Field of Soil and Crop Sciences

Degree Programs and Concentrations

 

Students admitted to the Field may choose emphasis in any of the five Concentrations. Examples of areas of specialization within these Concentrations include: crop production and physiology, forest soils, plant stress, seed reproduction and physiology, soil fertility, soil genesis, soil microbiology, soil morphology, soil physics, soil and water chemistry, and weed science. Students may apply for admission to the M.P.S.(Agr.), M.S., M.S./ Ph.D., or Ph.D. programs. Students at the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) level may apply for direct admission to the Ph.D. program only if they have had exceptional preparation or professional experience in their areas of interest.

All Soil and Crop Sciences degree programs offer students the opportunity to supplement intensive coursework in the department with coursework from related disciplines. A list of graduate and undergraduate courses the department offers is available. All graduate degree programs in the Field of Soil and Crop Sciences are individualized to suit students' interests, backgrounds, and goals. Students must, however, satisfy certain university and Field requirements, either through prior work at another institution or through work at Cornell. Each student works closely with a major professor and a graduate special committee. This group of faculty members determines Field requirements based on the student's training and career goals, and on each committee's composition.

Students must earn two units of residence credit for an M.S. degree and six units for a Ph.D. degree (2+4 for M.S./Ph.D.). One unit can be granted for each semester of full-time study, as explained in the section entitled "Requirements for Degrees." Oral or oral/written examinations are also required for all graduate degrees, according to schedules organized by the student's special committee.

Available Concentrations in Soil and Crop Sciences include:

Environmental Information Science: DeGloria / Lembo / Riha / van Es

The concentration in Environmental Information Science offers interdisciplinary study in environmental information systems to advance our understanding of biophysical processes and the sustainable development and management of Earth resources. The concentration seeks to advance student knowledge and understanding relevant to the inventory, analysis, and exchange of data and information about the Earth's environment. This knowledge is applied using an integrated suite of analytical and computer-based methods to characterize the dynamics of environmental processes at multiple spatial scales, to formulate alternative resource management strategies, and to monitor and assess the impact of such strategies on environmental systems and resources.

Topical areas of study include simulation modeling of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum and component cycles, quantitative land evaluation, inventory of terrestrial and aquatic systems, passive and active remote sensing of environmental resources and conditions, spatial modeling and analysis of ecosystem patterns and processes, land management and planning, and nutritional modeling of agronomic systems.

Advancing knowledge in the development, application, and evaluation of spatial information for environmental assessment, conservation, and sustainable development programs is emphasized in this concentration. This knowledge is acquired through a combination of academic courses, independent study, and practical field experience. Emphases include: image processing and analysis, map analysis and digital cartography, deterministic and stochastic simulation modeling, geographic information systems, global positioning systems, stable isotope analysis, scientific visualization, spatial decision support systems, and spatial statistics.

Environmental Management (M.P.S. only)

Worldwide the growing complexity and diversity of systems and issues in the environmental sciences offer challenging opportunities for persons with appropriate skills, experience, and educational backgrounds. The Environmental Management Concentration is designed for persons who want to prepare for these opportunities, but are not interested in research careers. Persons already embarked on professional careers, those who plan to continue in their current fields or related ones, or those who will be working primarily as educators often select this program.

The Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) program in the Environmental Management Concentration emphasizes breadth of training via course work rather than research experience. Students in this program take the same courses as other graduate students and then complete a problem-solving or applied project. Requirements for the M.P.S. (Agr.) degree include: 1) Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours, with a minimum grade point average of 2.5, 2) Completion of a minimum of 2 units of residence credit, and 3) Satisfactory completion of a problem-solving project.

Field Crop Science: Cherney / Cox / DiTommaso / Duxbury / Fick / Hahn / Kochian / Obendorf / Setter / Vatamaniuk

Graduate students in Field Crop Science participate in programs that span a broad spectrum from field-scale projects to cellular physiology and biotechnology.

Investigators in field-scale projects seek an understanding of environmental, biotic and crop management interactions in the crop ecosystem that will lead to improved cropping practices. An emphasis is on developing sustainable management practices that provide economical returns while avoiding harmful environmental impact. Current field projects include grazing management of pastures, prevention of erosion and nitrate contamination with improved forage management, role of tillage and rotation practices in improving root growth and crop photosynthetic performance, integrated weed control practices to prevent groundwater contamination with pesticides, and environmentally sound tropical cropping ecosystems that use polyculture crop associations and rotations.

Investigators in physiology and cell/molecular biology projects seek to identify crop properties which are potential targets for future crop improvement. Emphasis is on identifying the basis of crop tolerance to environmental extremes such as freezing temperatures, drought, and dessication. Current projects include identification of membrane lipids that provide low-temperature stability, mechanisms of membrane damage during freezing, identification of oligosaccharides that play a role in seed tolerance of dessication, role of whole-plant phytohormone dynamics in drought-induced kernel abortion, and crop oligosaccharide and mineral bioavailability factors that can contribute to human nutrition and health.

Soil Science: Baveye / Buckley / Duxbury / Ketterings / Kochian / Lehmann / McBride / Norvell / Riha / Thies / Welch / van Es

The Soil Science Concentration focuses on the processes and properties of the soil environment. It emphasizes improving the suitability of soil for crop growth while preserving its value as a natural resource by using ecologically sound approaches.

Agronomy: Cherney / Cox / Fick

The Agronomy Concentration deals with the combination of field crop production and soil management. Cropping systems and farming systems that sustain or enhance the soil resource base are investigated. Economic, sociological and environmental impacts of various field crops and cropping systems also may be evaluated.

Many foreign students come to Cornell as government-sponsored scholars or with the aid of major foundations or international assistance programs. The presence of these students, together with the extensive national and international experience of the staff, helps generate a productive and stimulating educational environment. The large staff of the graduate Field and the strong Cornell programs in the biological, physical, and social sciences provide exceptional opportunities for advanced instruction and for achievement in research.

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences | Field of Soil and Crop Sciences | Cornell Graduate School