Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Land and Atmospheric Science M.S.Soil, Water, & Climate
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, 439 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108 (612-625-5251; fax: 612-625-2208)
Email:
kjarcho@umn.edu
Website: http://www.laas.umn.edu
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
Land and atmospheric science (LAAS) is a science-based interdisciplinary program focused on the fundamentals of Earth system processes related to land and atmosphere and their coupled interactions. Students have the option to develop a program based on one of the more traditional areas in atmospheric science or soil science or to design their own interdisciplinary course of study bridging the two disciplines. The land and atmospheric science graduate program has no formal tracks or emphasis areas, but instead allows students to design a curriculum that addresses their interests within the scope of the program. This multidisciplinary program encompasses aspects of chemistry, physics, biology, atmospheric sciences, and geology.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program
is 3.20.
BS degree in a related field of science, or a graduate or professional degree.
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
Student course admission prerequisites are as shown below. Students who are admitted with deficiencies would be provided with a list of courses they are required to take before the completion of their degree. This list would be developed by the directors of graduate studies in consultation with the student's faculty advisor.
Required prerequisites
Basic Sciences
Students are expected to have taken a minimum of four of the following courses (or their equivalent).
or
MATH 2243 - Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 1101W - Introductory College Physics I
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 1102W - Introductory College Physics II
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
ESPM 3131 - Environmental Physics
(3.0 cr)
or
BIOL 1009 - General Biology
[BIOL]
(4.0 cr)
or
CHEM 1061 - Chemical Principles I
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1065 - Chemical Principles I Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
CHEM 1062 - Chemical Principles II
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1066 - Chemical Principles II Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
or
STAT 3011 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis
[MATH]
(4.0 cr)
Environmental Sciences
Students are expected to have taken a minimum of two of the following (or similar) courses:
Take 2 - 6 course(s) from the following:
·
ESPM 1011 - Issues in the Environment
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 1425 - Introduction to Weather and Climate
[PHYS, ENV]
(4.0 cr)
·
SOIL 2125 - Basic Soil Science
[PHYS, ENV]
(4.0 cr)
·
ESCI 1001 - Earth and Its Environments
[PHYS, ENV]
(4.0 cr)
·
ESPM 3612W - Soil and Environmental Biology
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
MICB 3301 - Biology of Microorganisms
(5.0 cr)
·
EEB 3407 - Ecology
(3.0 cr)
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
The preferred English language test is Test of English as Foreign Language.
Key to test
abbreviations
(TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
Plan A: Plan A requires
14
major credits,
6
credits outside the major,
and
10
thesis credits.
The final exam is oral.
Plan B: Plan B requires
20
major credits and
10
credits outside the major.
The final exam is oral.
A capstone project is required.
Capstone Project:The Plan B project typically consists of a technical paper of a topic and length acceptable to the student's advisory committee.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses towards program requirements is not permitted.
A minimum GPA of 3.00
is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 1 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
Core Courses
All students must complete the 5-credit core curriculum.
Take exactly 3 course(s) totaling exactly 5 credit(s) from the following:
·
LAAS 5050 - Integrated Topics in Land & Atmospheric Science
(3.0 cr)
·
LAAS 8128 - Land and Atmospheric Science Seminar
(1.5 cr)
·
SOIL 8123 - Research Ethics in the Plant and Environmental Sciences
(0.5 cr)
LAAS and Related Courses
Plan A students must select at least 15 credits (9 major credits and 6 related fields) from this list, and Plan B students must select at least 25 credits (15 major credits and 10 related fields). Courses are selected based on relevance to research interests and with the consent of the advisor.
Take 15 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
LAAS 5311 - Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy
(3.0 cr)
·
LAAS 5425 - Atmospheric Processes I: Thermodynamics and Dynamics of the Atmosphere
(3.0 cr)
·
LAAS 5426 - Atmospheric Processes II: Radiation, Composition, and Climate
(3.0 cr)
·
LAAS 5480 - Special Topics in Land and Atmospheric Science
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
LAAS 5515 - Soil Formation: Earth Surface Processes and Biogeochemistry
(3.0 cr)
·
LAAS 8195 - Research Problems in Soils
(1.0-5.0 cr)
·
AGRO 5121 - Applied Experimental Design
(4.0 cr)
·
AGRO 5321 - Ecology of Agricultural Systems
(3.0 cr)
·
BBE 5535 - Assessment and Diagnosis of Impaired Waters
(3.0 cr)
·
BBE 5608 - Environmental and Industrial Microbiology
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 4502 - Water and Wastewater Treatment
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 4562 - Environmental Remediation Technologies
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 5180 - Special Topics
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
CEGE 5511 - Urban Hydrology and Water Quality
(4.0 cr)
·
CEGE 5541 - Environmental Water Chemistry
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 5542 - Experimental Methods in Environmental Engineering
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 5543 - Introductory Environmental Fluid Mechanics
(4.0 cr)
·
CEGE 5551 - Environmental Microbiology
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8501 - Environmental Fluid Mechanics I
(4.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8502 - Environmental Fluid Mechanics II
(4.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8503 - Environmental Mass Transport
(4.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8506 - Stochastic Hydrology
(4.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8521 - The Atmospheric Boundary Layer
(4.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8541 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8542 - Chemistry of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Systems
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8551 - Environmental Microbiology: Molecular Theory and Methods
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8561 - Analysis and Modeling of Aquatic Environments I
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8562 - Analysis and Modeling of Aquatic Environments II
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 8572 - Computational Environmental Fluid Dynamics
(4.0 cr)
·
EEB 4068 - Plant Physiological Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
EEB 4611 - Biogeochemical Processes
(3.0 cr)
·
EEB 5053 - Ecology: Theory and Concepts
(4.0 cr)
·
EEB 5601 - Limnology
(3.0 cr)
·
EEB 5605 {Inactive}
(2.0 cr)
·
ESCI 5102 - Climate Change and Human History
(3.0 cr)
·
ESCI 5205 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ESCI 5351 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ESCI 5402 - Science and Politics of Global Warming
(3.0 cr)
·
ESCI 8401 - Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry
(3.0 cr)
·
ESCI 8402 - Biogeochemical Cycles in the Ocean
(3.0 cr)
·
ESCI 8801 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 5061 - Water Quality and Natural Resources
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 5111 - Hydrology and Water Quality Field Methods
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 5245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 5402 - Biometeorology
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 5601 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
FNRM 5114 - Hydrology and Watershed Management
(3.0 cr)
·
FNRM 5131 - Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources
(4.0 cr)
·
FNRM 5153 - Forest Hydrology & Watershed Biogeochemistry
(3.0 cr)
·
FNRM 5262 - Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis of Natural Resources and Environment
(3.0 cr)
·
FW 8459 - Stream and River Ecology
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 5401W - Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change
[ENV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 5426 - Climatic Variations
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 5531 - Numerical Spatial Analysis
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOG 5562 - GIS Development Practicum
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 5839 - Introduction to Dendrochronology
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOG 8270 - Seminar: Climatology
(3.0 cr)
·
GIS 5555 - Basic Spatial Analysis
(3.0 cr)
·
PMB 4111 - Microbial Physiology and Diversity
(3.0 cr)
·
PMB 5412 - Plant Physiology and Development
(3.0 cr)
·
PLPA 8103 - Plant-Microbe Interactions
(3.0 cr)
·
PUBH 6100 - Topics: Environmental Health
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
PUBH 6190 - Environmental Chemistry
(3.0 cr)
·
PUBH 6191 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
SAGR 8010 - Colloquium in Sustainable Agriculture
(2.0 cr)
·
SOIL 5232 - Vadose Zone Hydrology
(3.0 cr)
·
SOIL 5555 - Wetland Soils
(3.0 cr)
·
SOIL 5611 - Soil Biology and Fertility
(4.0 cr)
·
SOIL 8252 - Advanced Soil Physics
(2.0 cr)
·
SOIL 8510 - Advanced Topics in Pedology
(2.0-4.0 cr)
·
SOIL 8541 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
STAT 5021 - Statistical Analysis
(4.0 cr)
·
STAT 5302 - Applied Regression Analysis
(4.0 cr)
·
STAT 5303 - Designing Experiments
(4.0 cr)
·
WRS 5101 - Water Policy
(3.0 cr)
Plan Options
Plan A
Take 10 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
LAAS 8777 - Thesis Credits: Master's
(1.0-18.0 cr)
-OR-
Plan B
Plan B students do not have additional requirements other than those described above.
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Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1271/Math 1281/Math 1371/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 2243/Math 2373/Math 2574H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 1101W/Phys 1107 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PHYS 1102W / PHYS 1108 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 1009/Biol 1009H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1061/Chem 1071H/Chem 1081 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1065/Chem 1075H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1062/1072H/1082 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1066/Chem 1076H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AnSc 3011/ESPM 3012/Stat 3011/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 1425/Geog 1425 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Soil 2125/Soil 5125 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESci 1001/ESci 1101/ESci 1005/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3612W/Soil 5611 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 2032/MicB 3301/VBS 2032 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 3407//Biol 3807/EEB 3407 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.5 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 0.5 [max 0.5] |
Course Equivalencies: | APSc/PBio/PlPa/Soil 8123 |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 -5.0 [max 10.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Agro 5121/Ent 5121 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Agro/Ent 5321 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BBE 4535/BBE 5533/BBE 5535 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BBE 4608/BBE 5608 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Prerequisites: | 3502 or equiv or # |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Prerequisites: | 8501 or # |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Prerequisites: | 3502, 3501 or equiv or # |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Prerequisites: | Stat 3021 or equiv or # |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Prerequisites: | CSE or COAFES grad student or # |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Prerequisites: | One sem grad work or # |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Prerequisites: | One sem grad work or # |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Prerequisites: | grad student in CSE or COAFES or # |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EEB 4068/EEB 5068 |
Prerequisites: | BIOL 2022 or BIOL 3002 or BIOL 3407 or BIOL 3408W or # |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EEB 4611/EEB 5611 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESci 3002/ESci 5102 |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESci 3402/ESci 5402 |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESci 4401/ESci 8401 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESci 4402/ESci 8402 |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3111/ESPM 5111 |
Prerequisites: | Grad student or # |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3245/ESPM 5245 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | FNRM 3114/FNRM 5114 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | FNRM 3131/FNRM 5131/FR 3131/ |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | FNRM 3262/FNRM 5262 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Geog 3401W/5401W |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Geog 3531/5531 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Prerequisites: | GIS 5571 or # |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Geog 3839/Geog 5839 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PMB 4111/PMB 5111 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PMB 4412/PMB 5412 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 20.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 5555/Soil 5555 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3612W/Soil 5611 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 2.0 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PA 5723/WRS 5101 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -18.0 [max 50.0] |
Grading Basis: | No Grade |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |