Why Study Crop and Soil Science?

Major/​Minor | Science/​Agriculture | CAFES

As a crop and soil science major, you’ll learn the ins and outs of food, fiber and energy production. Within the major, you have three track options, allowing you to find your passion and focus your studies.

  • Crop Science emphasizes plants and their uses as safe and affordable food for human consumption, feed for animals and fiber and energy for everyday needs.
  • Soil Science explores the role of soils and soil health and lays the foundation for making economically and environmentally sustainable soil use and management decisions.
  • Sustainable Agriculture focuses on the use and development of economically viable agricultural systems that promote land productivity, energy efficiency, environmental stewardship and rural community viability.

99%

Of Grads are Employed or Attending Grad School

700+

Students in Honors Programs

8

Living and Learning Communities

Portrait of Megan Culpitt
I might be a little biased, but the Plant and Earth Science Department has some of the most knowledgeable and caring faculty at UW-River Falls. They all really want to help their students succeed and are there to prepare you for any career, whether that be industry or graduate school. The classes in the crop and soil science major are all very hands on and guaranteed to help prepare you for a variety of career opportunities. You get to learn everything from soil suitability and how to identify weeds and diseases to how plants are bred and genetically engineered, which are applicable regardless of your career goals.
Megan Culpitt

Crop and Soil Science

cafes@uwrf.edu // 715-425-3535

Your Degree:

Undergraduate

Area of Study:

Science/​Agriculture

Two Crop and Soil students participate in a foraging exercise

Skills and Learning Outcomes

  • Gain a fundamental understanding of crop science, soil science and sustainable agriculture and use that knowledge to address relevant issues.
  • Use and develop proficiency with field and laboratory equipment for research and problem-solving purposes.
  • Develop skills to effectively communicate agronomic information for both technical and general audiences.

Types of Courses

  • Applied Hydrology and Water Quality
  • Crop and Soybean Production
  • Crop Physiology
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Forage Crop Production
  • Geomorphology and Glacial Geology
  • Soil and Water Conservation
  • Soil Physics
  • World Patterns of Plants and Animals
Three students kneel in a dry corn field studying soil
A Crop and Soil student measures the height of a corn stalk

Potential Careers

Crop and soil science graduates find work in a variety of roles including:

  • Agronomist
  • Crop Specialist
  • Soil Conservationist
  • Soil Scientist

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