Undergraduate Degree Programs in Soil, Water and Environmental Science

Atmospheric Science

Courses within this focus area are designed primarily as preparation for an atmospheric sciences graduate degree at the M.S. or Ph.D. level. It is also possible for a student to satisfy the course requirements for employment as a meteorologist in the National Weather Service with a BES. degree.

For further information contact:
Dr Chris Castro, 520-626-5617, castro@atmo.arizona.edu

Biosphere Science

This focus concerns the Earth as an integrated and interacting system composed of land surfaces, water, air, and biology that both influences and is influenced by humans. The goal of this focus area is to yield an appreciation of how the interaction of systems contributes to the past, current, and future states of the Earth and offer students classroom knowledge, laboratory skills, and field experience. This focus was developed with Biosphere 2.

For further information contact:
Dr. Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman,Dr. Greg Barron-Gafford, Dr. Stephen DeLong, Dr. Katerina Donstova,

Chemistry

This focus integrates physical and chemical sciences within a quantitative framework applied to the environment. It includes the study of sources, reactions, transport, effects and fates of chemical species in water, soil, air, and living environments.

For further information contact:
Dr. Joan Curry, 626-5081, curry@ag.arizona.edu
Dr. Jon Chorover, 626-5635, chorover@ag.arizona.edu

Communication & Education

This focal area trains students to bridge the communication gap between the applications and nomenclature of cutting-edge environmental technology and the perceptions of the lay public.

For further information contact:
Dr. Melanie Lenart, 792-8736, mlenart@email.arizona.edu
Dr. Tom Wilson, 621-9308, twilson@ag.arizona.edu

Ecology

This focus centers on how living organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems interact with their environment. It gives students basic grounding in ecological principles. It considers agricultural and aquacultural impacts on the environment, use of plants to clean up the environment (phytoremediation), global change, and management of freshwater and marine systems.

For further information contact:
Dr. Kathy Godwin, 626-3283, kgodwin@email.arizona.edu

Environmental Change

This focus emphasizes environmental change through time. It includes the study and reconstruction of past environments, the evaluation of current environments in the context of long-term change, and the projection for future change.

For further information contact:
Dr Paul Sheppard, 621-6474, Sheppard@ltrr.arizona.edu
Dr Pearce Paul Creasman, 621-2414, pcreasman@ltrr.arizona.edu

Geosciences

This focus area allows integration of environmental principles and ongoing issues, learned in the core of the Environmental Sciences degree, into a framework of Geoscience studies on land and in the ocean.

For further information contact:
Dr P. Jonathan Patchett, 621-2070, patchett@email.arizona.edu

Microbiology

This focus primarily addresses issues such as the remediation of contaminated sites and natural processes of decomposition, as well as water and food quality (pathogens).

For further information contact:
Dr. Raina Maier, 621-7231, rmaier@ag.arizona.edu
Dr. Ian Pepper, 626-3328, ipepper@ag.arizona.edu
Dr. Christopher Rensing, 626-8482, rensingc@ag.arizona.edu

Natural Resources

This focus area introduces students to applications of physical and biological science for the conservation and management of natural resources (e.g., wildlife, rangelands, water, and forests).

For further information contact:
Dr William Matter, 621-7280, wmatter@ag.arizona.edu

Pollution Science Focus

This focus was developed with the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department. It prepares students to deal with environmental pollution and to solve complex environmental problems requiring an interdisciplinary background.

For further information contact:
Dr. Mark L. Brusseau, 621-3244, brusseau@ag.arizona.edu

Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis

This focal area applies principles of remote sensing and geographic information systems analysis tools and their applications to the study of the environment and global change

For further information contact:
Dr. Phil Guertin, 621-1723, phil@nexus.srnr.arizona.edu

Science and Policy Focus

This focus emphasizes environmental science policy issues. It includes courses in a variety of disciplines, from public policy to ecology. This focal area is ideally suited for Pre-Law students.

For further information contact:
Dr. Robert G. Varady, 884-4393, rvarady@u.arizona.edu
Dr. Edella Schlager, 621-5840, eschlager@bpa.arizona.edu

Soil Science

This focus emphasizes the properties and uses of soils, their classification, management, and conservation as important natural resources. This focal area qualifies students to be soil scientists or soil conservationists in U.S. Government agencies (i.e. Natural Resources Conservation Service or Forest Service). NOTE: Students can become certified as a Certified Professional Soil Scientist with the Soil Science Society of America. The Council of Soil Science Examiners (CSSE) offers exams in October and March each year.

For further information contact:
Dr. Craig Rasmussen, 621-7223, crasmuss@ag.arizona.edu
Dr. Thomas Wilson, 621-9308, twilson@ag.arizona.edu

Sustainable Land/Water Management

This focuses on landscape-level processes in environmental science. It investigates human-caused deforestation and desertification, ecological restoration; water, soil and air pollution, and global change.

For further information contact:
Dr. Edward P. Glenn, 626-2664, eglenn@ag.arizona.edu
Dr. Allan D. Matthias, 621-7226, matthias@ag.arizona.edu
Dr. James J. Riley, 591-4019, jjriley@ag.arizona.edu

Water Resource Management

This focal area concentrates on water management and water-related courses to understand water quantity and quality issues associated with land use and climate change. This will prepare the student for careers in water policy and management.

For further information contact:
Dr. Tom Meixner, tmeixner@hwr.arizona.edu
Dr. D. Phillip Guertin, dguertin@cals.arizona.edu

• Students are required to take an internship prior to graduation. Students are aided to find internships close to their anticipated type of employment.
  
  
• Students interested in teaching may substitute or supplement their internship with being a Preceptor.
  
  
• In addition students are involved in special projects such as those applying environmental and soil science to communities. In 2001 these included a project to determine the impact of vegetation on slope erosion in Nogales Sonora and a student assessment of the potential for water harvesting on The University of Arizona campus.
  
  
• Students are encouraged to attend the Departmental Weekly Seminar Series to become familiar with Department research.
  
  
• Many faculty hire or offer independent studies to allow students to gain "hands on" experience in a research lab or in the field.