Environmental Soil Science
This major provides specific emphasis in the areas of water pollution, waste disposal, pesticide accumulation in soils, and other environmental concerns. These scientists have career opportunities with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, with private industry, and municipal agencies.
| University and College Requirements (45 credits) | Credits |
| Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures (WRA) | 4 |
| Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities (IAH) | 8 |
| Integrative Studies in Social and Behavioral Sciences (ISS) | 8 |
| BS 111 - Cells and Molecules | 3 |
| CEM 141 - General Chemistry | 4 |
| CEM 142 - Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CEM 143 - Survey of Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| CEM 161 - Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CEM 162 - Chemistry Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| CEM 262 - Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| MTH 132 - Calculus I | 3 |
| EC 201 - Introduction to Microeconomics | 3 |
| Departmental Requirements (35 credits) | |
| BMB 200 - Introduction to Biochemistry | 4 |
| CE 280 - Principles of Environmental Engineering and Science | 3 |
| CSS 192 - Professional Development Seminar I | 1 |
| CSS 210 - Fundamentals of Soil Science | 3 |
| CSS 330 - Soil Chemistry | 2 |
| CSS 340 - Applied Soil Physics | 2 |
| CSS 455 - Pollutants in the Environment | 3 |
| CSS 470 - Soil Resources | 3 |
| CSS 492 - Professional Development Seminar II | 1 |
| GLG 201 - The Dynamic Earth | 4 |
| GLG 411 - Hydrogeology | 3 |
| MMG 301 - Introductory Microbiology | 3 |
| MMG 425 - Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| One course from each of the following groups (14 - 16 credits) | |
| Group 1: CE 485 or CE 491 | 3 |
| Group 2: STT 200, STT 201, STT 231 or STT 421 | 3 or 4 |
| Group 3: ANS 427 or PHM 450 | 3 |
| Group 4: ESA 430 or NSC 448 | 3 |
| Group 5: CSE 101 or CSS 110 | 3 or 2 |
| Electives (24 - 26 credits) | |
Suggested Course Sequence
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| YEAR 1 | |||
| CEM 141 | 4 | CEM 142 | 3 |
| CEM 161 | 1 | CEM 162 | 1 |
| CSE 101 or CSS 110 | 3-2 | CSS 210 | 3 |
| CSS 192 | 1 | ISS 2xx | 4 |
| MTH 132 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| WRA | 4 | ||
| 15-16 cr. | 14 cr. | ||
| YEAR 2 | |||
| CEM 143 | 4 | BMB 200 | 4 |
| EC 201 | 3 | CE 280 | 3 |
| GLG 201 | 4 | CEM 262 | 3 |
| BS 111 | 3 | IAH 201-210 | 4 |
| Elective | 2-3 | ||
| 16-17 cr. | 14 cr. | ||
| YEAR 3 | |||
| CSS 455 | 3 | CSS 330 | 2 |
| ESA 430 | 3 | CSS 340 | 2 |
| IAH 211-241 | 4 | MMG 301 | 3 |
| PHM 450 | 3 | NSC 488 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 6 |
| 16 cr. | 16 cr. | ||
| YEAR 4 | |||
| CSS 470 | 3 | ANS 427 | 3 |
| CSS 492 | 1 | CE 485 or CE 491 | 3 |
| GLG 411 | 3 | MMG 425 | 3 |
| ISS 3xx | 4 | Elective | 6 |
| STT | 3-4 | ||
| 14-15 cr. | 15 cr. | ||
Suggested Elective Courses
| Fall Semester | ||
| CSS 404 - Forest and Agricultural Ecology - 3 cr. | ||
| CSS 404L - Forest and Agricultural Ecology Laboratory - 1 cr. | ||
| CSS 440 - Soil Biophysics - 3 cr. | ||
| CSS 452 - Watershed Concepts - 3 cr. | ||
| CSS 499 - Undergraduate Research - 3 cr. | ||
| EEP 255 - Ecological Economics - 3 cr. | ||
| EEP 260 - World Food Population and Poverty - 3 cr. | ||
| ESA 415 - Environmental Impact Assessment - 4 cr. | ||
| ESA 444 - Pesticides, People and Politics - 3 cr. | ||
| GEO 203 - Introduction to Meteorology - 3 cr. | ||
| GEO 206 - Physical Geography - 3 cr. | ||
| GEO 206L - Physical Geography - 1 cr. | ||
| GEO 306 - Environmental Geomorphology - 3 cr. | ||
| GEO 324 - Remote Sensing of the Environment - 4 cr. | ||
| GEO 325 - Geographic Information Systems - 3 cr. | ||
| GLG 302 - Geology of Michigan - 3 cr. | ||
| HRT 486 - Biotechnology in Agriculture - 3 cr. | ||
| RD 446 - Environmental Issues and Public Policy - 3 cr. | ||
| Spring Semester | ||
| CSS 409 - Forest Hydrology - 3 cr. | ||
| CSS 431 - World Soil and Plant Resources - 3 cr. | ||
| CSS 494 - International Agriculture - 1 cr. | ||
| CSS 499 - Undergraduate Research - 3 cr. | ||
| EEP 255 - Ecological Economics - 3 cr. | ||
| EEP 255 - Environmental Economics - 3 cr. | ||
| ESA 201 - Environmental and Natural Resources - 3 cr. | ||
| ESA 324 - Water Resource Management - 3 cr. | ||
| ESA 440 - Environmental Policy Making in Michigan - 3 cr. | ||
| GEO 324 - Remote Sensing of the Environment - 4 cr. | ||
| GEO 405 - Weather Analysis and Forecasting - 4 cr. | ||
| GLG 412 - Glacial Geology and the Record of Climate Change - 4 cr. | ||
| PLB 335 - Plants Through Time - 3 cr. | ||
| RD 452 - Watershed Concepts - 3 cr. | ||
Academic Advising
For questions regarding course requirements, substituting or waiving required courses, independent study courses, and planning your semester schedule of courses, contact a Crop and Soil Sciences academic advisor:
| Taylor Johnston 384F Plant and Soil Sciences Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1325 phone: (517) 355-0271 ext. 1164 e-mail: johnsto4@msu.edu |
Karen Renner 482 Plant and Soil Sciences Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1325 phone: (517) 355-0271 ext. 1233 e-mail: renner@msu.edu |
