Mar 29, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental and Soil Sciences Major, BS in Environmental and Soil Sciences – Conservation Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability Concentration


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Advisors
Eash, Logan

Many human activities adversely impact soil, water, and environmental quality; and there is a constant need for experts in the technologies required to collect sound information and to provide food, fiber, and shelter in an environmentally-sound manner. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Soil Sciences provides students with a strong grounding in basic sciences or engineering technology to prepare them for a broad range of possible careers. Students in this program choose between two general thrusts: Science and Engineering Technology.

The science thrust provides options for three concentrations: Soil Science, Environmental Science, and Conservation Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability. All provide a very strong basis in the natural sciences, as well as applied areas such as ecology, soil sciences, and natural resource policy. Students also build expertise with modern technologies such as geographical information systems, global positioning systems, and computer applications in natural resource management. Graduates are prepared to work in a wide variety of interesting and challenging career paths and to work with a broad variety of other professionals to solve complex problems. Examples of potential careers include soil and environmental specialists and scientists; state and federal regulatory agency work; private consulting in environmental and agricultural areas; and working with non-governmental organizations with interests in agriculture, environment, and natural resources. Students receiving this degree are also very competitive for placement in graduate programs in environmental and agricultural sciences and technology, as well as law school.

The engineering technology thrust has three concentration options: Agricultural Systems Technology, Construction Science Technology, and Off-Road Vehicle Technology. These engineering technology concentrations are applied programs highly focused on specific technical areas and are designed to provide the skills required to manage the sophisticated technological systems increasingly essential in today’s world. The three concentrations all provide a strong basic science foundation and add coursework designed to create programs of study emphasizing the application of technology in today’s world. Coursework in economics and the management of a small business are also included, along with oral and written communication. The construction science concentration leads to a Minor in Business Administration. While these programs provide a rigorous background in math and science and include courses in engineering, they differ from programs offered in the Tickle College of Engineering and College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (Biosystems Engineering) leading to B.S. in Engineering, and ultimately to registration as a Professional Engineer. The engineering technology concentrations are less theoretical, more applied, and more focused towards specific industries.

The conservation agriculture and environmental sustainability concentration is a multidisciplinary program for students interested in conservation of natural resources and sustainability of agricultural systems. This degree provides students with a wide array of skills and scientific training in identifying and understanding important issues in environmental sustainability. The focus will be on both the micro-scale and macro-scale of food production, as well as providing a solid introduction to technical skills such as surveying and machinery operations needed to fulfill current and future food demands. An undergraduate degree in this field is also a first step towards certification as a Professional Soil Scientist.

uTrack Requirements (for students entering Fall 2013 or later)

Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students who first entered Fall 2013 or later. uTrack does not apply to transfer students who enter prior to Fall 2015.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Soil Sciences – Environmental and Soil Sciences Major – Conservation Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability Concentration


Term 1 Hours Milestone Notes
AGNR 100 , AGNR 291   2 2.0 cumulative GPA
BIOL 101 * or BIOL 113 * 3-4  
CHEM 100 * 4  
ENGL 101 * or ENGL 118 * 3  
MATH 123 * 3  
Term 2
BIOL 102 * or BIOL 114 *-BIOL 115 * 4-5 ENGL 101 *
CHEM 110 * 4  
ENGL 102 * 3  
MATH 125 * 3  
Term 3
AGNR 292   1 MATH 123 * or MATH 125 *
AREC 201 * or ECON 201 * 4  
ESS 120 *, ESS 210   7  
GEOL 101 * or GEOL 107 * 4  
Term 4
1Arts and Humanities Elective * 3 CHEM 100 *
AREC 212   3  
ESS 220 * 3  
PLSC 275   3  
STAT 201 * or STAT 207 * or PLSC 461   3  
Term 5
ACCT 200 , ACCT 207 , or BUAD 202   3 ESS 210  
EPP 313   3  
ESS 334   3  
PLSC 457   3  
1Social Sciences Elective * 3  
Term 6
1Communicating through Writing Elective * 3 No milestones
EPP 321   3  
ESS 301 *, ESS 424   4  
ESS 444  or ESS 454   3  
2Technical Elective 3  
Term 7
BSET 474   3 Apply to graduate
ESS 442 , ESS 462   6  
ESS 492  or ESS 499   1  
PLSC 415  or PLSC 435   3  
2Technical Elective 3  
Term 8
AREC 342  or AREC 350   3 No milestones
1Arts and Humanities Elective * 3  
BSET 432 , BSET 462   3  
2Technical Elective 3  
TOTAL 120  
* Meets University General Education Requirement .
1 Chosen from the University General Education list .
2 Note that some electives have required prerequisites. See individual course descriptions in the catalog for specific information. ACCT 200 ; AGNR 491 , AGNR 497 , AGNR 498 ; ALEC 440 *; Animal Science (any course 200 or above); ANTH 415 ; Agriculture and Resource Economics (any course 200 or above); Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (any course 200 or above); Biology (any course 200 or above); Biosystems Engineering (any course above 201); Biosystems Engineering Technology (any course 200 or above not required for the major); Business Analytics and Statistics (any course 200 or above); Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (any course 200 or above); Civil Engineering (any course 200 or above); Chemistry (any course 200 or above); Computer Science (any course 200 or above); Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (any course 200 or above); ECON 362 ; Electrical and Computer Engineering (any course 200 or above); Engineering Fundamentals (any course); Entomology and Plant Pathology (any course); Entrepreneurship (any course); Environmental and Soil Sciences (any course not required for the major); Food Science and Technology (any course above 201); Forestry (any course 200 or above); Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries (any course 200 or above); Geography (any course 131 or above); Geology (any course); Industrial Engineering (any course); Information Management (any course); Information Sciences (any course 200 or above); JREM 451 *; Mathematics (any course 200 or above); Mechanical Engineering (any course 200 or above); Microbiology (any course 200 or above); Materials Science and Engineering (any course 200 or above); Nuclear Engineering (any course 200 or above); Physics (any course 200 or above); Plant Sciences (any course 200 or above); PUBH 420 ; SOCI 360 , SOCI 363 , SOCI 465 ; Wildlife and Fisheries Science (any course 200 or above).

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