Undergraduate degrees that train students for soil science careers at universities in the USA and its territories

Abstract

Several soil science education studies over the last 15 yr have focused on the number of students enrolled in soil science programs. However, no studies have quantitatively addressed the number of undergraduate soil science preparatory programs that exist in the United States, which means we do not have solid data concerning whether overall program numbers are declining, rising, or holding steady. This also means we do not have complete data on the same trends for total undergraduate soil science students in the United States. This study used the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Soil Science Series 0470 standards to determine if a bachelor's degree met soil science preparatory criteria. Lists of the approximately 3,500 regionally accredited colleges and universities were obtained from the regional accrediting agencies; the website of each of the colleges and universities was visited to determine if they had a degree program that met the OPM 0470 criteria. Ninety‐two soil science preparatory degree programs were identified at 86 colleges and universities. These programs were primarily linked to (a) agriculture, (b) environmental science, and (c) soil and water science, based on the number of degree occurrences. This study creates a baseline for future studies that can investigate trends in soil science programs. It also provides an insight into the institutions and degree programs that should be included in soil science education studies.

Agriculture leaders identify critical issues facing crop production

“…The need for a well‐recruited and well‐trained workforce that is prepared to meet the needs of the industry when they start work and that is open for continual education throughout their career is prioritized in the “Current and Future Workforce Training” category. Expert sentiment in this area is consistent with research about declining crop and soil science degree programs, declining enrollment, and concern about holistic education that offers the knowledge and skills future employees need to effectively meet the challenges facing the industry (Brevik et al., 2020; Hansen et al., 2007; Repinski et al., 2011; Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013). Lastly, the “Public Understanding of Production Practices” category emphasizes the importance of connecting with consumers and helping to support consumers’ desire to learn about crop production, and how opinions and knowledge affect purchasing decisions.…”

“…crop and soil science degree programs, declining enrollment, and concern about holistic education that offers the knowledge and skills future employees need to effectively meet the challenges facing the industry (Brevik et al, 2020;Hansen et al, 2007;Repinski et al, 2011;Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013). Lastly, the "Public Understanding of Production Practices" category emphasizes the importance of connecting with consumers and helping to support consumers' desire to learn about crop production, and how opinions and knowledge affect purchasing decisions.…”

“…Additionally, social components of the crop and soil sciences must also not be overlooked as complex issues surround poverty and access to food (Francis et al., 2017), agronomy leaders in academic, private, and public sectors (Cho et al., 2017), and a potential workforce challenges (Repinski et al., 2011). The next generation of agronomy personnel is of particular concern as discussions continue about declines in agronomy‐related undergraduate degree programs (Brevik et al., 2020) and decreased student enrollment numbers (Hansen et al., 2007). Consequently, a knowledgeable and capable workforce becomes another factor in meeting the challenges of the present and future in this field.…”

The role of soil in regulation of climate

“…The first of these educational spheres is the longstanding strength of the soil science discipline, and in many ways this is the easiest to sustain. Current understanding of the role of soils in climate regulation is the product of more than a century of academic and applied research, education and training in institutions of western scientific learning [103,104]. Experiential education related to soils and climate extends centuries further back, and lives on through the exchange of traditional soil and ecological knowledge [105,106].…”

Degrees earned by faculty teaching in soil science preparatory programs at universities in the USA

“…Despite this, some of the earliest soil science specific training in the United States was offered by geology programs (Brevik et al., 2014; Helms, 2002), and early leaders in soil science had backgrounds in a wide range of academic fields (Miller, Brevik, Pereira, & Schaetzl, 2019; Tandarich & Sprecher, 1994). In the modern academic setting, soils coursework is taught by and in support of a wide range of related fields (Brevik, 2009; Diochon et al., 2017; Field et al., 2011), degrees that prepare students to work as soil scientists are issued by a wide range of academic programs (Brevik et al., 2020a), and there is evidence that increasing numbers of students from related fields are taking soil science coursework in both the United States (Brevik et al., 2018) and abroad (Diochon et al., 2017). Soil science is truly a multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary field (Bouma, 2015; Field, Yates, Koppi, McBratney, & Jarrett, 2017; Frescoln & Arbuckle, 2015), as evidenced by the wide range of academic programs that include soils training in their curricula.…”