Graduate Student Resources
Challenging and Innovative Graduate Study
The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences gives our graduate students a stimulating education and research experience for students seeking M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in soil and crop sciences.
Graduate programs are developed in applied and basic sciences to understand soil, crop and environmental systems, to improve production and management efficiency of food, feed, and biomass crops, and apply soil and crop sciences to problems of environmental quality.
Graduate Student Application Deadlines
FALL SEMESTER
January 15th
SPRING SEMESTER
November 15th
For Current Graduate Students
If you are already enrolled as a graduate student in Soil and Crop Sciences, additional resources and department related activities are available through the Soil and Crop Intranet Portal.
Login with your CSU eID
How to Apply for Soil and Crop Sciences Graduate Programs
Step 1: Get an Advisor
Our graduate study programs are linked closely to faculty activities and research interests. Before applying to the Soil and Crop Sciences Department, you will need to confirm an advisor.
The Graduate Committee will not review your application unless you have this in place.
Please visit our faculty page and contact a faculty member that most closely fits your research interest.
Once you have an advisor confirmed, you can proceed with the application process. You will need to enter your advisor’s name on the application under Identified Faculty.
Step 2: Gather all necessary information for your graduate school application
GRE/GMAT Scores
Our department does not requires GRE scores.
Official Transcripts/Credential & Certified Translations
Official transcripts or mark sheets and any certificates, diplomas, or degrees from each college or university attended is required regardless of the length of attendance, including courses in progress. Final records will be required upon completion of the course or degree. ALL records submitted must be in the native language; any credentials written in languages other than English MUST be accompanied by a certified English translation – Colorado State University transcripts are not required.
Letters of Recommendation
A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required from previous instructors or employers who are able to comment on your abilities and potential for graduate study. You may provide contact information for up to five recommenders. There is no standardized format unless specified by the academic department. Your recommenders will be notified and prompted to supply a recommendation letter through the system. Academic references should be prepared to discuss your academic knowledge and skills, aptitude for graduate study, ability for independent research, and classroom performance related to characteristics such as integrity, leadership, problem solving, and teamwork. Choosing an individual as a reference who has an impressive title but cannot discuss the aforementioned qualities will not result in an informative letter of recommendation that supports your admission. Writing any portion of the recommendations yourself, either in whole or in part, may result in rejection or dismissal.
Applying Online
When applying using the online application system, most documents are uploaded directly by the applicant. For documents that cannot be submitted through the application system, such as official transcripts and test scores, request the documents be sent to the Office of Admissions.
Send official electronic test scores using code 4075.
Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062
Step 3: Apply through CSU's Graduate School
General application information can be found on the Graduate School Website.
Applications can be started on the Graduate School ready to apply page.
Graduate Program Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I contact for questions about being a graduate student in the department?
The first and best resource for anything related to being a graduate student is the Grad Student Hand book site you are on and/or the Graduate student resource page. The resource has frequently asked questions about more general items, while the handbook has more specifics.
If you can’t find an answer on those pages, please contact Kierra Jewell, grad student coordinator. Email is fastest at: kierra.jewell@colostate.edu. Office hours are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. M-F.
The Graduate Studies Panel is there for you to bring up and discuss any policies and procedures, suggestions and/or issues you may have related to conducting your research in the SOCR department.
The Graduate Coordinator is Dr. Steve Fonte. Please reach out to Dr. Fonte (steve.fonte@colostate.edu) with any additional concerns so that he can address these at the Graduate Studies Panel Meetings, which occur at least once a semester and includes a graduate student representative.
Current Graduate Student Testimonials
PhD Student- Taylor Bacon
- Name: Taylor Bacon
- Pronouns: she/her
- Title or focus of thesis: “Sharing Sunlight: Environmental Impacts of Co-Locating Regenerative Livestock Grazing and Solar Energy Generation”
- 3-5 sentences about experience & goals: Through my PhD in Soil & Crop Sciences, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with a transdisciplinary team on one of the first large-scale studies of solar grazing systems, or the combination of livestock grazing and solar energy on the same piece of land. Partnering with solar developers and ranchers, I’ve had the opportunity to collect data at an actively grazed, large-scale solar array. I’m working on characterizing the layered ecological impacts of solar panels and grazing, including microclimate, water cycling, soil characteristics and soil carbon storage and forage productivity. My hope is that this data will provide critical insights for sustainable land management as we transition towards renewable energy, reducing the conversion of grazing lands for energy development and improving the environmental outcomes of solar energy.
PhD Student- Laura Moore
Laura Moore (she/her/hers)
Soil and Crop Sciences
‘Microbial Architects: Exploring the Microbial Contributions to Mineral-Associated Organic Matter Storage Across Grazing Regimes.’
“My time as a graduate student at CSU has been incredibly rewarding, thanks to the supportive and community-oriented atmosphere in my department. Rather than feeling competitive, there’s a real sense of collaboration and camaraderie, which has significantly contributed to my academic and personal development. Additionally, being co-advised has allowed me to benefit from exceptional mentorship, with both advisors setting clear expectations and maintaining open communication, offering a perfect balance of challenge and support. My research has allowed me to learn valuable skills in bioinformatics and data analytics, and I feel empowered to pursue novel questions that align with my interests. I am incredibly grateful for my experience thus far at CSU and look forward to seeing where my academic journey takes me.”