The minor in Soil Science is offered to all undergraduate students at NC State University, with the exception of those enrolled in a major within the Department of Crop & Soil Science. The minor strengthens the understanding of basic physical, chemical, and microbiological soil properties that would be relevant to a student’s particular land management interest. The Soil Science minor is a perfect complement for students majoring in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Science, Forestry, Geology, Horticulture, or Landscape Architecture.  

Admissions

Admission to the minor requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better. Students should contact the Crop and Soil Sciences Undergraduate Programs Office to inquire about adding the minor no later than the registration period for the student’s final semester at NC State.

Certification

The minor should be declared as soon as the student makes the decision to pursue a minor. Minor coursework must be completed no later than the semester in which the student expects to graduate from his or her degree program.

Contact Person

Undergraduate Programs Office
Crop & Soil Sciences Department
2234 Williams Hall
Campus Box 7620
919-515-5820
cropsoil-undergraduate-office@ncsu.edu

SIS Code:  11SSM

Effective Date: 8.2016

Plan Requirements

A minimum of 17 hours is required for the minor in Soil Science. Students are required to complete 4 credits of required courses and a minimum of 13 credits of restricted elective courses. A minimum grade of ‘C-‘ or better is required in each course selected. No courses for the minor may be taken using the S/U option.

Students majoring in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (11ASFSBS), Crop and Soil Sciences (11CSSCBS), and Natural Resources - Soil, Water and Land Use (11NATRLBS) are not eligible to enroll in this minor. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours	Counts towards
Required Courses		4
SSC 200	Soil Science
SSC 201	Soil Science Laboratory
Restricted Elective Courses		13
BAET 323	Water Management
SSC 332	Environmental Soil Microbiology
SSC 341	Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management
SSC 342	Soil and Plant Nutrient Analysis
SSC 427	Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems
SSC 428	Soil Management Principles for Sustainable Agriculture
SSC 440	Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Soil Science and Agriculture
SSC 442	Soil and Environmental Biogeochemistry
SSC 452	Soil Classification
SSC 455	Soils, Environmental Quality and Global Challenges
SSC 461	Soil Physical Properties and Plant Growth
SSC 462	Soil-Crop Management Systems
SSC 470	Wetland Soils
CSSC 495	Special Topics in Crop and Soil Sciences
Total Hours		17