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Environmental Soil Science studies one of our most valuable natural resources--soil--and its relationship with environmental quality and plant growth. AREA OF EMPHASIS AT DELAWARE Environmental Soil Science (ESOS) offers the opportunity to study the environment with a focus on one of our most important natural resources--soil. Some questions that soil science seeks to answer include: How do chemical and physical reactions in the soil affect our water supply? What impact do acid rain and global warming have on the quality of the soil in which we grow our food? Is it possible to use existing soil microorganisms to remediate soil pollution? Issues like these are part of the diverse field of soil science and offer exciting challenges to students interested in solving environmental problems. Majors in ESOS take courses in plant science, chemistry, physics, geology, and soil science to develop sound, technical knowledge. In addition, all students choose general- education courses from areas like computing, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, literature and the arts. At Delaware, Environmental Soil Science majors work closely with the department’s faculty, which includes an internationally respected group of scholars in environmental soil microbiology, soil chemistry and soil physics. Not only do our students learn from their professors in class, but they get to know them outside of the lecture hall and lab. Through faculty-mentored research projects, club activities, independent studies, and internships, our students find interactions with faculty to be regular events. Students also benefit from the expertise of the faculty advisor when it comes to choosing classes, searching for internships, and planning the future.