Soil Science Department began training and research activities with two faculty members within the Agricultural Faculty of Uludag University in 1984. It started 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, Penguen, 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 higher education, Soil Science and Plant Nutrition program is subject to the third cycle degree system with 180-240 ECTS credits. In Doctorate program it is required to 240 ECTS. If the program is completed and the program proficiencies are done successfully, Students have a Doctorate degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.

Third Cycle

For a student to apply for Doctorate program at Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition; Candidates must have a Master of Science degree. Application to the PD program with master certificate depends on conformity condition of PHD. Candidates’ must have science base ALES score determined by Uludag University Senate. Students must have UDS, TOEFL, TOEFL or equivalent examinations accepted by YOK whose minimum score determined by Senate in languages of English, German, French, Italian, Russian and Arabic, for foreign students in English, German, French languages. UU Senate decides the Equivalence of other foreign language documents. For foreign candidates, Tomer candidates Turkish competency given by TOMER and ALES exam results or GRE, GMAT and other exams which are by YOK in international level. 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, foreign language score 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 Doctorate degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, the students have to manage all of the courses at least 24 credits from a maximum of 30 credits (240 ECTS) for at least eight 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 75 point out of 100 for each course, The programme consists of compulsory and elective courses in graduate courses. Students must achieve the qualifying examination 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 students are awarded Doctorate 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
educate qualified individuals who serve in its position on international standards which are equipped with the necessary knowledge and experience of contemporary. Educate qualified individuals 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 length and breadth knowledge and experience about Soil Science and Plant Nutrition in universal dimension.
2. Do and interpret independent academic 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 discuss the findings those obtained during the professional practice at high-level scientific platforms.
9. To gain the ability 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 to provide coordination 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 and fertilizer dealers.

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Access to Further Studies

Graduates who successfully completed doctorate degree may apply to both in the same or related disciplines in higher education institutions at home or abroad to get a position in academic staff or to governmental R&D centers to get expert position.

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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 75 points. A student has received a letter grade AA, BA, BB, and CB 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 In addition, course work and dissertation stage students need to be successful in its seminars. During the six-month monitoring the student´s thesis committee and thesis dissertation about the processes required to present his work.

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Graduation Requirements

To complete the Doctorate program successfully, the students must achieve all of the compulsory and elective courses. The students have to manage all of the courses at least 24 credits from a maximum of 30 credits (240 ECTS) for at least eight courses. Students must obtain at least an average of 75 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. Students are awarded Doctorate Degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition program.

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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 glasshouse where in NFT and soilless culture studies is being carried out.

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Curriculum