Graduate Studies in Soil Science

The UW-Madison Department of Soil Science has been offering M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the specialty areas described in this brochure for over 90 years. The pioneering work of Franklin H. King, Emil Truog, and A.R. Whitson in the early 1900s built a strong foundation for today's graduate programs. Over 900 graduate degrees have been awarded to students directed by faculty in the Department of Soil Science.

University Requirements

All students must meet the minimum admission standards of the UW-Madison Graduate School, defined in its Graduate School Catalog.

Departmental Requirements

A minimum of 19 credits in Soil Science courses are required for a Ph.D. degree in Soil Science; at least 8 credits must be taken while enrolled as a graduate student at UW-Madison. A minimum of 18 credits in Soil Science courses are required for a M.S. degree in Soil Science; at least 7 credits must be taken while enrolled as a graduate student at UW-Madison. Complete departmental requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are available from the Department.

The department requires all students to have successfully completed one semester of calculus for the M.S. degree and two semesters of calculus (differential and integral) for the Ph.D., one course in statistics, chemistry through quantitative analysis, and one year of physics. These courses are usually completed as an undergraduate. Admission with deficiencies is possible although this is likely to delay completion of graduate studies. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required.

Joint degrees with other departments can be granted through early coordination and planning. Departments or programs commonly used for joint degrees include Forestry, Agronomy, Bacteriology, Horticulture, Land Resources, Water Resources and Environmental Toxicology. Because our graduate requirements presuppose extensive science coursework, continuing undergraduate students are encouraged to select undergraduate courses carefully if they are considering advanced degrees in Soil Science.

Financial Support and Housing

Financial support is usually available to qualified students in the form of research assistantships. Most assistantships are funded from research grants, and the final decisions for granting a research assistantship usually rests with the professor(s) supervising the research. Any research assistantship for at least one-third time qualifies a student for remission of all tuition. The department does not offer teaching assistantships.

A limited number of Graduate School fellowships are available to new students with outstanding records. The deadline for application (completed graduate school admissions, GRE scores, and three letters of recommendation) for these scholarships is early January of each year. The department selects the most qualified applicants and forwards their applications to a campus-wide selection committee. You are encouraged to contact Graduate Admissions in the Department of Soil Science early in the fall if you want to be considered for a Graduate School Fellowship.

The department offers one O.N. Allen Award each year to an exceptionally-qualified new student. This award includes a stipend of $2,000 in addition to any research assistantship. Working with the University of Wisconsin Foundation, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and private donors, we are fortunate to have two Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships: The Wayne R. Kussow/Wisconsin Turfgrass Association Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship was established in 2000 by the Wisconsin Turfgrass Association in honor of Dr. Wayne Kussow's work in the turf area; the Leo M. Walsh/Wisconsin Fertilizer and Chemical Association Soil Fertility Distinguished Graduate Fellowship was established in 2002 in honor of Leo M. Walsh, Dean Emeritus, CALS.

Information on loans, grants, part-time jobs, and related opportunities may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Services, 432 N. Murray Street, Madison, WI 53706.

Over 1000 modern University apartments near the campus are available for married graduate students at relatively low rental rates; campus buses provide continuous service to the area. Information on these apartments and graduate dormitories may be obtained by writing to University Housing, Slichter Hall, 625 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706. A wide range of off-campus housing is also available. Information may be obtained from the Campus Information and Visitor Center, 716 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706, or the Chamber of Commerce, 615 East Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703.

Thesis Advisors

Selecting a thesis advisor is important because it affects your future career more profoundly than almost any other decision made during your graduate studies. A thesis advisor influences your choice of research topic and often makes final decisions concerning assignment of research assistantships. We encourage you to contact professors doing research in your area of interest; early communication with prospective thesis advisors is especially important when arranging research assistantships for financial support.

Applying for Admission

You can apply for admission online at the UW Graduate School online application website. In addition, materials that you must send to the department directly are official transcripts (two copies), reasons for graduate study (if not entered into the online application), and 3 letters of reference. Send all materials to Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Department of Soil Science, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, 1525 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1299. You should submit your application for summer session by April 15, for fall semester by June 15, and for spring semester by November 15.