Soil Science Option
This option is offered within the following major(s):
Also available at LaGrande and via Ecampus.
The study of soil as a science provides students with a basic understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of this essential natural resource. Soil is the fundamental substrate for life in terrestrial systems. Our food, fiber, and renewable energy are dependent on soils. Our understanding of soils is critical in the successful siting of buildings and construction of roadways and other transportation infrastructure. Our understanding of global and local ecology depends on an awareness of soil and its properties. Soils are the filters of our water and play active roles in storing carbon and other materials that are essential in human existence. As a soil science student, you will explore issues including water quality and management, organic crop production, erosion and sedimentation, land use and reclamation, and soil quality and sustainability. As a soil science professional you will be able to use your knowledge and skills to solve real-world, sustainable living problems in urban, agricultural, forest, rangeland, and other natural systems. Many soil scientists work for the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Some work for other federal, state, or local government agencies as extension educators, researchers, or surveyors. Others hold teaching or research positions in colleges and universities. Soil scientists also work for fertilizer companies, private research laboratories, environmental service companies, insurance companies, and land appraisal firms.
Option Code: 160
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core | ||
| General Science Core | ||
| Select one of the following biology series: | 12 | |
| Series A | ||
| *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | ||
| Series B | ||
| *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I and *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II and *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III | ||
| Select one of the following chemistry series: | 15 | |
| Series A | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | ||
| Series B | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231 | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232 | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233 | ||
| MTH 111 | *COLLEGE ALGEBRA | 4 |
| Orientation | ||
| SOIL 101 | INTRODUCTION TO CROP, SOIL, AND INSECT SCIENCE | 1 |
| Agricultural Sciences | ||
| ENT 311 | INTRODUCTION TO INSECT PEST MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| SOIL 205 & SOIL 206 | SOIL SCIENCE and *SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | 4 |
| or CSS 205 | *SOIL SCIENCE | |
| BOT 331 | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | 3-4 |
| or CROP 200 | CROP ECOLOGY AND MORPHOLOGY | |
| or HORT 301 | GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS | |
| HORT 316 | PLANT NUTRITION | 4 |
| or SOIL 316 | NUTRIENT CYCLING IN AGROECOSYSTEMS | |
| Experiential Learning | ||
| SOIL 401 | RESEARCH | 3 |
| or SOIL 403 | THESIS | |
| or SOIL 410 | INTERNSHIP | |
| SOIL 407 | SEMINAR | 1 |
| Ecology | ||
| Select one of the following courses: | 3-4 | |
| ECOLOGY | ||
| PLANT ECOLOGY | ||
| ^APPLIED ECOLOGY OF MANAGED ECOSYSTEMS | ||
| RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| Technology | ||
| SOIL 468 | SOIL LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS | 4 |
| Writing Intensive Course (WIC) | ||
| SOIL 395 | *^WORLD SOIL RESOURCES | 3 |
| or SUS 325 | ^AG AND ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICAMENTS: A CASE STUDY APPROACH | |
| Option Requirements | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: | 19-36 | |
| Soils Research Track | ||
| *PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | ||
or GEO 202 | *EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE | |
or GEO 203 | *EVOLUTION OF PLANET EARTH | |
or GEO 221 | *ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY | |
or GEO 101 | *THE SOLID EARTH | |
| *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS and *GENERAL PHYSICS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL PHYSICS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL CHEMISTRY | ||
| BIOLOGY OF SOIL ECOSYSTEMS | ||
| SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | ||
| General Soils Track | ||
| *PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | ||
or GEO 202 | *EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE | |
or GEO 203 | *EVOLUTION OF PLANET EARTH | |
or GEO 221 | *ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY | |
or GEO 101 | *THE SOLID EARTH | |
| *ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS | ||
or MTH 241 | *CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE | |
or MTH 245 | *MATHEMATICS FOR MANAGEMENT, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | |
| SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | ||
| ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS | ||
or SOIL 435 | ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL PHYSICS | |
or SOIL 445 | ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL CHEMISTRY | |
or SOIL 455 | BIOLOGY OF SOIL ECOSYSTEMS | |
| Soil Science Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
Nutrient Cycling | ||
| AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD MANAGEMENT | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| NUTRIENT CYCLING | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY OF LIVING SYSTEMS | ||
| SPECIAL STUDIES: ISSUES IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | ||
| *ISSUES IN NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION | ||
| *GENES AND CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE: VALUE AND RISK | ||
| PLANT NUTRITION | ||
| RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| *^WORLD SOIL RESOURCES | ||
| MINERAL-ORGANIC MATTER INTERACTIONS | ||
| CHEMICAL BEHAVIOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
Soil Biology/Ecology | ||
| INTERACTIONS OF VEGETATION AND ATMOSPHERE | ||
| CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | ||
| GENETICS | ||
| ECOLOGY | ||
| PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| LABORATORY TECHNIQUES IN PLANT BIOLOGY | ||
| PLANT ECOLOGY | ||
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | ||
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | ||
| FOREST ECOLOGY | ||
| *GENES AND CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE: VALUE AND RISK | ||
| GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | ||
| GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| MICROBIAL ECOLOGY | ||
| ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS | ||
Soil Hydrology | ||
| HYDROLOGY | ||
| GIS IN WATER RESOURCES | ||
| WATERSHED PROCESSES | ||
| FOREST WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | ||
| HYDROGEOLOGY | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO WATER SCIENCE AND POLICY | ||
| GISCIENCE I: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THEORY | ||
| INTERNATIONAL WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT | ||
| *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | ||
| INTEGRAL CALCULUS | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS | ||
Spatial Analysis/Land Use | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| FOREST WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | ||
| *ISSUES IN NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION | ||
| APPLIED GEOMORPHOLOGY | ||
| *FOUNDATIONS OF GEOSPATIAL SCIENCE AND GIS | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO WATER SCIENCE AND POLICY | ||
| GISCIENCE I: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THEORY | ||
| LAND USE IN THE AMERICAN WEST | ||
| PRECISION AGRICULTURE | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS | ||
| *GENERAL PHYSICS | ||
| RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS | ||
Sustainable Systems | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| *HUMAN IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS | ||
| INTRODUCTORY PLANT PATHOLOGY | ||
| SPECIAL STUDIES: ISSUES IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | ||
| CROP PRODUCTION IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST AGROECOSYSTEMS | ||
| *WORLD FOOD CROPS | ||
| WEED MANAGEMENT | ||
| SEED PRODUCTION | ||
| CASE STUDIES IN CROPPING SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT | ||
| *SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE COMMON GOOD | ||
| ORGANIC FARMING AND GARDENING | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| *BIODIVERSITY: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND CONSERVATION | ||
Water/Watershed Management | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| *NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| WATERSHED PROCESSES | ||
| FOREST WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | ||
| *ISSUES IN NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION | ||
| INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | ||
| SURFACE PROCESSES | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO WATER SCIENCE AND POLICY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| DESERT WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | ||
| RIPARIAN ECOHYDROLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | ||
| ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS | ||
| Total credits required for graduation | 180 | |
| * | Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC) |
| ^ | Writing Intensive Course (WIC) |
Option Code: 160