The Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Soil and Water Science is designed to prepare students for career opportunities assoil scientists, ecosystem ecologists, environmental restorationists, watershed managers, and consultants, in private and public businesses, and with government agencies.
Soil and water science involves the application of biological, chemical, and physical science principles to protect soil and water quality as landscapes are used to meet human needs for recreation, waste disposal, food production and others. Protecting and restoring soil and water resources is necessary for building sustainable communities. The major provides students with the opportunity to recognize the challenges and opportunities to integrate scientific innovations in land management. Students take courses in soil science, water resource management, ecology, biology, geology, meteorology, and professional development to prepare for careers where expertise in soil and water science is required.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Soil and Water Science
- The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Soil and Water Science.
The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Cropping Systems Science major is met by completing CROP 313 and CROP 492. Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
Students who are enrolled in the Environmental Soil and Water Science major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, may complete an alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences by completing items 3.a., 3.b., and 3.c. below. The completion of Biological Sciences 171 or 172 and Chemistry 161 satisfies the laboratory requirement. Completion of items 3.a., 3.b., and 3.c below will be counted toward both the alternative track and the requirements for the major.
The completion of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources mathematics requirement may also satisfy the University mathematics requirement.
- The requirements of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Bachelor of Science degree.
Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
- The following requirements for the major:
- a. All of the following courses (38 credits):
- BS 161 Cell and Molecular Biology (3)
- BS 162 Organismal and Population Biology (3)
- CEM 141 General Chemistry (4)
- CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
- CROP 110 Computer Applications in Agronomy (2)
- CROP 192 Professional Development Seminar I (1)
- CROP 313 Data Interpretation and Writing in the Agronomic Sciences (W) (2)
- CROP 492 Professional Development Seminar II (W) (1)
- GLG 201 Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences (4)
- SOIL 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science (3)
- SOIL 330 Soil Chemistry (2)
- SOIL 340 Applied Soil Physics (2)
- SOIL 360 Soil Biology (3)
- SOIL 470 Soil Resources (3)
- SOIL 480 Soil Fertility and Management (4)
- b. One of the following biology laboratory courses (2 credits)
- BS 171 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory (2)
- BS 172 Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory (2)
- c. One of the following organic chemistry courses (4 credits)
- CEM 143 Survey of Organic Chemistry (4)
- CEM 251 Organic Chemistry I (4)
- d. One of the following plant courses (3 or 4 credits):
- CROP 101 Introduction to Crop Science (3)
- FOR 202 Introduction to Forestry (3)
- FOR 204 Forest Vegetation (3)
- GEO 201 Introduction to Plant Geography (3)
- HRT 203 Introduction to Horticulture (3)
- PLB 105 Plant Biology (3)
- PLB 203 Biology of Plants (4)
- PLB 218 Plants of Michigan (3)
- e. One of the following ecology courses (3 credits):
- CROP 326 Weed Science (2)
- and
- CROP 226L Weed Science Laboratory (1)
- FOR 340 Forest Ecology (3)
- IBIO 355 Ecology (3)
- PLB 441 Plant Ecology (3)
- f. Two of the following water courses (6 or 7 credits)
- CSUS 453 Watershed Planning and Management (3)
- GEO 406 Geomorphology of River and Coastal Systems (3)
- GLG 411 Hydrogeology (3)
- GLG 421 Environmental Geochemistry (4)
- SOIL 455 Environmental Pollutants in Soil and Water (3)
- g. One of the following climate or weather courses (3 credits)
- GEO 103 Introduction to Climate Change Studies (3)
- GEO 203 Introduction to Meteorology (3)
- GEO 402 Agricultural Climatology (3)
- GEO 409 Global Climate Change and Variability (3)
- IBIO 357 Global Change Biology (W) (3)
- h. One of the following math courses (3 credits)
- MTH 103 College Algebra (3)
- MTH 124 Survey of Calculus I (3)
- MTH 132 Calculus I (3)
- i. One of the following statistics courses (3 or 4 credits):
- STT 200 Statistical Methods (3)
- STT 201 Statistical Methods (4)
- STT 224 Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Ecologists (3)
- STT 421 Statistics I (3)
- j. One of the following policy courses (3 credits):
- CSUS 320 Environmental Planning and Management (3)
- CSUS 354 Water Resources Management (3)
- CSUS 464 Environmental and Natural Resource Policy in Michigan (3)
- FOR 466 Natural Resource Policy (3)
- GEO 211 Environmental Policy and Practice (3)
- l. One of the following specialization courses (3 or 4 credits):
- CROP 460 Plant-Microbe Interactions (3)
- GLG 422 Field Methods in Environmental Science (3)
- GLG 435 Geomicrobiology (W) (4)
- GLG 446 Sustainable Food Systems (3)
- MGI 425 Microbial Ecology (3)
- PLB 443 Restoration Ecology (3)
- m. One of the following experiential courses (3 credits):
- CROP 493 Professional Internship in Crop and Soil Sciences (3)
- SOIL 499 Undergraduate Research (3)
- Complete 3 credits in an Education Abroad, International Internship, International Research Experience, or Study Away with approval by the advisor for the major.