Soil Science

Many of the most pressing environmental and societal issues we face today require effective soil management to resolve them: climate change, global food shortages, lack of quality drinking water, human health (toxicology). The Soil Science major provides students with an understanding of the science of the earth's surface, including the inter-relationships among geological materials, soils, plants, water, and the lower atmosphere. Major emphasis is placed on:

• Development of more effective use of land resources;
• Establishment of scientific guidelines for soil management which lead to sustained yields of food and fibre crops and, of equal importance, arresting soil deterioration;
• Maintenance and improvement of the quality and productivity of soils.

The Environmental Science major provides focused training for students in applied environmental science. There is a major emphasis on practical field experience in Prairie and Boreal Forest environments as well as laboratory analysis and computer-based interpretation of results. Field courses are complemented by courses in environmental policy, environmental assessment, environmental quality, and agriculture and the environment.

Rapid expansion in both renewable and non-renewable resource sectors in Western Canada has created a growing market for graduates capable of effectively managing these sectors. Issues such as bioremediation of contaminated land, evaluation of ecological goods and services, forestry and agroforestry systems, indigenous peoples resource management, and greenhouse gas mitigation require graduates trained in specific management approaches and who understand the broader social context in which they occur.

The B.Sc. in Renewable Resource Management (RRM) is an applied science degree that focuses on the management of land, biological, and water resources and provides a high level of technical skills, with a strong focus on field techniques—ensuring that our graduates are highly employable in the resource sector.