Ecosystem Science and Management

College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources

Soil Science MS and PhD

The graduate program in Soil Science at the University of Wyoming examines the formation, distribution, function and management of soils. Wyoming is an important producer of natural resources. Consequently, the state faces important issues associated with energy extraction, mining, wildland management and reclamation/restoration of disturbed lands. There are many interesting soil-related research questions with significant ecological and socio-economic impacts.

Many of our graduate students pursue careers with federal land management or conservation agencies, e.g., the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resources Conservation Service, state regulatory agencies, e.g., Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, mining and oil companies, environmental consulting firms, or scientific research organizations.

**Application Notes:

Students may be admitted year round. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for acceptance but no GRE is needed. For your application to be considered, you must contact a potential faculty advisor. The faculty advisor must agree to mentor you and financially support your graduate program via a grant-funded graduate assistantship and/or a departmental graduate teaching assistantship.

 

Degree Programs

Master's Degree

The M.S. program is geared toward teaching graduate students the tools necessary to conduct robust soil science research. The program requires a research proposal, 30 credit hours (at least 12 from Soil Science and approved by the student's graduate committee), a research-based written thesis, a final public presentation and successful oral defense of the thesis.

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Doctorate Degree

The Ph.D. program allows graduate students to conduct robust research on major questions related to Soil Science. The program requires a research proposal, 72 credit hours (at least 12 from Soil Science and approved by the student's graduate committee), both a written and oral examination given by the graduate committee, a research-based written dissertation, a final public presentation and successful oral defense of the dissertation. The 72 credit hours may include credits earned during a Master’s degree program that are approved by the student's graduate advisory committee.

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More about Soil Science

Soil is an important natural resource that supports plants, animals, and microbes. Soil systems are complex with many interacting physical, biological, and chemical processes. Processes such as water retention and nutrient cycling play key roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Without soil, plants would have nowhere to root, farmers would have no crop to harvest, and every rain event would result in a flood. Soils may take a long time to form and preservation of soil resources through careful management is critically important. Nowadays, soils are seen as an integral part of natural and managed ecosystems with important linkages to the atmosphere, groundwater, and surface water.