Soil Science - MS

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College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department of Plants, Soils and Climate

Soil is the basis of sustainable land systems, a storehouse of organic carbon, nutrients and water, and the critical link between land and atmosphere. The soil science program is particularly strong in water-related issues and soils in sustainable agroecosystems.

Specializations are offered in soil and water chemistry; soil biochemistry and ecology; soil conservation systems; soil fertility and plant nutrition; soil physics; soil-plant-water relations; soil taxonomy and genesis; molecular biology, and soils and irrigation.

Required of all programs and degree types:

Degree Verification

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.

Overall Graduate GPA at least 3.0 and no grades of C- or lower; Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.

Course Number Acceptability

The Program of Study for a master’s degree must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above.

Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.

Matriculation Start Semester

A master’s degree must be completed within six years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.

Coursework Validity

Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.

USU Residency Requirement

At least 24-semester credits for a master’s degree must be from a committee-approved and a School of Graduate Studies-approved Program of Study from Utah State University

Thesis Research Credits 6970

Master’s Plan A students:

The Plan A option requires the preparation and defense of a thesis. Students are required to complete 6-15 semester credits of thesis research (PSC 6970 ) that will be applied toward a Program of Study.

Master’s Plan B students:

A Plan B option requires the production and defense of a paper or project. Students are required to complete a minimum of 2 credits of thesis research (PSC 6970 ) with a maximum of 3 thesis research credits applied toward a Program of Study.

Professional/Plan C students cannot use any thesis/dissertation credits.

Master’s Forms

Master’s forms: Approval of the following academic forms is required for master’s students by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS):

Supervisory Committee
Program of Study
Thesis/Project Approval
Appointment for Examination
Record of Examination
SGS and library review and approval (Plan A)
Library review and approval (Plan B)

Degree Requirements

Minimum Total Credits

The minimum requirement for a master’s degree is 30 semester credits.

Course requirements leading to MS degrees are developed jointly by the student and the student’s supervisory committee. Each student must have a Program of Study approved by their supervisory committee.

The following are required:

15 credits minimum of committee-approved 6000-7000 level courses
- including 2 credits of Plants, Soils and Climate Graduate seminar (PSC 6890 )

(5000 level courses are considered upper-division and may be used in a graduate program if approved by the supervisory committee)

2-15 credits of Thesis Research credits (PSC 6970 ) depending on plan type.
- Plan A - minimum of 6 credits, maximum of 15 credits
- Plan B - minimum of 2 credits, maximum of 3 credits

Course selections reflect areas of specialization. Designation of a specialization is optional. Official specializations will appear on transcript. There are additional specific departmental requirements regarding physical sciences, biological sciences, and mathematics courses, which differ depending on the program and area of specialization.

All MS students write a Plan A thesis or create a Plan B project under the guidance of their advisor and supervisory committee. The master’s thesis must be successfully defended before the supervisory committee and submitted to the library.