Soil Science Graduate Major (MS, PhD)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
Faculty research specializations in soil science include ecosystem services, forest soils, management of soil nutrients, mineral-organic matter interactions, soil archeology, soil biogeochemistry, soil microbial ecology, sustainable cropping systems, soil geomorphology, soil genesis, and soil hydrology. Amongst research institutions worldwide, Oregon State campus lands present the most soil diversity for the study of associated problems.
Major Code: 1600
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
MS
- Conduct research or produce some other form of creative work.
- Demonstrate mastery of subject material.
- Demonstrate mastery of fundamental and advanced concepts associated with Soil Sciences related to students’ discipline.
- Conduct scholarly or professional activities in an ethical manner.
- Design, conduct, analyze, and interpret research, ethically, addressing problems in the discipline, with PI.
- Create an original and/or significant contribution to the related discipline.
- Utilize research findings to laboratory and/or field settings in actual situations.
- Communicate effectively to a diverse group of people using appropriate traditional and emerging technological media.
PhD
- Produce and defend an original significant contribution to knowledge.
- Demonstrate mastery of subject material.
- Demonstrate mastery of fundamental and advanced concepts associated with Soil Sciences related to students’ discipline.
- Conduct scholarly activities in an ethical manner.
- Design, conduct, analyze, and interpret research, ethically, addressing problems in the discipline independently.
- Create an original contribution to the related discipline.
- Utilize research findings to laboratory and/or field settings in actual situations.
- Communicate effectively to a diverse group of people using appropriate traditional and emerging technological media.
Master of Science (MS) students must complete a minimum of 45 credits. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students must complete a minimum of 108 graduate credits. Coursework will be tailored by the major professor and the graduate committee for each student based on their research project and needs to meet the minimum number of credits required for their degree program. Courses from other disciplines or departments, such as crop science, statistics, plant physiology, and plant pathology can be assigned to the students, even though they are offered by departments other than Crop & Soil Sciences.
MS
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| SOIL 507 | SEMINAR | 1 |
| GRAD 520 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH | 2 |
| Project or Thesis | ||
| Select one of the following courses: | 6-12 | |
| RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP (6 credits for MS Project students) | ||
| THESIS/DISSERTATION (12 credits for MS Thesis students) | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select remaining credits with graduate committee approval | 30-36 | |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
PhD
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| SOIL 603 | THESIS/DISSERTATION (repeatable) | minimum 36 |
| SOIL 607 | SEMINAR (repeatable) | 2 |
| SOIL 509 | PRACTICUM IN TEACHING | 3 |
| GRAD 520 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH | 2 |
| Electives | ||
| Select remaining credits with graduate committee approval | 65 | |
| Total Credits | 108 | |
Major Code: 1600