Soil Sciene
What is Soil Science?
What kind of jobs do soil scientists have, and how much do they earn?
What does a soil scientist do?
Why kind of person enjoys Soil Science?
What is it like to be a student in the Soil Science Program at A&T?
How do I major in Agricultural Science, Natural Resources (Soil Science)?
You might be surprised to know that dirt really is NOT as common as … well … dirt!
Soils in fact, are physically, chemically and biologically very complex and diverse. They are essential for sustaining life on Earth, and they are also surprisingly fragile unless they are protected and treated right. For these reasons, soil conservation is critical to our future. And for these same reasons, soil scientists are in high demand.
What is Soil Science?
Briefly, here’s the dirt on soil science: It is the study of soil formation, morphology, classification and mapping, chemical, physical, and biological properties and processes, to better understand and manage natural, agricultural, and urban ecosystems.
What kind of jobs do soil scientists have and how much do they earn?
Any time there is a new use for land, such as new construction, a new agricultural crop, a landfill, a drainage project, a park and recreation area, a road, a parking lot, or any other use, there is a need for a soil scientist to be involved.
These skilled professionals are essential for determining if the soils can support the use that people want to put them to. They can also advise on how to amend soils so the site will function properly. Agriculture especially relies on soil scientists for advice on how to treat soils for maximum yield and minimal soil loss.
Agricultural and environmental consulting jobs, which pay very well, have been more plentiful lately. Regulatory and permitting agencies also hire many soil scientists. Our world has many environmental problems that require the skills of a soil scientist to solve. The field addresses soil and water quality, water quantity, soil erosion, groundwater pollution, and waste management.
In fact, the careers for soil science majors are almost too numerous to list. Here are some of the more common job titles for soil science majors:
Land-use planner for government agencies
Natural resource evaluator for agencies or industry
Wetland use and protection specialist for government agencies
Environmental site investigator for government or private industry
Geographic Information Systems specialists
Global Information Systems (GIS) specialists
Hazardous waste specialist for agencies or private companies
Soil and water protection specialist
Septic system evaluator for county governments
Storm-water specialist for cities, state or federal agencies
Environmental health specialist at municipal, county, state or federal level
Environmental planner
Environmental consultant
Soil surveyor
Researcher for industries or universities
Biotechnologist for biotech or agribusiness companies
Turfgrass-golf course specialist
Soil mapper for the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service
Ecological consultant
Sustainable agriculture specialist
Organic agriculture specialist
Water and agrichemical manager
Fertilizer and pesticide technologist or manager
Employment opportunities are found in:
Environmental firms
Universities and colleges
State county and city agencies such as:
Environmental Division
Health and Environmental Control
Forestry Commission
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Parks and Recreation
Department of Soil and Water Conservation
Department of Soil and Water Resources
Division of Geological Surveys
Division of Geophysical Surveys
Federal agencies, such as:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service
U.S. Department of Interior
Army Corps of Engineers
Because soil scientists are in such high demand, recruiters are always interested in our graduates. About 90 % of our soil science majors are hired immediately after graduating. The remaining 10% pursue a master’s degree. Some join our Plant, Soil, Environmental Science Graduate Program, or programs at other prestigious land-grant universities. For students who love to travel, there are many job opportunities overseas, especially in developing nations.
Salary
A salary.com search in February 2010 showed a median expected salary for a USA soil scientist of $61,000 (http://swz.salary.com). It also showed that 25% make less than $49,000, 50% make between $49,000 and $76,000 and the remaining 25% make over $76,000. Many of our graduates quickly advance up the career ladder and earn even higher salaries.
What does a soil scientist do?
The activities of a soil scientist are primarily to evaluate and interpret soils and soil data that relate to agriculture, natural and man-made environments, and human health.
In order to do this, a soil scientist often will work outdoors a great deal, taking soil samples and evaluating sites. They also work in laboratories evaluating samples, or in officesproviding advice and consultation. For this reason, many of them have very goodcommunication skills and enjoy working with people, nature and scientific problem solving. They use their skills in biology, chemistry, physics, geology, geography, climatology, hydrology, and mathematics to describe, interpret, and manage the soil and water environment.
Why kind of person enjoys soil science?
We often find that many of our students enjoy working outdoors and are curious about the natural world. They also tend to be concerned with making the world a better place to live.
So, do you have the qualities required to become soil science professional? Well, ask yourself these questions: 1.) Do I care about the environment? 2.) Am I concerned about current environmental issues like global warming and climate change? 3) Am I interested in science? If the answer is “yes,” then majoring in soil science might be right for you. Virtually all environmental issues we face today are related to soil management.
Soils are our history and our foundation. A soil profile can tells us what has happened over the last 10,000 years and what will likely happen next. With world population growing rapidly, it is more important than ever to manage soil well. If we do not, all living things will be affected negatively.
Most people don’t think about the fact that agriculture has only been practiced for about 10,000 years, yet much of the soil that took millions of years to develop on planet Earth has already eroded away. And sadly, much of the Earth has become desert in just the past 200 years, due to rapid population growth combined with improper soil management.
But the good news is that through science, we now know how to protect this precious resource. Soil scientists are on the front lines of this effort, and that’s why there are so many jobs for them.
Land needs to be managed in a sustainable way, and society needs professionals that can develop methods and educate people to reach the ultimate goal – all land under sustainable management.
What is it like to be a student in the Soil Science Program at A&T?
As a student majoring in Soil Science, you will…
…learn about earth history and soil formation.
…study soil in depth including its layers, how they formed and why they have the properties they have.
…understand the importance of wetlands to environmental quality.
…study the causes of soil and water pollution and how its effects can be treated and prevented.
…be part of a science that is truly an outdoor event – you will have many outdoor class and laboratory sessions!
… participate with other students in activities locally and nationally, by joining the Students of Agronomy, Soils, and Environmental Sciences (SASES), or Gamma Sigma Delta, the national honor society for agriculture.
…learn how we can manage land in a sustainable manner, conserving soil and water, minimizing disturbance, reducing or eliminating the use of chemicals, using ecologically-based practices to control pests, and increasing soil fertility, while maximizing productivity under its intended use.
…become proficient with sampling and analytical tools.
…learn what happens to soil from several vantage points: microscopically, at the landscape scale, and over long, long periods of time.
…learn concepts in other disciplines including climatology, mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), geology and geomorphology.
…understand how soil is formed, and how its properties are determined by the five soil forming factors, and learn to appreciate the limited amounts of usable soil that exist on Earth -- and why soil conservation is so important for our future.
… be encouraged to apply for the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, which provides a thorough grounding in “real world” research methods .
… take your future career for a “test drive” when you take NARS 599, a 3-credit required internship. In this course, students intern at federal or state parks or agencies, where they do work hands-on in soil and water conservation, land-use planning, park management, or educational activities. Others intern in research projects in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design at A&T.
… get a well-rounded education that will include math, science, written and verbal communication , computers, statistics, and liberal arts.
… learn how to think analytically, reason, and communicate, and become well prepared for a rewarding job or graduate school.
How do I major in Agricultural Science, Natural Resources (Soil Science)?
Please contact the program coordinator for advice on how to declare, transfer or switch your major:
Dr. Charles Raczkowski (Or the Department Office)
North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design
Room 238, Carver Hall
Greensboro, NC 27411
(336) 334-7779
raczkowc@ncat.edu
