Soil Science Option
This option is offered within the following major(s):
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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core | ||
| General Science Core | ||
| Select one of the following biology series: | 12 | |
| Series A | ||
| *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | ||
| *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY II | ||
| *INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY III | ||
| Series B | ||
| *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | ||
| *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | ||
| *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | ||
| Select one of the following chemistry series: | 15 | |
| Series A | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY | ||
| *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | ||
| *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 SCIENCE | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| CROP ECOLOGY AND MORPHOLOGY | ||
| GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| PLANT NUTRITION | ||
| 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: | 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) | ||
| Select one WIC course from below: | 3 | |
| *WORLD SOIL RESOURCES | ||
| ^AG AND ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICAMENTS: A CASE STUDY APPROACH | ||
| Capstone | ||
| SOIL 475 | SOIL RESOURCE POTENTIALS | 4 |
| Option Requirements | ||
| Select one of the following Tracks: | 19-36 | |
Soils Research Track | ||
General Soils Track | ||
| 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 | ||
Water/Watershed Management | ||
| *BIODIVERSITY: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND CONSERVATION | ||
| *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 Hours | 95-114 | |
| * | Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC) |
| ^ | Writing Intensive Course (WIC) |
Soils Research Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| *PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | ||
| *EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE | ||
| *EVOLUTION OF PLANET EARTH | ||
| MTH 251 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| PH 201 & PH 202 | *GENERAL PHYSICS and *GENERAL PHYSICS | 10 |
| SOIL 435 | ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL PHYSICS | 3 |
| SOIL 445 | ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL CHEMISTRY | 3 |
| SOIL 455 | BIOLOGY OF SOIL ECOSYSTEMS | 4 |
| SOIL 466 | SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | 4 |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
| * | Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC) |
General Soils Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| *PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | ||
| *EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE | ||
| *EVOLUTION OF PLANET EARTH | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| *ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS | ||
| *CALCULUS FOR MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE | ||
| *MATHEMATICS FOR MANAGEMENT, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
| SOIL 466 | SOIL MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | 4 |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| ECOSYSTEMS OF WILDLAND SOILS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL PHYSICS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL SOIL CHEMISTRY | ||
| BIOLOGY OF SOIL ECOSYSTEMS | ||
| Total Hours | 19-20 | |
| * | Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC) |
Option Code: 160