Program: Soils and Sustainable Land Systems: Applied Climatology Option - BA, BS - Utah State University

Apr 09, 2025

2024-2025 General Catalog

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department of Plants, Soils and Climate

About This Degree

The Soils and Sustainable Land Systems major provides students with an understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in the soil-water-atmosphere zone at the earth’s surface.

Applied Climatology Emphasis: This emphasis integrates basic and applied principles of meteorology, climatology and environmental physics with land surface processes, especially water. Students will be completing courses in math, science, plant science and geology.

For more information about Soils and Sustainable Land Systems, see the website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
Can also have an emphasis in Environmental Soil Science or Sustainable Food Production .
The highest Math Requirement for this degree is STAT 3000 - Statistics for Scientists (QI) .

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken at USU: 30
Credits of upper-division courses required for the major taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen: Admitted to USU in Good Standing
Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU: 2.75 GPA

Preparatory Core Requirements (49-52 credits):

BIOL 1610 - Biology I 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1615 - Biology I Laboratory 1 credit(s)
CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I 4 credit(s)
GEO 1110 - Physical Geology (BPS) 3 credit(s)
GEO 1115 - Physical Geology Laboratory 1 credit(s)
MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL) 4 credit(s)
MATH 1220 - Calculus II (QL) 4 credit(s)
MATH 2250 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (QI) 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2210 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (BPS/QI) 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2220 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (BPS/QI) 4 credit(s)
PSC 2000 - The Atmosphere and Weather (BPS) 3 credit(s)
PSC 3000 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 4 credit(s)
PSC 3500 - Structure and Function of Plants 3 credit(s)
PSC 4810 - Climate and Climate Change (DSC/QI) 3 credit(s)
PSC 4900 - Special Problems 1-4 credit(s) (3 credits) (Section title: Forum on Soils and Sustainable Land Systems)
STAT 3000 - Statistics for Scientists (QI) 3 credit(s)

Required Professional Core (22-32 credits):

GEO 3150 - Energy in the Twenty-first Century (DSC/QI) 3 credit(s)
GEO 5680 - Paleoclimatology 3 credit(s)
PSC 4900 - Special Problems 1-4 credit(s) (Section title: Global and Regional Climatology)
PSC 5000 - Environmental Instrumentation 2 credit(s)
PSC 5003 - Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces 3 credit(s)
PSC 5270 - Environmental Plant Physiology 2 credit(s)
PSC 5500 - Environmental Physics of Land Ecosystems and Climate 3 credit(s)
PSC 5670 - Environmental Soil Physics 4 credit(s)
PSC 6900 - Special Problems in Plants, Soils, and/or Climate 1-8 credit(s)

Further Discipline Courses (choose 12 credits):

APEC 5560 - Natural Resource and Environmental Economics 3 credit(s)
CEE 3430 - Engineering Hydrology 3 credit(s)
GEO 3100 - Natural Disasters (DSC) 3 credit(s)
GEO 2200 - The Earth Through Time 3 credit(s)
GEO 3600 - Geomorphology 4 credit(s)
GEO 5440 - Vertebrate Paleontology (CI) 3 credit(s)
JCOM 1130 - Media Writing 3 credit(s)
PSC 4200 - Temperate Zone Fruit Production 3 credit(s)
PSC 4890 - Senior Seminar (CI) 1 credit(s)
BIOL 6200 - Biogeochemistry of Terrestrial Ecosystems 3 credit(s) or
PSC 6200 - Biogeochemistry of Terrestrial Ecosystems 3 credit(s) or
WILD 6200 - Biogeochemistry of Terrestrial Ecosystems 3 credit(s)

Note:

Contact Lisa Allen, lisa.allen@usu.edu, 435-797-0454 for advising.

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

Suggested Degree Map: Soils and Sustainable Land Systems: Applied Climatology Option BA, BS

Soils and Sustainable Land Systems: Applied Climatology Option BA, BS - 4 Year Degree Map