Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental and Soil Sciences Major, BS in Environmental and Soil Sciences – Soil Science Concentration


Advisors
Burk, Eash

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.

This program provides 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.

This concentration is a rigorous, science-based program for students interested in the field of soil science. The curriculum emphasizes soils and their long-term use and productivity, as well as surface and sub-surface water resources. Students will understand natural resource problems and their management, including soil and water conservation issues, land use problems, waste disposal, and reclamation of disturbed lands. Other areas of interest can be addressed through the appropriate selection of technical electives in the program. Students in this program will gain the practical knowledge necessary to compete for career opportunities in government, environmental consulting firms, public health services, environmental research laboratories, and agricultural production, while also gaining the theoretical training necessary for continuing on for advanced degrees in a number of environmentally related fields. An undergraduate degree in this field is the first step towards certification as a Professional Soil Scientist.

uTrack Requirements

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 entered prior to Fall 2015.

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


Term 1 Hours Milestone Notes
1Arts and Humanities Elective * 3 2.0 cumulative GPA
BIOL 113 * or BIOL 150 * or BIOL 158  3-4  
ENGL 101 * or ENGL 118  3  
ESS 120  3  
MATH 123 * or MATH 151  3  
Term 2
CHEM 122 * and CHEM 123 *, or CHEM 128  4 ENGL 101 *
ENGL 102  3  
GEOL 101 * or GEOL 107  4  
MATH 125 * or MATH 152  3  
Term 3
3Unrestricted Elective 2 One Arts and Humanities*, Cultures and Civilizations*, or Social Sciences* Elective
BIOL 114 * or BIOL 160 * or BIOL 168 *, BIOL 115 * or BIOL 159  4-5  
CHEM 132 * and CHEM 133 *, or CHEM 138  4  
ESS 210   4  
Term 4
AREC 201 * or ECON 201 * or ECON 207 * or ECON 211 * 3-4 CHEM 122 * and CHEM 123 *, or CHEM 128 
1Arts and Humanities Elective * 3  
CHEM 112 * and CHEM 113 *, or CHEM 260   3-4  
PHYS 221  4  
Term 5
1Cultures and Civilizations Elective * 3 ESS 210  
ESS 334   3  
PHIL 346  3  
1Social Sciences Elective * 3  
STAT 201 * or STAT 207 * or PLSC 461  3  
Term 6
ESS 326   3 No milestones
CHEM 210 , CHEM 219   4  
ESS 454   3  
PLSC 415  or PLSC 434  or PLSC 435   3  
2Technical Elective 3  
Term 7
AREC 470  or ECON 362   3 Apply to graduate
ESS 424 , ESS 434 , ESS 442 , ESS 462   12  
Term 8
ESS 301 *, ESS 444   4 No milestones
2Technical Electives 9  
3Unrestricted Elective 4-5  
TOTAL 120  
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); Business Analytics and Statistics (any course 200 or above); Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (any course 200 or above); Chemistry (any course 200 or above); Civil Engineering (any course 200 or above); Computer Science (any course 200 or above); Construction Science and Agricultural Systems (any course 200 or above not required for the major); 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, with a limit of 3 hours of ESS 242 ); Food Science (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).
3 Any courses not already required for the major.

*  Meets University General Education Requirement .