The Environmental Soil Science Certificate is a gateway to understanding the dynamics of Earth’s thin living skin. Soil is where the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere connect and is pivotal in shaping ecosystems’ biodiversity, health, and resilience. Mastery of soil properties, processes, and distribution is necessary for addressing pressing environmental challenges, including food and energy security, water quality protection, climate change, and ecosystem health.
This certificate equips students with a holistic understanding of soil and its intersection with environmental issues. Rooted in a foundational soil science course, students delve into thematic areas, forming connections between soils and various environmental domains.
Designed as a launchpad, this certificate empowers students to pursue careers and certification in the field of soil science, opening doors for employment in the public and private sectors. Our dedicated advisors will guide students in selecting courses tailored to prepare them for their journey toward expertise in soil science and environmental stewardship.
How to Get in
The Certificate in Environmental Soil Science is open to all undergraduate students. Students pursuing the program are encouraged to declare as early as possible so that they can best align the coursework with their interests and plan their field experience.
Preparatory Coursework
No courses are required to declare the certificate; however, general chemistry is a prerequisite to complete required courses in the certificate.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 115 | Chemical Principles I | 5 |
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Soil Science Foundation | 4 | |
| Soil Science Themes | 9 | |
| Allied Sciences | 2-4 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
- The certificate requires a minimum of 16 credits.
- A minimum grade of C is required in all certificate coursework.
- Courses taken on a pass/fail (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) basis will not count toward the certificate.
- All certificate coursework must be completed in residence at the UW-Madison.
Soil Science Foundation
Complete the following courses for a total of 4 credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOIL SCI 301 | General Soil Science | 3 |
| or SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST/GEOG 230 | Soil: Ecosystem and Resource | |
| SOIL SCI 302 | Meet Your Soil: Soil Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Credits | 4 | |
Soil Science Themes
Complete at least one course from three of the four thematic areas for a minimum of 9 credits. Courses may only count towards one thematic area. Additional courses from this section may be completed to meet the overall minimum credits for the certificate.
Soil Fertility & Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOIL SCI 326 | Plant Nutrition Management | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/BSE/CIV ENGR 372 | On-Site Waste Water Treatment and Dispersal | 2 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Soil Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 621 | Soil and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/CIV ENGR/M&ENVTOX 631 | Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects | 3 |
Soil Physics & Development
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLANTSCI/ATM OCN 532 | Environmental Biophysics | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 327 | Environmental Monitoring and Soil Characterization | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/GEOG 525 | Soil Geomorphology | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/GEOG 526 | Human Transformations of Earth Surface Processes | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 622 | Soil Physics | 3 |
Soil Biology & Ecology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOIL SCI 323 | Soil Biology | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/MICROBIO 425 | Environmental Microbiology | 3 |
| AGROECOL 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451 | Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/MICROBIO 523 | Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry | 3 |
Soils and the Environment
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOIL SCI 211 | Soils and Climate Change | 2 |
| SOIL SCI 250 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 324 | Soils and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 327 | Environmental Monitoring and Soil Characterization | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 430 | Soil Pollution and Human Health | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 486 | Soil Management | 3 |
| SOIL SCI/ENVIR ST 575 | Assessment of Environmental Impact | 3 |
| SOIL SCI 585 | Using R for Soil and Environmental Sciences | 3 |
Allied Sciences
Complete one course from the following for a minimum of 2 credits:
Course List
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A A E 101 | Introduction to Agricultural and Applied Economics | 4 |
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 352 | Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy | 4 |
| AGROECOL/C&E SOC/ENTOM/ENVIR ST 103 | Agroecology: An Introduction to the Ecology of Food and Agriculture | 3 |
| AGROECOL 370 | Grassland Ecology | 3 |
| BSE 301 | Land Information Management | 3 |
| AGROECOL 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| BSE/CIV ENGR/SOIL SCI 372 | On-Site Waste Water Treatment and Dispersal | 2 |
| BSE 473 | Water Management Systems | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 140 | Introduction to Community and Environmental Sociology | 4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 222 | Food, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/F&W ECOL/SOC 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/A A E/SOC 340 | Issues in Food Systems | 3-4 |
| ENTOM/NUTR SCI 203 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| ENTOM 570 | Systems Thinking in Global Health | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 110 | Introduction to Plant Science and Technology | 4 |
| PLANTSCI 227 | Propagation of Horticultural Plants | 3 |
| LSC 212 | Introduction to Scientific Communication | 3 |
| PLANTSCI/PL PATH 261 | Sustainable Turfgrass Use and Management | 2 |
| PLANTSCI 370 | World Vegetable Crops | 3 |
| LSC 251 | Science, Media and Society | 3 |
| LSC 430 | Communicating Science with Narrative | 3 |
| PL PATH 311 | Global Food Security | 3 |
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Discuss, debate, and communicate those aspects of soil science pertinent to their primary major, specialization, and career goals.
- Describe how soil integrates into larger environmental issues using its properties, processes, and distribution from local to global scales and natural to anthropogenic environments.
- Identify potential solutions to issues related to soil that promote the ecosystem services soil provides.
- Communicate, in written or oral form, potential environmental impacts of land-use practices involving soil.
Advising and Careers
Advising
Each certificate student is assigned an advisor who works to understand student goals and help students shape their path through the certificate. Advisors also provide support for post-graduation plans such as jobs, fellowships, or graduate school.
There may be additional requirements for students seeking a Professional Soil Scientist certification beyond the Certificate requirements. The certificate advisor can help you identify courses that will meet requirements for the Professional Soil Scientist Certification through The Soil Science Society of America.
Career Opportunities
The Certificate in Environmental Soil Science provides an attractive addition to a science, engineering, or allied science major for students interested in careers in environmental sciences, agricultural science, natural resources, and other related industries. Students in majors across campus can also use the certificate to diversify their skills and knowledge to be better informed citizens.
Questions about advising or careers may be directed to the certificate advisor listed in the contact box.
Wisconsin Experience
Students in the Certificate in Environmental Soil Science are involved in an array of opportunities across campus. Students are highly encouraged to complement their coursework with out-of-classroom experiences such as research, volunteering, internships, and study abroad.
Students in the certificate can participate in the UW–Madison Soil Judging Team.
Certification/Licensure
Certified Professional Soil Scientist
There may be additional requirements for students seeking a Professional Soil Scientist certification beyond the Certificate requirements. Work with your advisor to ensure that you complete courses that will meet requirements for the Professional Soil Scientist Certification through The Soil Science Society of America.
Please refer to https://www.soils.org/certifications/become-certified/ for current requirements.
Resources and Scholarships
Financial support in the form of scholarships, part-time employment, paid internships, and work-study programs is available to qualified undergraduate students. Students with a primary major in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences receive more than $1.25 million in scholarships annually. Additionally, the Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences is proud to offer numerous scholarships annually to students pursuing the Certificate in Environmental Soil Science.