Environmental Soil Science — Facilities
Environmental Soil Science students take most of their courses at Penn State's University Park campus and can take advantage of all the benefits of the large university: excellent instructional, computing, library, and research facilities; a broad and diverse faculty; and practically unlimited options for personal growth, recreation, and entertainment. E-Soil Sci majors will find a home within the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences which is located in the Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building. Most of the soils courses are taught using the modern instructional and laboratory facilities in this building. All the Soil Science faculty are housed here and maintain research laboratories devoted to various soil science disciplines. A state of the art greenhouse facility is connected to the building and is available for teaching and student research projects. The Department also operates a 340 acre research farm at Rock Spring just 10 miles from the main campus that is used for field experiments. A further bonus for E-Soil Sci majors is our location in a region of Pennsylvania with a varied geology and highly diverse soils. Most courses include a hands-on lab or field component, and students have ample opportunity to practice their observational skills in outdoor settings. Most students also participate in soil judging contests that take them to other regions of the United States.
