
• Chemistry:
• CHEM 103 & 104 or CHEM 109
• Biology:
• BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 and ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 & 102 (recommended)
• BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 & 152
• BIOCORE 381, 382, 383, & 384
• Core:
• SOIL SCI 301 & 302
• SOIL SCI 325
• SOIL SCI 321 or 322 or 323
• SOIL SCI 499 (Capstone)

Individual Modules with Descriptions:

• Environmental Soil Science Specialization:
• Mathematics:
• MATH 211 or 221 or 217
• Physics:
• PHYSICS 103 or 104 or 207 or 208
• Chemistry:
• CHEM 311 or 327 or 329
• CHEM 341 & 342 or CHEM 343 & 344 & 345
• Physical Environment:
• ATM OCN 100 or 101 or SOIL SCI/ATM OCN 132 or GEOG/ENVIR ST 120 or 127 or GEOSCI/ENVIR ST 106 or SOIL SCI 131 or SOIL SCI 321 or SOIL SCI/AGRONOMY/HORT 326
• Living Environment:
• AGRONOMY 100 or 300 or GEOG/ENVIR ST 309 or ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 315 or HORT 345 or 370 or AGROECOL 400 or SOIL SCI/AGRONOMY/BOTANY 370 or SOIL SCI/MICROBIO 425 or 523
• Environmental Policy, Management, and Analysis:
• SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 101 or ENVIR ST 112 or 113 or ENVIR ST/ILS 126 or ENVIR ST/GEOG 127 or A A E/F&W ECOL 652 or SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 575 or GEOG/SOIL SCI 526
• Soil and Food Systems Specialization:
• Physical Environment:
• ATM OCN 100 or 101 or SOIL SCI/ATM OCN 132 or ATM OCN/GEOG 323 or GEOG/ENVIR ST 120 or 127 or GEOSCI 100 or GEOSCI/ENVIR ST 106 or SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 324 or SOIL SCI 321 or SOIL SCI/AGRONOMY/HORT 326 or SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451
• Economics and Food Management:
• ACCT I S 100 or 211 or 300 or 301 or ACCT I S/LAW 329 or A A E 215 or 320 or 322 or 323 or 419 or A A E/ECON 421 or 474 or M H R 305 or 610 or 611 or 612
• Turf and Grounds Specialization:
• Physical Environment:
• ATM OCN 100 or 101 or SOIL SCI/ATM OCN 132 or GEOG/ENVIR ST 120 or 127 or GEOSCI 100 or GEOSCI/ENVIR ST 106
• Core Turf and Grounds Sciences:
• ACCT I S 300
• BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130
• HORT/PL PATH 261
• M H R 305
• PL PATH 300
• HORT/SOIL SCI 332

Careers:

• Laboratory technician
• Turf and grounds manager
• Agrichemical sales representative
• Environmental scientist
• Land use planner
• Land zoning administrator
• Project manager
• Wetlands delineator
• Hydrogeologist