Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

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


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Herbert College of Agriculture

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.

Term 1


Credit Hours 15


Term 1 Milestone Notes


  • 2.0 cumulative GPA

Term 2


Credit Hours 14


Term 2 Milestone Notes


Term 3


  • 3 Unrestricted Elective 2 Credit Hours

Credit Hours 15


Term 3 Milestone Notes


Credit Hours 13-14


Term 4 Milestone Notes


Credit Hours 16


Credit Hours 16


Term 6 Milestone Notes


  • No milestones

Credit Hours 15


Term 7 Milestone Notes


  • Apply to graduate

Term 8


  • 1,4 Non-ESS Engaged Inquiries  Elective 3 Credit Hours *
  • 2 Technical Electives 9 Credit Hours
  • 3 Unrestricted Elective 1-2 Credit Hours

Credit Hours 16-17


Term 8 Milestone Notes


  • No milestones

Total Credit Hours 120-121


Footnotes


  1. Chosen from the Volunteer Core  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 Management (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.
  4. Must be from a program other than ESS.

* Meets Volunteer Core Requirements .

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Herbert College of Agriculture