The Soils curriculum is administered by the Department of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences. Options are available in Soils and Environmental Science and Land Resources. A minor concentration in Soil Science is also available by enrolling in the Soil Science Minor curriculum. Faculty members are active researchers in their disciplines. Students gain valuable first-hand experience in technology from departmental laboratories, greenhouses and field research farms.
Many students work as research assistants in faculty programs.
Work experience is also available through summer jobs and internships with industry and government agencies. Each student works closely with a faculty adviser to formulate a program of study which is appropriate to the student's career goals and fits into one of the following options. Soils and Environmental Science Option Soil plays a vital role in both managed and natural ecosystems, and is a critical component to understanding environmental issues in agriculture, land rehabilitation, forest practices, water quality and waste disposal. Students in the Soils and Environmental Science option take basic courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics and biology and specialized courses in soil science. In addition, they choose electives from earth science, biology, engineering, land rehabilitation, and microbiology to complement their training in environmental sciences.