Soil Science Minor

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

This minor is administered by the Soil and Waste Resources Discipline.

The soil science minor satisfies the minimum civil service requirements for soil scientist positions (classification and mapping) in federal agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service.

Whether you are a major or minor, check with a soils adviser to determine the minimum core course requirements you need for certification as a professional and/or to take state or national exams or to obtain licenses.

Consists of 22 credits with at least 15 credits of soils courses.

Note: Required courses marked below have Math prerequisites. Depending on your placement score, additional courses may be required.**

Required

NRES 251 - Introduction to Soil and Water Resources Credits: 4 **

Take 9 credits from

SOIL 362 - Soil Genesis, Morphology, and Classification Credits: 3 *
SOIL 364 - Soil and Plant Analysis Credits: 3
SOIL 365 - Soil Quality Assessment and Soil Survey Interpretation Credits: 3
SOIL 384 - Environmental Microbiology Lecture Credits: 3 or
SOIL 484 - Environmental Microbiology Credits: 4 or
WSTE 484 - Environmental Microbiology Credits: 4
SOIL 461 - Soil Management for Resource Sustainability Credits: 3
SOIL 465 - Soil Physics Credits: 3

Notes

* SOIL 362 is necessary for students applying for soil scientist positions with federal agencies.

Forestry majors may substitute SOIL 361 for one of these courses.

Select the remaining credits from

FOR 332 - Forest Ecosystem Ecology Credits: 3
FOR 435 - Nursery Operations and Management Credits: 3
GEOG 312 - Geomorphology Credits: 3 or
GEOL 312 - Geomorphology Credits: 3
GEOG 341 - Geographic Information Systems I Credits: 3
GEOL 370 - Glacial Geology Credits: 3
GEOL 383 - Hydrogeology Credits: 3 or
WATR 383 - Hydrogeology Credits: 3
GEOL 487 - Groundwater Geochemistry Credits: 3 or
WATR 487 - Groundwater Geochemistry Credits: 3
NRES 336 - Integrated Pest Management Workshop Credits: 1
SOIL 373 - Agronomy, Agriculture and Environment Credits: 4 *
NRES 484 - Conservation and Community Planning Credits: 3
SOIL 359 - Soil Conservation and Watershed Inventory Techniques Credits: 1
SOIL 360 - Field Experience in Soil Inventory Methods Credits: 1
SOIL 361 - Forest Soils Credits: 3
SOIL 362 - Soil Genesis, Morphology, and Classification Credits: 3
SOIL 363 - Soil Profile Description Writing Credits: 1
SOIL 364 - Soil and Plant Analysis Credits: 3
SOIL 365 - Soil Quality Assessment and Soil Survey Interpretation Credits: 3
SOIL 366 - Wetland Soils and Wetland Delineation Credits: 3 or
WATR 366 - Wetland Soils and Wetland Delineation Credits: 3
SOIL 368 - Urban Soils Credits: 2
SOIL 369 - Soil Judging Credits: 1
SOIL 384 - Environmental Microbiology Lecture Credits: 3 or
SOIL 484 - Environmental Microbiology Credits: 4 or
WSTE 484 - Environmental Microbiology Credits: 4
SOIL 461 - Soil Management for Resource Sustainability Credits: 3
SOIL 462 - Environmental Biogeochemistry Credits: 3 or
WATR 462 - Environmental Biogeochemistry Credits: 3
SOIL 465 - Soil Physics Credits: 3
SOIL 479 - Environmental Fate of Organic Chemicals Credits: 3 or
WSTE 479 - Environmental Fate of Organic Chemicals Credits: 3
SOIL 482 - Nutrient Management: Land Application and Planning Credits: 3 or
WSTE 482 - Nutrient Management: Land Application and Planning Credits: 3
SOIL 486 - Composting Credits: 1 or
WSTE 486 - Composting Credits: 1
WATR 360 - Wetlands Ecology and Management Credits: 3 or
WLDL 360 - Wetlands Ecology and Management Credits: 3
WATR 391 - GIS Applications in Natural Resources Credits: 3
WATR 493 - Advanced Hydrologic Analysis Credits: 3
WLDL 451 - Management of Wildlife Habitat Credits: 4
WSTE 380 - Solid Waste Management Credits: 3
WSTE 476 - Hazardous Waste Management Credits: 3

Note

*SOIL 373 has satisfied the crop science requirement for a soil conservationist position with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.