Master of Soil Science

The Master of Soil Science degree provides outstanding graduate education and professional development opportunities for practicing professionals in real estate and land development, waste management, cooperative extension, and other public and private organizations and agencies engaged in soil and environmental sciences as well as land management. The program of study enhances professional skills and expertise essential to evaluating land for a variety of uses that include wetlands protection and restoration, on-site waste disposal, forest management, horticulture, as well as agriculture. The program allows students to increase their technical knowledge as well as develop field skills for understanding how soils should best be managed to maintain environmental quality and human health.

Because of the diversity in students and their educational needs, this online degree program enables the development of individualized programs of study and substantially enhances access to educational opportunities for place-bound students. This non-thesis program is available to any interested student throughout the United States. Degree requirements include 36 credit hours of required core and elective courses in four of five sub-disciplines in soil science. Students will also be required to enroll in field-based, short courses offered throughout North Carolina to provide students with field training and experience in the use of instruments and other technologies used in soil, water, and environmental assessment.

Admission:

Applicants for the Master of Soil Science degree will apply through NC State's Graduate School. Applicant skills, including GRE scores, are assessed by the Graduate Committee of the Soil Science Department. Admission to the program will generally require a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or greater and adequate training in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and soil science. Once admitted to the program students will select an adviser from the full-time faculty who will help plan their program. Course registration is handled through the Distance Education office at NC State.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Mike Vepraskas
Phone: (919) 515-1458
Email: michael_vepraskas@ncsu.edu
Website: http://courses.soil.ncsu.edu/dlmasters/