Area(s) of Specialization (will appear on all ISU transcripts after graduation): Soil Chemistry; Soil Fertility; Soil Management; Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry; Soil Morphology and Genesis; Soil Physics
Learning Goals that students in this program are expected to meet include:
Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of soil components and soil processes.
Identify critical issues in fundamental and applied soil science and to formulate scientific approaches to those issues.
Ability to apply knowledge of soil science to solve problems in nonacademic contexts and in collaboration with professionals in other disciplines.
Demonstrate professional communication skills, using effective strategies both when writing technical reports, research proposals, journal articles, or popular press articles and when giving oral or poster presentations to scientific or lay audiences.
Demonstrate an appreciation of the soil as a fundamental natural resource, deserving of wise use and protection.
Demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues that pertain to soil science and science in general.
Maintain, in collaboration with the faculty, an environment of discovery, professional pride, collaboration, and mutual support.
January 2025
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
138 Curtiss Hall,
513 Farm House Ln.,
AMES,
Iowa,
50011, United States
August 2025
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
138 Curtiss Hall,
513 Farm House Ln.,
AMES,
Iowa,
50011, United States
Iowa State requires a bachelor鈥檚 or higher degree from a regionally-accredited college or university prior to beginning graduate studies.
International degrees must be comparable to a US bachelor鈥檚 degree or higher from a college or university regionally accredited/recognized by the Ministry of Education in that country.
A minimum cumulative grade point average equivalent to at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (B grade) is required for admission.
The minimum scores accepted by the Graduate College are:
Internet Based TOEFL (iBT): 79
TOEFL Paper (PBT): 550
IELTS: 6.5
Pearson Test of English (PTE): 53
Duo Lingo English Test: 105
Application Deadlines: Continual review, no deadlines for admission or assistantships. Faculty commitment required prior to admission.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.