Graduate Studies

General Information | Why Wisconsin? | Degree Requirements | Soil Science Graduate School Catalog

The UW-Madison Department of Soil Science has offered M.S. and Ph.D degrees in specialty areas for over 90 years. The pioneering work of Franklin H. King, Emil Truog, A.R. Whitson and M.L. Jackson built a strong foundation for today's graduate programs.

The department's graduate training is subdivided into the following areas of concentration:

• Soil and environmental physics
• Soil chemistry and mineralogy
• Soil fertility and plant nutrition
• Soil ecology, biochemistry and microbiology
• Soil and water management/conservation
• Soil genesis, morphology and land use
• Forest soils

In addition to production agriculture, emphasis is placed on wise environmental stewardship and rehabilitation of contaminated or deteriorated biomes.

Applying for Admission

Students apply for admission online at the UW Graduate School online application website. Three letters of reference are required ( via the online application). In addition, materials that must be sent to the department directly are official transcripts (two copies) and reasons for graduate study (if not entered into online application). Send transcripts and reasons for graduate study to:

Applications for summer session should be submitted by April 15, fall semester by June 15 and spring semester by November 15.

Requirements

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, Environmental Chemistry and Technology, and Molecular 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.

Thesis Advisors

Selecting a thesis advisor is important because it affects students' future career more profounding than almost any other decision made during graduate studies. A thesis advisor influences students' choice of research topic and often makes final decisions concerning assignment of research assistantships. We encourage students to contact professors doing research in their area of interest, especially when arranging research assistantships for financial support.

Financial Support/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.

Additional Links

Graduate School Checklist

Criteria for Satisfactory Progress

International Applicant Financial Information

Graduate Admissions

Online Application