About: 

Boost your career mobility and professional credibility through certification as a Professional Soil Scientist. With environmental sustainability at the forefront of global decision making, credentialed soil scientists with a solid background in soil pedology, chemistry, microbiology, and morphology are in growing demand.

Our part-time, short-term program for professionals in soil science and related fields lets you keep working while you meet the minimum academic requirements for certification at your own pace — even without a master’s degree. Whether your background is in wetland delineation, site suitability assessment, agricultural applications or other areas, this structured yet flexible program gives you the endorsement you need to expand your work with private companies, government research agencies and public institutions around the globe.

Sample a Course

Learn more about this program:

To receive more information and connect with the program manager, please complete the request form .

Click here for more information on UMass Amherst's New England Regional Soil Science Certificate Program.

Tuition/Fees: 

Registration is administered through UMass Amherst University Without Walls.  Please see Fee Schedule below.
 

Type of Fee Amount
Fee per credit $474
Registration Fee per semester $60
Returned Check Fee per semester** $30

Click here to browse our course listings.

*applicable when you register after deadline; non-refundable unless course has been cancelled

** applicable when checks returned unpaid

*** Courses can vary from one to six credits; this total represents a standard 3 credit course

Accreditation: 

The University of Massachusetts is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Plan of Study: 

Program partners: The six land-grant universities in New England.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Connecticut-Storrs
University of Maine-Orono
University of New Hampshire
University of Rhode Island
University of Vermont

Format: Courses may be taken at any of the six sponsoring institutions.

Certificate requirements: Successful completion of 15 semester credits of soil science, distributed among various areas of the field.

Certifying agencies: Certification is awarded by organizations outside of the cooperating institutions, including the Society of Soil Scientists of Southern New England and the American Society of Agronomy.