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Office of the University Registrar

2009-10 Undergraduate Catalog

Majors

Soil and Water Science
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

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.

Students may prepare for professional schools by selecting appropriate elective courses.

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.

Specialization: Soil Science
Specialization: Water Science

Specialization: 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).

Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan

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 1Credits
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-B)4
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Elective4
Total 15
Semester 2Credits
CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
MCB 2000 and 2000L Microbiology (3) and Laboratory (1)4
Elective2
Humanities (GE-H)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 16
Semester 3Credits
AEE 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR)3
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M)4
Electives5
Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 15-16
Semester 4Credits
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 Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
Humanities (GE-H)3
Total 14-15
Semester 5Credits
CHM 3120 and 3120L Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (3) and Laboratory (1)4
SWS 4451 Soil and Water Chemistry3
SWS 4231C Soil, Water and Land Use3
Approved electives (see list)5
Total 15
Semester 6Credits
AEE 3030C Effective Oral Communication (or equivalent)3
SWS 4715C Environmental Pedology4
Approved electives (see list)6
Total 13
SummerCredits
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 7Credits
SWS 4303C Soil Microbial Ecology3
SWS 4602C Soil Physics (GE-P)3
Approved electives (see list) 10
Total 16
Semester 8Credits
SWS 4244 Wetlands 3
Approved electives (see list) 10-11
Total 13-14

Approved electives

ALS 3133 Agricultural and Environmental Quality3
SWS 2007 The World of Water3
SWS 2008 Land and Life3
SWS 3023L Soil Judging2
SWS 4116 Environmental Nutrient Management3
SWS 4223 Environmental Biogeochemistry3
SWS 4233 Soil and Water Conservation3
SWS 4245 Water Resource Sustainability3
SWS 4307 Ecology of Waterborne Pathogens3
SWS 4550 Soils, Water and Public Health3
SWS 4720C GIS in Soil and Water Science3
SWS 4905 Individual Workvar
SWS 4909 Honors Projectvar
SWS 4932 Special Topics in Soil and Water Sciencevar

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.

Specialization: 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

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 1Credits
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-B)4
CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Elective3
Total 14
Semester 2Credits
CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
MCB 2000 and 2000L Microbiology (3) and Laboratory (1)4
Elective2
Humanities (GE-H)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 16
Semester 3Credits
AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (4) or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4)
3-4
AEE 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR)3
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M)4
Elective3
Humanities (GE-H) or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 16-17
Semester 4Credits
PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
SWS 2007 The World of Water3
SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
Humanities (GE-H)3
Total 14
Semester 5Credits
CHM 3120 and 3120L Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (3) and Laboratory (1)4
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (3) or
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (4)
3-4
SWS 4244 Wetlands3
Approved elective (see list)3
Elective3
Total 16-17
Semester 6Credits
AEE 3030C Effective Oral Communication3
SWS 4223 Environmental Biogeochemistry3
SWS 4602C Soil Physics3
Approved electives (see list)6
Total 15
SummerCredits
SWS 4905 Individual Work or
SWS 4941 Full-time Practical Work Experience in Soil and Water Science
3
Total 3
Semester 7Credits
AEB 4274 Natural Resource and Environmental Policy or
POS 4931 Florida Environmental Politics
3
SWS 4245 Water Resource Sustainability3
SWS 4307 Ecology of Waterborne Pathogens3
Approved electives (see list) 4
Total 13
Semester 8Credits
SWS 4451 Soil and Water Chemistry3
Approved electives (see list) 10-11
Total 13-14

Approved electives

ALS 3133 Agricultural and Environmental Quality3
AOM 3732 Agricultural Water Management3
AOM 4643 Environmental Hydrology: Principles and Issues3
FAS 4305C Introduction to Fishery Science2
FNR 4343C Forest Water Resources3
OCE 3016 Introduction to Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering3
SWS 4231C Soil, Water and Land Use3
SWS 4550 Soils, Water and Public Health3
SWS 4715C Environmental Pedology4
SWS 4720C GIS in Soil and Water Science3
SWS 4905 Hydric Soils3

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.