Soils feed the world, provide clean water, and represent one of the most important scalable solutions to climate change. Soils are also the most biodiverse habitats on earth, containing a vast array of microbes and a multi-level food web. Soil scientists are on the front-lines of fighting climate change, developing resilient food production systems, and reversing environmental degradation through restoration and regeneration of soils.

The Soil and Crops Sciences major with a concentration in Soil Science and Environmental Solutions applies fundamental principles and techniques in soil science to solving complex, real-world environmental sustainability challenges. Students learn how the interactions of plants, the microbiome, and the soil food web with the soil's physical and chemical environment support life on earth, improve water quality, and impact our climate. Our students receive hands-on interdisciplinary training from world leaders in soil-related research, so they are equipped to be change-makers, applying cutting-edge science to real-world challenges.

Exciting careers await our graduates in rapidly emerging fields including sustainability, AgriTech, consulting in institutions ranging from academia, startups, industry, government, and non-profits.

Effective Fall 2022

Freshman
AUCCCredits
AGRI 100Contemporary Agricultural Systems 1
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)3A1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
LIFE 102 or BZ 120Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)
3A4
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)1B1
SOCR 100General Crops 4
SOCR 171/HORT 171Environmental Issues in Agriculture (GT-SS3)1C3
SOCR 193Pathways to Success 1
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 30
Sophomore
 
CHEM 113General Chemistry II 3
GEOL 120Exploring Earth - Physical Geology (GT-SC2)3A3
GEOL 121Introductory Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1)3A1
LAND 220/LIFE 220Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)3A3
SOCR 210Microbiome Roles in a Sustainable Earth (GT-SC2)3A3
SOCR 240Introductory Soil Science 4
SOCR 221Cropping Systems Field Experience 1
Select one course from the following: 4
Geospatial Applications in Natural Resources  
Intro. to Geographic Information Systems  
Arts and Humanities3B6
Social and Behavioral Sciences3C3
 Total Credits 31
Junior
 
SOCR 440Pedology 4
SOCR 455Microbiomes of Soil Systems 3
SOCR 350Soil Fertility Management 3
SOCR 351Soil Fertility Laboratory 1
SOCR 375Soil Biogeochemistry 3
SOCR 405/ESS 405Global Agriculture and Environmental Change 3
Select one course from the following: 3
General Statistics (GT-MA1)1B 
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods  
Introduction to Biostatistics  
Advanced Writing 23
Upper-Division Electives 6
 Total Credits 29
Senior
 
RS 478Ecological Restoration 3
SOCR 400Soils and Global Change-Impacts and Solutions4A,4B,4C3
SOCR 441Soil Ecology 3
SOCR 467Soil and Environmental Chemistry 3
SOCR 470Soil Physics 3
SOCR 471Soil Physics Laboratory 1
SOCR 486Practicum4C1
SOCR 492Preparing for Impact--Your Career Journey4A,4C1
Upper-Division Electives 12
 Total Credits 30
 Program Total Credits: 120
1

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AGRI 100Contemporary Agricultural SystemsX  1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)X 1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)X 1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)X 1B1
SOCR 100General CropsX  4
SOCR 171/HORT 171Environmental Issues in Agriculture (GT-SS3)X 1C3
 Total Credits   14
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)X 3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)X 3A1
LIFE 102 or BZ 120Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)
X 3A4
SOCR 193Pathways to SuccessX  1
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion X1C3
Historical Perspectives X3D3
AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   16
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 113General Chemistry IIX  3
LAND 220/LIFE 220Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)X 3A3
SOCR 221Cropping Systems Field ExperienceX  1
Select one course from the following:X  4
Geospatial Applications in Natural Resources    
Intro. to Geographic Information Systems    
Arts and Humanities X3B3
 Total Credits   14
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
GEOL 120Exploring Earth - Physical Geology (GT-SC2)X 3A3
GEOL 121Introductory Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1)X 3A1
SOCR 210Microbiome Roles in a Sustainable Earth (GT-SC2)X 3A3
SOCR 240Introductory Soil ScienceX  4
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Social and Behavioral Sciences X3C3
 Total Credits   17
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
SOCR 440PedologyX  4
SOCR 455Microbiomes of Soil SystemsX  3
Select one course from the following:X  3
General Statistics (GT-MA1)  1B 
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods    
Introduction to Biostatistics    
Advanced Writing  X23
 Total Credits   13
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
SOCR 350Soil Fertility ManagementX  3
SOCR 351Soil Fertility LaboratoryX  1
SOCR 375Soil BiogeochemistryX  3
SOCR 405/ESS 405Global Agriculture and Environmental ChangeX  3
Upper-Division Electives X 6
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
SOCR 400Soils and Global Change-Impacts and SolutionsX 4A,4B,4C3
SOCR 470Soil PhysicsX  3
SOCR 471Soil Physics LaboratoryX  1
SOCR 486PracticumX 4C1
SOCR 492Preparing for Impact--Your Career JourneyX 4A,4C1
Upper-Division Electives X 6
LAND 220 / LIFE 220 must be completed by the end of Semester 7.X   
 Total Credits   15
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
RS 478Ecological RestorationX  3
SOCR 441Soil EcologyX  3
SOCR 467Soil and Environmental ChemistryX  3
Upper-Division Electives X 6
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of studyX   
 Total Credits   15
 Program Total Credits:   120