Logo made from the text "& NC State University"Image of person working at a computer and the words "Master of Soil Science through Distance Learning"

Basic Requirements

Credit Hour Description

  1. 12 hours of Soil Science classes
  2. 1 hour of Seminar credit
  3. 6 hours of a Masters project
  4. 2 hours of field classes to obtain practical skills **
  5. 3 hours of a statistics class (recommended)
  6. 12 hours of electives
  7. 36 hours total required

**Field Skills are still very essential. These include ability to make and interpret a Soil Profile Description. This should be taught in the field over 4 to 5 days.

Photo of a group of students studying a soil core in a wooded area
Field Courses - NC State (2 credits required)
Class Title Credit Semester
SSC 620M Soil Geomorphology 1 Fall
SSC 620 Hydric Soils 1 Fall
SSC 590 Applied Technologies in Soil Science* 1-2 Summer
*Class will combine at least four day-long classes offered through Extension: On-site Systems Tech., Field Site Instrumentation, Wastewater in the Environ., Sediment and Erosion Control, etc.

Specific Departmental Course Requirements (from the Graduate Student Handbook)

A. Core Curriculum

  • All graduate students are required to have taken courses (obtained at the graduate level) in four of the five sub-disciplines of Soil Science in order to graduate with an MSS
  • The sub-disciplines are: Soil Physics, 2) Soil Chemistry, 3) Soil Microbiology, 4) Soil Genesis and Classification, and 5) Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
  • Students who do not have experience in least four of the sub-disciplines, prior to entering the program, will have to select courses in the sub-disciplines to acquire the training
  • More information is obtained in the Soil Science Department's Graduate Student Handbook

B. Specific Credit Requirements for the Master of Soil Science

  • 36 semester credit hours are required
  • At least 20 credit hours must come from 500, 600, 700, and 800 level courses, with 4 to 6 credit hours being devoted to a special problem (SSC 620)
  • 1 credit hour of seminar is required
  • All requirements must be completed within 6 calendar years after the student is first enrolled

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