Soil and Water Science
Students majoring in soil and water science complete core requirements that stress a balance between the fundamentals of science and a foundation in the humanities, social sciences, business and natural science. A capstone experience through which a student will gain employment skills needed to solve environmental and agricultural problems is required.
About This Major
- College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Science
- Hours for the Degree: 120
- Specializations: Soil Science, Water Science
- Minor: Yes
- Combined-Degree Program: Yes
- Website: soils.ifas.ufl.edu/academics/undergraduate.htm
Overview
Students are trained in managing land and water resources in a wide range of ecosystems, including agricultural, forested, range, urban and wetlands through different degree programs. Specializations within these degree programs are designed to give the student a strong background in soil and water science with a core of required courses taken during their junior and senior years.
Students may prepare for professional schools by selecting appropriate elective courses.
Specialization: Soil Science
Specialization: Water Science
Soil Science
Areas of study include soil and land use (with an accent on natural resources and the environment), environmental management (with an accent on agricultural and other applied aspects of soil science), physical and biological sciences (with an accent on physics, microbiology, botany and/or other biological sciences) and business (with an accent on economics, business administration or entrepreneurship).
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
- Complete 2 of 5 critical courses, excluding labs: BSC 2010/2010L,
CHM 2045/2045L, CHM 2046/2046L, MAC 2311, PHY 2004/2004L
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Elective | 4 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| MCB 2000 and 2000L Microbiology (3) and Microbiology Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) | 3 |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 4 |
| Electives | 5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (4) or ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4) (GE-S) | 3-4 |
| PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 14-15 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| CHM 3120 and 3120L Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (3) and Introduction to Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| SWS 4451 Soil and Water Chemistry | 3 |
| SWS 4231C Soil, Water and Land Use | 3 |
| Approved electives (see list) | 5 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication (or equivalent) | 3 |
| SWS 4715C Environmental Pedology | 4 |
| Approved electives (see list) | 6 |
| Total | 13 |
| Summer | Credits |
| SWS 4905 Individual Work or SWS 4941 Full-time Practical Work Experience in Soil and Water Science | 1-3 |
| Approved electives (if needed, see list) | 2-1 |
| Total | 3 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| SWS 4303C Soil Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| SWS 4602C Soil Physics (GE-P) | 3 |
| Approved electives (see list) | 10 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| SWS 4244 Wetlands | 3 |
| Approved electives (see list) | 10-11 |
| Total | 13-14 |
Approved electives
| ALS 3133 Agricultural and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| SWS 2007 The World of Water | 3 |
| SWS 2008 Land and Life | 3 |
| SWS 3023L Soil Judging | 2 |
| SWS 4116 Environmental Nutrient Management | 3 |
| SWS 4223 Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SWS 4233 Soil and Water Conservation | 3 |
| SWS 4245 Water Resource Sustainability | 3 |
| SWS 4307 Ecology of Waterborne Pathogens | 3 |
| SWS 4550 Soils, Water and Public Health | 3 |
| SWS 4720C GIS in Soil and Water Science | 3 |
| SWS 4905 Individual Work | var |
| SWS 4909 Honors Project | var |
| SWS 4932 Special Topics in Soil and Water Science | var |
Electives are chosen with the student's adviser. There are four specific areas of specialization: soil, water and land use, environmental soil and water management, physical sciences and biological sciences. The student is encouraged to take electives from a range of course groupings that include biology, building construction, chemistry, earth science, environmental science, hydrology, mathematics, physics, policy, production systems, programming and statistics.
Water Science
Water’s abundance, quality, distribution and properties are essential to all people. Understanding water’s role in the environment and in our lives is integral to the future of this important resource. Water science is an interdisciplinary specialization that provides students with opportunities to develop skills essential for a diversity of careers in government and the private sector. Students will work closely with advisers to develop a course of study appropriate to their goals.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
- Complete 2 of 5 critical courses, excluding labs: BSC 2010/2010L,
CHM 2045/2045L, CHM 2046/2046L, MAC 2311, PHY 2004/2004L
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
Recommended semester plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-B) | 4 |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| MCB 2000 and 2000L Microbiology (3) and Microbiology Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| Elective | 2 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (4) or ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4) | 3-4 |
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) | 3 |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 4 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16-17 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| SWS 2007 The World of Water | 3 |
| SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Soils in the Environment Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| CHM 3120 and 3120L Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (3) and Introduction to Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (3) or MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (4) | 3-4 |
| SWS 4244 Wetlands | 3 |
| Approved elective (see list) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 16-17 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| SWS 4223 Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SWS 4602C Soil Physics | 3 |
| Approved electives (see list) | 6 |
| Total | 15 |
| Summer | Credits |
| SWS 4905 Individual Work or SWS 4941 Full-time Practical Work Experience in Soil and Water Science | 3 |
| Total | 3 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| AEB 4274 Natural Resource and Environmental Policy or POS 4931 Florida Environmental Politics | 3 |
| SWS 4245 Water Resource Sustainability | 3 |
| SWS 4307 Ecology of Waterborne Pathogens | 3 |
| Approved electives (see list) | 4 |
| Total | 13 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| SWS 4451 Soil and Water Chemistry | 3 |
| Approved electives (see list) | 10-11 |
| Total | 13-14 |
Approved electives
| ALS 3133 Agricultural and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| AOM 3732 Agricultural Water Management | 3 |
| AOM 4643 Environmental Hydrology: Principles and Issues | 3 |
| FAS 4305C Introduction to Fishery Science | 2 |
| FNR 4343C Forest Water Resources | 3 |
| OCE 3016 Introduction to Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering | 3 |
| SWS 4231C Soil, Water and Land Use | 3 |
| SWS 4550 Soils, Water and Public Health | 3 |
| SWS 4715C Environmental Pedology | 4 |
| SWS 4720C GIS in Soil and Water Science | 3 |
| SWS 4905 Hydric Soils | 3 |
Electives are chosen with the student's adviser. The student is encouraged to take electives from a range of course groupings that include biology, building construction, chemistry, earth science, environmental science, geology, hydrology, mathematics, physics, policy, production systems, programming, soils and statistics.