About SWES

Welcome Letter From Dr. Silvertooth

Welcome to the website for the Soil, Water and Environmental Science (SWES) department at the University of Arizona. The SWES Department has a faculty consisting of 26 outstanding scientists, distinguished by their understanding of soil, water, and the environment, and their ability to carry out research and planning towards the solution of environmental and resource use and management problems. The SWES Department directs an undergraduate program, offering a Bachelor of Sciencedegree with a major in Environmental Science. Students can select from 15 different focal areas within the degree program (see undergraduate program under the Educational Programs section of this website).

The SWES Department offers graduate work leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Soil, Water and Environmental Science, with focal areas in either environmental science or soil and water science. Graduate study in the Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science is open to students with undergraduate preparation in biological, chemical, physical and earth sciences, as well as engineering.

Programs in the SWES department are generally developed around two major areas of focus: 1) Critical Zone Science and 2) Water Quality.


More specifically, the SWES Department is responsible for directing programs in the following areas:

a) soil, plant, atmosphere systems, with emphasis on remote sensing, soil-water-plant relations, and soil genesis and morphology.

b) environmental science, with emphasis on contaminant transport and fate, waste management/reuse, and soil/groundwater remediation; and

c) subsurface science, with emphasis on physical, chemical, and microbiological processes.

We appreciate your interest in the SWES Department. We encourage you to explore this website and let us know if you have any questions or comments.


Jeffrey C. Silvertooth
Professor and Head of Department

updated April 2011