Environmental Soil Science Major

This major can help prepare students for positions with private firms that 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.

Students take courses in soils, hydrogeology, and the environment, with flexibility to specialize in geotechnical soils, biological applications, nutrient management, environmental management, soil conservation, geographic information systems, soil survey, engineering, soil geology, or in any area represented by an official University minor. Most students participate in soil judging contests held twice a year at various locations across the United States.

Why Major in Environmental Soil Science?
Most soil scientists spend about half of their time outdoors. They locate sites for the excavation of pits so that they can observe and describe the soil as it changes with depth. They sample soils for laboratory measurements and make field measurements. They map soil properties for lots, parks, fields, landscapes, watersheds, counties, countries, and the world. They write reports on their findings, reach conclusions, and make recommendations on issues of water quality, remediation of contaminated soils, land use, soil management, and soil genesis. They present their results, conclusions, and recommendations to land owners and operators, concerned citizens, government officials, and occasionally in court.

Career Opportunities for Environmental Soil Science Graduates
Employment may be found in many areas, including the following:

• remediation of soils contaminated with organic or inorganic compounds (includes emergency response, clean up, 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)

For additional information about Environmental Soil Science, contact:

Katharine Butler
214 Agricultural Science and Industries Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-2119
E-mail: klb157@psu.edu