Students majoring in soil and water science complete core requirements that stress a balance between the fundamentals of science and a foundation in the humanities, social sciences, business and natural science. A capstone experience through which a student will gain employment skills needed to solve environmental and agricultural problems is required.
Overview
Students are trained in managing land and water resources in a wide range of ecosystems, including agricultural, forested, range, urban and wetlands through different degree programs. Specializations within these degree programs are designed to give the student a strong background in soil and water science with a core of required courses taken during their junior and senior years.
Students may prepare for professional schools by selecting appropriate elective courses.
Soil Science
Areas of study include soil and land use (with an accent on natural resources and the environment), environmental management (with an accent on agricultural and other applied aspects of soil science), physical and biological sciences (with an accent on physics, microbiology, botany and/or other biological sciences) and business (with an accent on economics, business administration or entrepreneurship).
Critical Tracking
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete 2 of 5 critical courses, excluding labs: BSC 2005/2005L or BSC 2010/2010L, CHM 2045/2045L, CHM 2046/2046L, MAC 2311, PHY 2004/2004L
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Recommended Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (4) or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4) (all GE-S) |
3-4 |
BSC 2005 and 2005L Biological Sciences (3) and Laboratory in Biological Sciences(1) or
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (all State Core GE-B/P) |
4 |
| Composition (State Core GE-C) (WR) |
3 |
| Electives |
4 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
| IUF 1000 What is the Good Life (GE-H) |
3 |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (State Core GE-M) |
4 |
| MCB 2000 and 2000L Microbiology (3) and Microbiology Laboratory (1) |
4 |
| Elective |
2 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (State Core GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication or
SPC 2608 Introduction to Public Speaking |
3 |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (3) or
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (4) (all GE-M) |
3-4 |
| Composition (GE-C) |
3 |
| Electives |
2 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| Humanities (State Core GE-H) |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
CHM 2200 and 2200L Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (3) and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1) or
CHM 3120 and 3120L Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (3) and Introduction to Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (1) |
4 |
| SWS 4451 Soil and Water Chemistry |
3 |
| Approved electives (see list) |
8 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) |
3 |
| SWS 4231C Soil, Water and Land Use |
3 |
| SWS 4715C Environmental Pedology |
4 |
| Approved electives (see list) |
3 |
| Total |
13 |
| Summer |
Credits |
|---|
SWS 4905 Individual Work or
SWS 4941 Full-time Practical Work Experience in Soil and Water Science |
1-3 |
| Approved electives (see list) |
2 |
| Total |
3-5 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| SWS 4303C Soil Microbial Ecology |
3 |
| SWS 4602C Soil Physics (GE-P) |
3 |
| Approved electives (see list) |
10 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| SWS 4244 Wetlands |
3 |
| Approved electives (see list) |
10-11 |
| Total |
13-14 |
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Approved Electives
| ALS 3133 Agricultural and Environmental Quality |
3 |
| EES 4401 Public Health Engineering |
3 |
| GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers |
3 |
| GEO 3250 Climatology |
3 |
| GEO 3280 Principles of Geographic Hydrology |
3 |
| GLY 1150L Florida Geology Laboratory |
1 |
| SWS 2007 The World of Water |
3 |
| SWS 2008 Land and Life |
3 |
| SWS 3023L Soil Judging |
2 |
| SWS 4116 Environmental Nutrient Management |
3 |
| SWS 4180 Earth System Analysis |
3 |
| SWS 4207 Sustainable Agricultural and Urban Land Management |
3 |
| SWS 4223 Environmental Biogeochemistry |
3 |
| SWS 4233 Soil and Water Conservation |
3 |
| SWS 4245 Water Resource Sustainability |
3 |
| SWS 4307 Ecology of Waterborne Pathogens |
3 |
| SWS 4550 Soils, Water and Public Health |
3 |
| SWS 4720C GIS in Soil and Water Science |
3 |
| SWS 4905 Individual Work |
var |
| SWS 4911 Supervised Research in Soil and Water Science |
var |
| SWS 4915 Honors Thesis Research in Soil and Water Science |
var |
| SWS 4932 Special Topics in Soil and Water Science |
var |
Electives are chosen with the student's advisor. There are four areas of specialization: soil, water and land use, environmental soil and water management, physical sciences and biological sciences. The student is encouraged to take electives from a range of course groupings that include biology, building construction, chemistry, earth science, environmental science, hydrology, mathematics, physics, policy, production systems, programming and statistics.
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Water Science
Water’s abundance, quality, distribution and properties are essential to all people. Understanding water’s role in the environment and in our lives is integral to the future of this important resource. Water science is an interdisciplinary specialization that provides students with opportunities to develop skills essential for a diversity of careers in government and the private sector. Students will work closely with advisors to develop a course of study appropriate to their goals.
Critical Tracking
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete 2 of 5 critical courses, excluding labs: BSC 2005/2005L or BSC 2010/2010L, CHM 2045/2045L, CHM 2046/2046L, MAC 2311, PHY 2004/2004L
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Back to Top
Recommended Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You (3) or
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics (4) or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics (4) (all GE-S) |
3-4 |
BSC 2005 Biological Sciences (3) and BSC 2005L Laboratory in Biological Sciences(1) or
BSC 2010 and 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (3) and Integrated Principles of Biology 1 Laboratory (1) (all State Core GE-B/P) |
4 |
| Composition (State Core GE-C) (WR) |
3 |
| Electives |
4 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
| IUF 1000 What is the Good Life (GE-H) |
3 |
| MCB 2000 and 2000L Microbiology (3) and Microbiology Laboratory (1) |
4 |
| SWS 2007 The World of Water (GE-P) |
3 |
| Elective |
2 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (State Core GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication or
SPC 2608 Introduction to Public Speaking |
3 |
| CHM 2045 and 2045L General Chemistry 1 (3) and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (State Core GE-M) |
4 |
| Composition (GE-C) (WR) |
3 |
| Electives |
2 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| CHM 2046 and 2046L General Chemistry 2 (3) and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (3) or
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (4) (all GE-M) |
3-4 |
| Humanities (State Core GE-H) |
3 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
CHM 2200 and 2200L Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (3) and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1) or
CHM 3120 and 3120L Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (3) and Introduction to Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (1) |
4 |
| SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory (1) (both GE-B/P) |
4 |
| SWS 4451 Soil and Water Chemistry |
3 |
| Approved elective (see list) |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
17 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) |
3 |
| SWS 4223 Environmental Biogeochemistry |
3 |
| SWS 4244 Wetlands |
3 |
| Approved electives (see list) |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Summer |
Credits |
|---|
SWS 4905 Individual Work or
SWS 4941 Full-time Practical Work Experience in Soil and Water Science |
1-3 |
| Approved electives (see list) |
2 |
| Total |
3-5 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
FNR 4660 Natural Resource Policy and Economics or
PUP 4224 Florida Environmental Politics |
3 |
| SWS 4602C Soil Physics (GE-P) |
3 |
| Approved electives (see list) |
7 |
| Total |
13 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| SWS 4245 Water Resource Sustainability |
3 |
| SWS 4307 Ecology of Waterborne Pathogens |
3 |
| Approved electives (see list) |
7-8 |
| Total |
13-14 |
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Approved Electives
| ALS 3133 Agricultural and Environmental Quality |
3 |
| AOM 3734 Irrigation Principles and Practices in Florida |
3 |
| AOM 4643 Environmental Hydrology: Principles and Issues |
3 |
| EES 4201 Water Chemistry |
3 |
| EES 4401 Public Health Engineering |
3 |
| FAS 4305C Introduction to Fishery Science |
2 |
| FNR 4343C Forest Water Resources |
3 |
| GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers |
4 |
| GEO 3250 Climatology |
3 |
| GEO 3280 Principles of Geographic Hydrology |
4 |
| GLY 1150L Florida Geology Laboratory |
1 |
| GLY 3083C Fundamentals of Marine Sciences |
3 |
| OCE 3016 Introduction to Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering |
3 |
| SWS 4231C Soil, Water and Land Use |
3 |
| SWS 4233 Soil and Water Conservation |
3 |
| SWS 4550 Soils, Water and Public Health |
3 |
| SWS 4715C Environmental Pedology |
4 |
| SWS 4720C GIS in Soil and Water Science |
3 |
| SWS 4905 Individual Work |
var |
| SWS 4911 Supervised Research in Soil and Water Science |
var |
| SWS 4915 Honors Thesis Research in Soil and Water Science |
var |
| SWS 4932 Special Topics in Soil and Water Science |
var |
Electives are chosen with the student's advisor. The student is encouraged to take electives from a range of course groupings that include biology, building construction, chemistry, earth science, environmental science, geology, hydrology, mathematics, physics, policy, production systems, programming, soils and statistics.
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