Soil Science Department began training and research activities with two faculty members within the Agricultural Faculty of Uludag University in 1984. It started graduate and doctoral education in 1985. On 02.06.2010, the name of the department has been changed as department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition with the decision of the Board of Higher Education and has still six professors, one associate professors, two assistant professors and a secretary on duty.
Since it was founded, at the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, numerous research projects which have been supported by national and international institutions, organizations and non-governmental organizations (TUBITAK, DPT, Uludag University Scientific Research Project commission, Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Natural Life Protection Association, the Provincial Directorate of Rural Services, University of Bonn, the British Council, the Industrial Organizations (Sütaş, Penguin, Tat, Nestle etc.), the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality), have been carried out and completed in order to solve some agricultural problems of the region and the country. In addition, department faculty members take part in meetings and several panels, in order to solve the agricultural problems of the region and to inform and share the produced information with the interested parties.

In this part of the higher education, Soil Science and Plant Nutrition program is subject to the second cycle degree system with 90-120 ECTS credits. In Master Program with thesis, it is required to 120 ECTS. If the program is completed and the program proficiencies are done successfully, Students have a Master of Science degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.

Second Cycle

For a student to apply for master program at Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition; Candidates must have a bachelor of Science degree and ALES (numeric) score which is determined by the Senate of Uludag University is required. Applicants for graduate programs in writing, application, and / or interview with the success evaluation exam are done by the jury. During the general evaluation of writing, application, and / or interview, The jury, classify the candidates according to their overall success score taken from ALES, undergraduate / graduate grade and a written application and / or interview grade. In case of equality, foreign language score is checked. Candidates with scores below 60 considered to have failed overall grade.

The provisions in “Regulation on Transfer among Associate and Undergraduate Degree Programs, Double Major, and Subspecialty and the Principals of Credit Transfer among Institutions in Higher Education Institutions” are applied.

To obtain Master of Science degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, the students have to manage all of the courses at least 21 credits from a maximum of 28 credits (120 ECTS) for at least seven courses. Students may take the courses from the graduate program of the department or other branches that are associated with the Department and must obtain at least an average of 70 point out of 100 for each course and have to give seminars at the course stage. Although academic preparation programs should not be needed, if it is necessary the student may take extra courses from first cycle by the consultants advice. After the acceptance of the thesis proposal, the student conducts a thesis study. If the thesis was defended successfully before the jury and the second paragraph of Article 44 of the Regulation must have fulfilled the publication requirement, students are awarded Master of Science Degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.

The purpose of the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition is producing information universally in order to protect the Ground-water resources and natural environment, to improve the qualifications, to ensure sustainable use, to increase plant production and to solve the problems of productivity. For these purposes the department educates qualified individuals equipped with modern knowledge and experience, who do independent research that gained the capability to determine the necessary steps to reach new syntheses and to examine and make comments for scientific events in a broader and deeper perspective.

1. To learn the knowledge about Soil Science and Plant Nutrition in universal dimension.
2. Do and interpret independent research on Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.
3. On the basis of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition to learn the advanced analysis techniques of soil, plant, fertilizer, waste water and environmental pollution and to use these techniques in order to solve problems related to soil fertility.
4. To gain understanding and using the techniques of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems skills in order to planning and monitoring the Natural resources.
5. To gain understanding and using concepts of basic theories on Land management and use planning skills.
6. To gain the ability to see, analyse and find solutions about the problems of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition in our country and in the world and also to gain the ability to analyze, produce solutions for these problems and transfer them to the society in writing and orally .
7. To gain the ability to follow the national and international innovations on Soil Science and Plant Nutrition and also to gain the ability to renew and improve itself constantly.
8. To gain the ability to apply the findings that obtained during the professional practice by considering the interests of the country, agriculture and environmental protection.
9. To apply the findings obtained during the professional practice by considering the interests of the country, agriculture and environmental protection
10. To gain the ability to approach the problems of Soil and Plant Nutrition in a scientific level, offering the solutions by proposed methods and evaluate the results by applying the methods.
11. To have knowledge on recognition, planning, conservation and sustainable use of Soil, water and other natural resources and also in occupational health and safety.
12. To take part in team work and take on responsibility when needed as individuals having with the necessary scientific and ethical values of Agricultural Engineering Profession.
13. To use Turkish language effective in written and oral communication; to have knowledge of foreign languages and computer for monitoring the international literature and communicating with in the field.

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Occupational Profiles of Graduates With Examples

Graduates find working opportunities at the department of provincial and district directorates of agriculture and agricultural research institutes under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, at the Ministry of Environment and Urban Development, at the state of water affairs of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, at the Universities, special provincial administrations, at municipalities, at public and private banks, at chambers of agriculture, at agricultural credit cooperatives, at irrigation associations, at insurance companies, at the engineering firms operating in the land Consolidation, at private agricultural consultancy organizations, at soil, plant, water and nutrient analysis laboratories, at chemical and organic fertilizers factories, at pesticides, seed and fertilizer dealers.

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Access to Further Studies

Candidates who have successfully completed the Master of Science degree are eligible to apply to PhD programs at national level and /or international level both in the same and in related disciplines in case of obtaining the base score from the ALES determined by the Senate and a base score determined by the Senate from foreign languages, UDS, TOEFL, KPDS or equivalent examinations accepted by YOK.

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Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

At the beginning of each semester students have to register for classes and have to be continued at least 70% of courses and at least 80% of applications for final exam. All exams are evaluated over 100 points. Final exam are required to obtain at least 70 points. A student has received a letter grade AA, BA, BB, CB and CC, is considered successful from that course. The letter grade received over 100 points and the coefficient are as follows: AA 4.00 90-100 BA 3.50 85-89 BB 3.00 80-84 CB 2.50 75-79 CC 2.00 70-74 DC 1.50 65-69 DD 1.00 60-64 FD 0.50 50-59 FF 0 0-49

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Graduation Requirements

To complete the Master of Science program successfully, the students must achieve all of the compulsory and elective courses. The students have to manage all of the courses at least 21 credits from a maximum of 28 credits (120 ECTS) for at least seven courses. Students must obtain at least an average of 70 point out of 100 for each course and have to give seminars at the course and thesis stage. After the acceptance of the thesis proposal, the student conducts a thesis study. If the thesis was defended successfully before the jury and the second paragraph of Article 44 of the Regulation must have fulfilled the publication requirement. The students are given The Master of Science Degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.

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Mode of Study

Full-Time

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Address and Contact Details

Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Toprak Bilimi ve Bitki Besleme Anabilim Dalı C Blok Kat 1. Görükle Yerleşkesi, 16059 Nilüfer / BURSA
e-posta: toprakbol@uludag.edu.tr
tel: 0 224 2941530

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Facilities

Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition continuing education and research activities at Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility Laboratory where all kinds of soil, plant, water, fertilizer and environmental waste analysis can be done in it. At Instrumental Analysis Laboratory which is equipped with new technology product equipment. At Remote Sensing and GIS Laboratory for monitoring of natural resources, determination of quality and quantity and for the creation of data bases. At Cartography and Mapping Soil Survey Laboratory for soil survey and mapping work. At Soil Physics Laboratory where in soil protection and erosion work being carried out. At a 250 m2 glasshouse, and a 150 m2 plastic covered greenhouse where in NFT and soilless culture studies is being carried out.

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Curriculum