Skip to main content
UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences logo
Give      University of Florida
Resources
    Quick Links
    • Faculty Directory
    • Online M.S. (Env. Sci. Track)
    • Online Graduate Certificates
    • Graduate Programs of Study
    • Undergraduate Programs of Study
    • Courses
    Toggle Search Form
    GIVE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
    • HOME
    • About
          • Welcome Message
          • Location
          • Contacts
          • News
          • HR
          • Publications
          • Alumni
          • Giving
          • Jobs and Assistantships
          • Mission
          • History
          • Seminars
          • SWES Intranet
    • People
          • Faculty
          • Staff
          • PostDoctoral Associates
          • Graduate Students
          • Affiliate/Courtesy Faculty
          • Visiting Professors, Scholars, Scientists
          • Emeritus Faculty
    • Academics
          • On-Campus Undergraduate Courses
          • On-Campus Graduate Courses
          • Combined BS/MS Degree
          • Graduate Studies
          • Undergraduate Studies
          • Graduate Certificates
          • Funding Opportunities
          • Academic Forms
          • Student Resources
          • Seminars
          • Research Forum
          • Experiental Learning Laboratory
    • Research

        Program Areas
        Laboratory Services
        Research and Education Centers
        Research Forum
        Research Publications
        Seminars

    • Extension

        Extension Faculty
        Extension Soil Testing Lab
        Florida Wetlands
        Land Judging
        Nutrient Management
        Water Quality and Agriculture
        Extension Publications and Events
        Short Courses and Trainings
        Videos
        Online Courses and Modules
        Soil and Water Resources

    • SWES Online
          • Courses Offered
          • Undergraduate
          • Graduate
          • Certificates
          • Non-Credit
          • Resources
    • Connect With Us

        X
        Facebook Page
        Facebook Group
        YouTube
        Flickr
        LinkedIn
        Alumni and Friends
        Giving
        Jobs and Assistantships
        Email List Signup
        Blog

    Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

    Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

    SOIL SCIENCE SPECIALIZATION

    B.S. IN SOIL, WATER,AND ECOSYSTEM SCIENCES

    The Soil Science Specialization within the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences major provides training to undergraduate students interested in managing our land resources in a wide range of ecosystems including agricultural, forested, range, urban, and wetlands. This specialization is designed to give the student a strong background in soil science with a core of courses such as Wetlands, Hydric Soils, Land and Life, Environmental Pedology, Soil and Public Health and Soil, Water, and Land Use as well as the sciences such as Soil and Water Chemistry, Soil Physics, and Soil Microbial Ecology. Each student must be complete a capstone experience to better prepare them for a career in soil science.

    • Contacts
      • James Bonczek, Undergraduate Coordinator for Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences: soils-advising@ifas.ufl.edu
      • Michael Sisk, Academic Advisor III – Undergraduate Programs, 352-294-3152, soils-advising@ifas.ufl.edu



    • Career Opportunities

      A degree in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences opens career opportunities in many environmental fields, such as:

      • Soil Scientist
      • Soil Conservationist
      • Policy Analyst
      • Resource Conservationist
    • Undergraduate Catalog

      Soil Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Major - Soil Science Specialization

    • Course Requirements

      Lower Division Requirements:

      Biological Sciences: BSC 2010 with BSC 2010L
      Communications: AEC 3030C or SPC 2608 & AEC 3033C or ENC 2210
      Economics: AEB 2014 or ECO 2013 or ECO 2023
      Humanities: HUM 2305
      Mathematics: MAC 2311
      Physical Sciences: CHM 2045 with CHM 2045L, CHM 2046 with CHM 2046L, & PHY 2004 with PHY 2004L

      Core Curriculum Requirements

      Course No.Course TitleCredits
      MCB 2000 & MCB 2000L Microbiology 4
      CHM 2200/L OR Organic Chemistry & Lab OR 4
      CHM 3120/L Introduction to Analytical Chemistry & Lab 4
      SWS 3022 & SWS 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment & Lab 4
      SWS 4231C Soil, Water, and Land Use 3
      SWS 4244 Wetlands 3
      SWS 4303C Soil Microbial Ecology 3
      SWS 4451 Soil & Water Chemistry 3
      SWS 4602C Soil Physics 3
      SWS 4715C Environmental Pedology 4
      SWS 4941 OR Practical Work Experience OR 3
      SWS 4905 Individual Work 3

      Students can select from a wide range of electives to suit their academic and professional goals. A partial list of officially approved electives is shown below; however, these electives may be customized at the discretion of the student and advisor. Relevant subjects may include, but are not limited to the environmental, biological, hydrologic, physical, and engineering sciences as well as policy, planning, mathematics, statistics, geology, and geography.

      Approved Electives

      Course No.Course TitleCredits
      ALS 3133 Agriculture and Environmental Quality 3 
      SWS 2007 SWS 2007 World of Water 3 
      SWS 2008 SWS 2008 Land and Life 3 
      SWS 3023L SWS 3023L Soil Judging 2
      SWS 4116 SWS 4116 Environmental Nutrient Management 3 
      SWS 4223 SWS 4223 Environmental Biogeochemistry 3 
      SWS 4233 SWS 4233 Soil and Water Conservation 3 
      SWS 4245 SWS 4245 Water Resource Sustainability 3 
      SWS 4307 SWS 4307 Ecology of Waterborne Pathogens 3 
      SWS 4550 SWS 4550 Soils, Water, and Public Health 3 
      SWS 4720C SWS 4720C GIS in Soil and Water Science 3 
      SWS 4932 SWS 4932 Special Topics (Varies) 1-3 
    • Options for Minors

      While we offer a minor in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, we understand you may want to broaden your academic experience outside of the soil, water, and ecosystem sciences. UF offers many minors, but the following list gives you an idea of what can complement your major in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences:

      • Agricultural Communication
      • Agricultural and Natural Resource Ethics and Policy
      • Agricultural and Natural Resource Law
      • Environmental Science
      • Extension Education
      • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
      • Forest Resources and Conservation
      • Geography
      • Environmental Horticulture
      • Horticultural Science
      • Landscape Architecture
      • Military Science and Leadership (ROTC students only)
      • Organic and Sustainable Crop Production
      • Plant Science
      • Sustainability Studies
      • Sustainability and the Built Environment
      • Urban and Regional Planning
      • Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

      These are just some of the many UF minors available. See the full list of undergraduate minors here.

    University of Florida Logo
    Contact

    Feedback
    Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences
    2181 McCarty Hall A, PO Box 110290, Gainesville, FL 32611-0290
    (352) 294-3151

    Land Grant Mission
    • Teaching
    • Research
    • Extension
    Information
    • Ask IFAS (EDIS)
    • UF/IFAS Experts
    • UF/IFAS Blogs
    • UF/IFAS Bookstore
    Policy
    • Accessible UF
    • EEO Statement
    • IFAS Web Policy
    • SSN & UF Privacy
    • Analytics (Google Privacy)

    © 2025 University of Florida, IFAS Last Modified:Sun, 6 Aug 2023 14:25:10 EDT