Soil is a fundamental resource for ecosystem function and environmental health. It is a living filter that provides vital ecosystem services – including food production, water purification, carbon sequestration, nutrient recycling and assimilation of waste products. Soil is a key component of natural agricultural, wildland and urban ecosystems that sustain all global processes. Soil science is highly interdisciplinary; soil scientists apply biology and microbial ecology, chemistry, earth sciences, ecology, hydrology, mineralogy, mathematics, nutrition, toxicology and physics to understand, sustain and improve the environment.

The Soil Science minor, administered by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, is designed to introduce students to basic soil environmental science concepts, techniques and practices. A diverse range of soil science course offerings provide experience with geospatial analysis, computer modeling, spectroscopy, bioassays, molecular biology, and other advanced field and lab technology for soil investigation. (SOILSCI-MN)