How to Become a Soil Scientist
The first few feet of the earth under your feet is the home of more life than you see on the surface. Studying that soil is an important and fascinating career that takes in problems in soil chemistry and biology, how soil composition affects buildings, water usage, and agriculture. Soil scientists have strong backgrounds in chemistry, mathematics, and biology and work in a variety of areas. If you have an aptitude for science and a love of the outdoors, this may be the career for you. You could find yourself working as an agricultural consultant, helping to preserve the environment, managing wetlands and water consumption, or as a research scientist. To become a soil scientist, you need to follow the steps below.
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Things You'll Need
- Aptitude for science and mathematics
- Bachelor’s degree in soil science (minimum)
Instructions
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Start planning for a career in science by taking the right courses in high school. To become a soil scientist you need good math skills and courses in chemistry and biology. In addition, because soil scientists work closely with policy makers on environmental and agricultural issues, you will need to develop strong written and verbal communications skills, so don’t overlook a solid grounding in English.
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Attend a good agricultural university to earn at least a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Science or Environmental Soil Science. The first focuses on food production and related topics like soil chemistry and erosion prevention. Environmental soil science is concerned with conservation, studying the effects of human activity on the environment, and learning about the ecology of regions as diverse as deserts and wetlands.
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Find opportunities to gain real world experience while you are earning your bachelors degree. Most university programs offer student positions as lab assistances, internships, and summer programs. These give you hands-on experience and will help you find a position as a soil scientist when you graduate.
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Become certified with the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). This professional offers certifications in three specialties: Professional Soil Scientist/Classifier, Crop Advisor, and Professional Agronomist. You will find a link to the SSSA website at the end of this article.
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Continue your education. A bachelor’s degree will get you a good entry-level job. In the field of soil science, as with most scientific and technical careers, career advancement and opportunities for promotion into management require at least a Master’s degree.
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