Soils and Biogeochemistry

Why study Soils and Biogeochemistry?

The soils and biogeochemistry track examines processes that govern the composition of the natural environment and the cycles of matter and energy through time and space. This track teaches scientific principles, ranging from the molecular to global scales, for managing soil, water and plant resources. Courses includes land use, GIS, remote sensing, soil and ecosystem management, nutrient management, soil and water pollution remediation and global change. Graduates are qualified for managerial and technical positions in advising, planning, land appraisal, research, and teaching. The track also provides excellent preparation for graduate programs in soil science, environmental toxicology, hydrology, ecology, and plant sciences.

Preparatory Subject Matter Requirements
Course IDs Course Title Quarters Offered Units Notes
Written and Oral Expression
UWP 101 or any course from the UWP 102 or 104 series Upper Division Writing I, II, III, IV 4 May test out of requirement
CMN 1, 3V, 3Y, or DRA 10 Communication I, II, III, IV 4  
Biological Sciences
BIS 2A Essentials of Life on Earth I, II, III, IV 5  
BIS 2B Principles of Ecology and Evolution   I, II, III, IV 5  
BIS 2C Biodiversity and the Tree of Life I, II, III, IV 5  
Geology
choose one of the following
GEL 1 The Earth I, II, III 4  
GEL 50 Physical Geology I, II 3 (recommended)
Chemistry
CHE 2A or 2AH General Chemistry I, II, IV 5  
CHE 2B or 2BH General Chemistry II, III, IV 5  
CHE 2C or 2CH General Chemistry I, III, IV 5 (recommended, not required)
Physics
Complete either 1AB or 7ABC
Physics 1A General Physics I, II, IV 3  
Physics 1B General Physics II, III 3  
Physics 7A General Physics I, II, III, IV 4  
Physics 7B General Physics I, II, III, IV 4  
Physics 7C General Physics I, II, III, IV 4  
Economics
ECN 1A, 1AV, or 1AY Principles of Microeconomics I, II, III, IV 4  
Mathematics
MAT 16A and 16B Short Calculus I, II, III, IV 3, 3 Being phased out as of 23-24
MAT 17A and 17B Calculus for Biology & Medicine I, II, III, IV 4, 4 MAT 17AB recommended
MAT 19A and 19B and 19C Calculus for Data-Driven Applications I, II, III, IV 4, 4, 4 Mast take A, B, and C
MAT 21A and 21B Calculus I, II, III, IV 4, 4  
Environmental Science and Policy
ESP 1 Environmental Analysis I, IV 4  

I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session

Depth Subject Matter Requirements
NOTE: Students graduating with this major are required to attain at least a C average (2.0 GPA) in all courses taken at the university in Depth Subject Matter and pass all coursework. See requirements of the College of Agriculture & Environmental Science in the UC Davis General Catalog.
Course IDs Course Title Prerequisites Quarters Offered Units
Global Environment
ESM 120 Global Environmental Interactions One college-level chemistry and biology course II 4
Ecology
(Choose one of the following)
ESP 100 General Ecology BIS 2A-C; MAT 16A-B or 17A-B or 21A-B; STA 13 recommended I, II, IV 4
EVE 101 Introduction to Ecology BIS 2A-C; MAT 16A-B or 17A-B or 21A-B; or equivalent I, II, III, IV 4
Policy
ESP 162 Environmental Policy ECN 1A or ECN 1AV or ECN 1AY II 4
Statistics
(Choose one of the following - Statistics 100 recommended)
STA 13 Elementary Statistics Two years of high school algebra or equivalent in college I, II, III, IV 4
STA 100 Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences MAT 16B or 17B or 21B with a C- or better I, II, III, IV 4
Environmental Monitoring
(Choose one of the following)
ATM 124 Meteorological Instruments & Observations ATM 60 I 3
ESM 108 Environmental Monitoring ESP 100 or EVE 101 or SSC 100 or WFC 100 or the equivalent III 3
ESP 151L Limnology Laboratory ESP 151 (may be concurrent) III 3
ESP 179 Environmental Impact Assessment ESP 1 or the equivalent II, IV 4
Environmental Data Science
(Choose one of the following)
ABT/LDA 150 Introduction to GIS None I, II, III 4
ESP 106 Environmental Data Science STA 13 or 32 or 100 (can be concurrent) II 4
Internship
ESM/ESP 92 or 192 Internship Upper division standing, permission of instructor

Variable unit – must take at least 3 units of internship
May complete internship in a different area with prior approval
(e.g.: PLS, SSC, ATM)

 I, II, III, IV 3
Capstone
ESM 195 Integrating Env Science & Management Senior standing in ESM III 2
Honors Thesis (Optional)
ESM 194H Senior Honors Thesis Senior standing, Overall GPA of 3.50 or higher

Consent of the lead faculty advisor

   2-6

 

I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session

Track Courses
NOTE: Courses taken for the depth subject matter or track cannot be used to fulfill more than one major requirement.
Course IDs Course Title Prerequisites Quarters Units
Complete
SSC 100 Principles of Soil Science College-level course in each of CHE, PHY, BIS, and GEL recommended I 5
Select four soils and biogeochemistry courses
ESM 100 Principles of Hydrologic Science CHE 2B; Math 16B; PHY 7A or 9A I 4
HYD 134 Aqueous Geochemistry CHE 2B III 6
SSC 102 Environmental Soil Chemistry SSC 100 or equivalent and general chemistry II 3
SSC 105 Field Studies of Soils in CA Ecosystems SSC 100 and 120 or equivalent recommended IV 5
SSC 107 Soil Physics SSC 100; ESM 100; MAT 16A or the equivalent I 5
SSC 109 Sustainable Nutrient Management SSC 100 or the equivalent III 4
SSC 111 Soil Microbiology BIS 2C recommended II 4
SSC 112 Soil Ecology SSC 100 or equivalent recommended III 3
SSC 118 Soils in Land Use and Development SSC 100 or equivalent recommended III 4
SSC 120 Soil Genesis, Morphology, & Classification SSC 100; GEL 50 recommended III 5
Select two environmental policy courses
ESM 121 Water Science & Management PHY 10 or GEL 1 III 3
ESP 165 Climate Policy ECN 1A or 1AV or 1AY or ESP 1, or consent of instructor I 3
ESP 166 Ocean & Coastal Policy ESP 1 or consent of instructor I 3
ESP 171 Urban & Regional Planning ESP 1 or ESP 161 or ESP 179 recommended III, IV 4
ESP 172 Public Lands Management ECN 1A and POL 1 recommended I 4
ESP 174 Environmental Justice Policy & Practice ESP 1 or equivalent recommended III 4
ESP 179 Environmental Impact Assessment ESP 1 or equivalent II, IV 4
SOC 160 Sociology of the Environment SOC 1 or 2 or 3 recommended Varies 4
Select one land-use analysis course
ESM 185 Aerial Photo Interp. & Remote Sensing Upper division standing I 4
SSC 118 Soils in Land Use & the Environment SSC 100 or equivalent recommended III 4
GEL 134* Env Geology & Land Use Planning One course in Geology or consent of instructor III 3
Select two biological or physical processes courses
ATM 133 Biometeorology MAT 16B; one course in a biological discipline or consent of instructor II 4
ATM 160** Intro to Atmospheric Chemistry CHE 2B II 4
ESM/PLS 144 Trees & Forests PLS 2 or BIS 2C I 4
ESP/GEL 116N Oceanography GEL 1 or 2 or 16 or 50 II 3
ESP/GEL 150A Physical & Chemical Oceanography ESP 116N; PHY 7B or 9B; MAT 16C or 17C or 21C; CHE 2C or GEL 55 Varies 4
ESP/GEL 150C Biological Oceanography Offered at the Bodega Marine Lab IV 4
ESP 151 Limnology BIS 2A and 2B; BIS 2C and ESP 100 or EVE 101 recommended III 4
ESP 155 Wetland Ecology BIS 2A or equivalent; ESP 100 or EVE 101 recommended   4
PLB/EVE 117 Plant Ecology BIS 2A-C; PLB 111 recommended I 4
PLS 130* Grassland Ecology PLS 2 or BIS 2B or BIS 2C or consent of instructor II 3

I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session
*Course is offered in odd years only (2023, 2025, etc.)
**Course is offered in even years only (2024, 2026, etc.)

 
Attachments
Soils track requirements