Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental and Soil Sciences Major, BS in Environmental and Soil Sciences – Agricultural Systems Technology Concentration


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Advisor
Hart

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 technology 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 Herbert College of Agriculture (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.

Agricultural Systems Technology is designed to provide the skills required to manage the sophisticated technological systems that are increasingly essential to modern agricultural production. The program starts with a basic science foundation, adds courses in crop production, pest control, and protection of soil and water resources, then introduces the technologies and control systems available to make production more efficient and environmentally sound. It rounds out the curriculum with analysis and management courses to tie all the information together and to most effectively use it in making and carrying out management decisions. Directed technical electives allow the student to concentrate in a particular area of agricultural production or to develop increased skills with particular technologies or management tools.

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 – Agricultural Systems Technology Concentration


Term 1 Hours Milestone Notes
BIOL 113 * and BIOL 115  5 MATH 130  or higher or one Arts and Humanities*, Cultures and Civilizations*, or Social Sciences* Elective
CHEM 120 * or CHEM 128  4  
ENGL 101 * or ENGL 118  3  
MATH 151  3  
Term 2
BIOL 114 * and BIOL 115  5 MATH 130  or higher
CHEM 130 * or CHEM 138  4  
ENGL 102  3  
MATH 152  3  
1Social Sciences Elective * 3  
Term 3
ACCT 200  or ACCT 207   3 CHEM 120 * or MATH 151 
AREC 201 * or ECON 201 * or ECON 207  4  
CMST 210 *, CMST 217 *, CMST 240 *, or CMST 247  3  
PHYS 221  4  
Term 4
AREC 212   3 CHEM 120 * and MATH 151 
1Arts and Humanities Elective * 3  
1Cultures and Civilizations Elective * 3  
ESS 210   4  
STAT 201 * or STAT 207  3  
Term 5
AREC 350   3 CHEM 130 
2Technical Elective  3  
EPP 313   3  
PLSC 457   3  
2Technical Elective 2  
Term 6
BSET 326   3 No milestones
1Cultures and Civilizations Elective * 3  
ENGL 295 * or ENGL 360  3  
EPP 321   3  
ESS 424   3  
Term 7
AREC 412   3 Apply to graduate
BSET 414 , BSET 434 , BSET 474   9  
2Technical Elective 3  
Term 8
1Arts and Humanities Elective * 3 No milestones
BSET 432 , BSET 462   6  
2Technical Electives 6  
TOTAL 120  
1 Chosen from the University General Education list .
2 Note that some electives have required prerequisites. See individual course descriptions for specific information. ALEC 450 ; AREC 342 ; BSET 202 , BSET 452 ; EPP 410 , EPP 425 ; ESS 442 , ESS 444 , ESS 462 ; IE 304 , IE 423 ; MARK 300 ; MGT 201 ; PLSC 240 , PLSC 410 *, PLSC 430 , PLSC 434 , PLSC 435 .

*  Meets University General Education Requirement .

Environmental and Soil Sciences Major – Five-Year BS-MS Program


The department offers especially qualified students a Five-Year BS/MS program with a BS degree (major in environmental and soil sciences) and an MS degree (major in biosystems engineering technology). This option is particularly applicable to students in the Construction Science, Off-Road Vehicle Technology, and Agricultural Systems Technology ESS concentrations, but is also available to students in the other ESS concentrations (Soil Science, Environmental Science, and Conservation Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability). The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 9 hours of approved graduate courses for their upper-division undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their BS and MS degrees at the University of Tennessee. This program is designed for students who intend to complete their MS degree at the University of Tennessee, as other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the BS degree. Significant components of the program are as follows:

  • Students must have an overall GPA of 3.4 in required coursework. Conditional admission to the five-year program may be granted after completion of 65 hours of coursework meeting requirements of the BS degree with at least 15 credit hours of that in technical courses within their concentration. Full admission may be granted after the completion of 96 hours of required coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.4 and at least 24 hours of that in technical courses in their concentration.
  • Admission must be approved by the department and the Graduate School. The approval process begins with application to the BSE Undergraduate Program Coordinator. The admission decision will be based on the coursework, level of maturity, letters of recommendation, GRE scores as required by the department, and work experience.
  • Students must at least be conditionally admitted to the program prior to taking courses that receive credit for both the BS and MS degrees. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the BSE Graduate Program Director. Students admitted to the program must also request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit, and must be admitted to the Graduate School within the BSET program following the normal admission process.
  • Students will not be eligible for assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.

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