Soil Conservation Specialist Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Soil Conservation Specialist

Best Schools to become a Soil Conservation Specialist in U.S. 2024

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH

In-State Tuition:$15,000
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,000
Admission Rate:96%
Graduation Rate:41%
Total Enrollment:164,091

American Public University System

Charles Town, WV

In-State Tuition:$6,840
Out-of-State Tuition:$6,840
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:55%
Total Enrollment:48,668

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR

In-State Tuition:$10,425
Out-of-State Tuition:$31,200
Admission Rate:83%
Graduation Rate:70%
Total Enrollment:34,292

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH

In-State Tuition:$11,525
Out-of-State Tuition:$35,782
Admission Rate:53%
Graduation Rate:88%
Total Enrollment:60,540

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL

In-State Tuition:$4,559
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,473
Admission Rate:44%
Graduation Rate:74%
Total Enrollment:49,600

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA

In-State Tuition:$11,189
Out-of-State Tuition:$39,687
Admission Rate:48%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:52,319
Soil Conservation Specialist Job Description:
  • Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment.
  • May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands.
  • May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Soil Conservation Specialist

Job Duties for Soil Conservation Specialists

  • Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.

  • Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.

  • Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.

Technologies and Skills Used by Soil Conservation Specialists

Analytical or scientific software

  • Clover Technology GALENA
  • WinEPIC

Geographic information system

  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • Geographic information system GIS software

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Basic Skills

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • Reading work related information

People and Technology Systems

  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Soil Conservation Specialist

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Soil Conservation Specialist

FAQs About Becoming a Soil Conservation Specialist