MS Soil Science at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Programme overview

The UW–Madison Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences is one of the oldest, largest, and most prominent soil science departments in the United States. We are home to degrees in soil and environmental sciences. The department's mission is to provide instruction, research, and extension leadership in soil chemistry, physics, biology, and pedology for economic and sustainable land use.

Department: Soil Environmental Sciences | Duration: 30 credits | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Fall (deadline January 5), Spring (deadline October 15), Summer (deadline January 5) | Location: Madison, WI, United States

What you will study

The degree requires a minimum of 30 credits. Courses listed in the requirements include SOIL SCI 301 General Soil Science; SOIL SCI 302 Meet Your Soil: Soil Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory; SOIL SCI 621 Soil and Environmental Chemistry; SOIL SCI 323 Soil Biology; SOIL SCI 326 Plant Nutrition Management; SOIL SCI 728 Graduate Seminar.

Career pathways

UW–Madison offers a wealth of resources intended to enrich your graduate studies and enhance your professional skills. Starting your very first year on campus, it is expected that you will take full advantage of the career and professional development resources that best fit your needs and support your goals.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Not required; Letters of Recommendation Required 3; Suggested Preparatory Coursework. A foundation in the basic sciences is essential for graduate study in soil science. Continuing undergraduate students are encouraged to select undergraduate courses carefully if they are considering advanced degrees in soil science. The program recommends applicants complete the suggested preparatory coursework (or equivalent) listed below. Admission without this suggested preparation is possible but may delay the completion of graduate studies. If this preparatory coursework has not been completed prior to admission, a student’s examination committee and/or advisor may require this coursework be completed during the MS program depending on the student's academic, research, and career goal needs.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms (spring, summer or fall) vary by programme and are listed on each programme's Graduate Guide admissions tab. An applicant may have active applications in only one entry term at a time.

Application deadlines vary by programme and are listed on the programme's Graduate Guide admissions tab. Applications are submitted through the Graduate School application portal. The application fee is $75 US, non-refundable, payable by credit card (MasterCard or Visa) or debit/ATM; international applicants pay an extra $6 processing fee. Up to three programmes in the same entry term can be applied to for one application fee.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/

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