Environmental Soil Science (ESOIL)
Program Coordinator
Dr. Daniel Fritton
814-865-1143
esoils.psu.edu
The objective of the Environmental Soil Science major is to prepare students for the challenges associated with the soil, a critical component of the earth's environment. It includes a breadth of sciences to provide a foundation for study as well as hands-on field experience to develop the student's confidence in the interpretation of natural and human influenced systems. Students also select courses to specialize in an area of their choice such as geographic information systems, wetlands, conservation, watershed management, nutrient management, and many others. Most students participate in soil judging contests held twice a year at various locations across the United States.
You may be interested in Environmental Soil Science if you
- are concerned about land based food, fiber, energy, and water supplies.
- would like to solve environmental problems.
- would like to apply science to practical situations.
- want to work with your hands in an outdoors setting.
- plan to attend graduate school and prepare for a career in teaching or research.
Characteristics of successful students
Students who succeed in the Environmental Soil Science major are good observers of nature and enjoy integrating the sciences in the study of complex natural systems. They have the mechanical and interpersonal skills needed to interface with both engineers and land managers. They are good critical thinkers and problem solvers who apply common sense and judgment to their decisions.
Career Opportunities for Graduates
This major prepares students for positions with private firms such as Rettew Assoc., Western Technologies, ENSR, Mathews Soil Consultants, Meiser and Earl, DELVAL Soil Consultants, Carlisle Country Club, SAIC, and many others that manage or evaluate soils for various uses, delineate wetlands, perform environmental and hydrological assessments, and identify and remediate contaminated soils. It may also help prepare students for positions with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Employment may be found in many technical areas, including the following:
- remediation of soils contaminated with organic or inorganic compounds (includes emergency response, cleanup, sampling, and treatment);
- disposal of septic effluent, municipal sludge, waste water effluent, or animal manures (includes site evaluation, soil testing, and record keeping);
- development and/or interpretation of soil survey reports and other soils data for land use decisions (includes soil mapping, map compilation, GIS, and writing profile descriptions);
- evaluation of impacts of land use on water and soil quality;
- evaluation of site suitability and/or management of sites for agricultural or forestry production (includes landscaping, turf management, restoration of disturbed lands, erosion control, nutrient management, and ag chemical activities).
Course Scheduling Tips
Due to the field activities for this major, the Fall Semester is crowded with courses. When possible, schedule courses that are taught in both the fall and spring in the spring semester. Since SOILS 101 is a prerequisite for many other courses, it should be scheduled as early as possible in your program. Also, it is important to complete math and science courses without delay as they too are frequent prerequisites for other courses.
Supporting Course List for the Specialization Selections
Eighteen credits, chosen from any of the following courses, are required. Courses cannot count both under the specialization requirement and in another area of the curriculum. Courses taken while earning any University-approved minor that has not been used elsewhere in the curriculum can also be used to meet this specialization requirement. Other courses may also be approved through the petition process in consultation with your advisor to meet this requirement.
Course Credits Course Name
AG 301W 3 Introduction to Agricultural Law
AGRO 028 3 Principle of Crop Management
AGRO 423 3 Forage Crop Management
AGRO 425 3 Field Crop Management
A S M 327 3 Soil And Water Resource Management
A S M 457 3 Land Application of Wastes
BIOL 415 3 Ecotoxicology
BIOL 220W 4 Populations and Communities
BIOL 240W 4 Function And Development of Organisms
BIOL 435 3 Ecology of Lakes and Streams
BIOL 450W 5 Experimental Field Biology
B M B 101 3 Elementary Biochemistry
C E 209 2 Fundamentals of Surveying
C E 211 3 Civil Engineering Measurements
C E 231 3 Civil Engineering Management
C E 244 3 Introduction to Geo-Technical Engineering
C E 270 3 Introduction to Environmental Engineering
C E 446 3 Advanced Soil Mechanics
C E 475 3 Water Quality Chemistry
CMPSC 101 or 203 or CSE 103 3 or 4 Introductory Computer Programming
CMPSC 201C or 201F 3 Computer Programming for Engineers
E G 010 1 Introductory Engineering Graphics
E MCH 011 3 Statics
E MCH 013 3 Strength of Materials
E R M 424 1 Pollutant Impact on Aquatic Systems
E R M 426 1 Transformation of Pollutants in Soils
FOR 451 3 Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems for Agriculture and Natural Resource Management
FOR 455 3 Remote Sensing and Spatial Data Handling
FOR 470 3 Watershed Management
FOR 471 1 Watershed Management Lab
FOR 475 3 Principles of Forest Soil Management
GEOG 352 3 Image Analysis
GEOG 356 3 Computing For the Earth Sciences
GEOG 357 3 Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 480 3 Spatial Data Structures and Algorithms
GEOG 481 3 Geographic Information Systems Design and Evaluation
GEOSC 200 3 Geology of Caves and Karst
GEOSC 201 4 Earth Materials
GEOSC 303 3 Introduction to Environmental Geology
GEOSC340 3 Geomorphology
GEOSC 412 3 Water Resources Geochemistry
GEOSC 415 3 Geochemistry
GEOSC 419 3 The Organic Geochemistry of Natural Waters and Sediments
GEOSC 457 3 Applied and Environmental Geochemistry
GEOSC 465 3 Structural Geology
GEOSC 470W 3 Introduction to Field Geology
MATH 140 4 Calculus with Analytical Geometry I
MATH 141 4 Calculus with Analytical Geometry II
MICRO 400 2 Introductory Environmental Microbiology
PHYS 211 4 General Physics
SOILS 100 1 Soil Judging
SOILS 402 3 Chemistry of Soils and Fertilizers
SOILS 419 3 or 4 Soil Environmental Chemistry
SOILS 422 3 Conservation of Soil and Water Resources
SOILS 494 1-6 Senior Thesis
SOILS 495 1-18 Internship
SOILS 496 1-18 Independent Studies
SOILS 497 1-9 Special Topics
Recommended Academic Plan
Environmental Soil Science: Penn StateCampuses (PDF), University Park (PDF)