The Teaching of Soil Science in Geology, Geography, Environmental Science, and Agricultural Programs

Abstract

As we move into the 21st century, soil science is a field in search of an academic identity. Where in the academic structure do soil scientists belong? As a discipline, should soils be placed in a department of agronomy, geology, geography, some other related field, or in a department of its own? A survey of geology, geography, environmental science, and traditional agricultural programs shows that each of these fields includes soils specialists on their faculties and soils classes in their curricula. Soils faculty and classes exist at roughly equal rates in geology and geography programs and at about twice the geology/geography rate in environmental science programs. Over all, there are still more soils specialists employed by and soils classes taught in traditional agricultural programs than in the other three programs investigated. However, there are more total geology, geography, and environmental science programs in the United States teaching soils in their curricula than there are total soil science programs.