Soil and Water Sciences

The MSc in Soil and Water Sciences program at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem aims to prepare students for coping with current and future agricultural challenges. The unique Israeli environment, characterized by limited water resources, state-of-the-art agriculture, and diverse climate and soils, offers students exciting research opportunities to tackle these global questions.

Study and research in the MSc Soil and Water Sciences program from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem combines the chemical and physical aspects of the soil-water-atmosphere continuum to approach precision agriculture. Teaching focuses on theoretical aspects in the soil-water-atmosphere continuum, as well as their implementation in precision agricultural practice.

Key Facts

Students may enroll in the non-thesis track (40 credits) or the thesis track (24 credits), both of which extend over 2 years. Each student will carry out an individual research project, supervised by a faculty member, on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with his/her supervisor.

Agriculture in the 21st century is facing enormous challenges. Not only are farmers expected to produce adequate agricultural products at affordable prices to guarantee enough food for a rising global population, but they are also expected to do so under conditions of increasingly scarce natural resources and climate change. The quantity, quality and sustainability of soil and water are jeopardized by urban land growth, improper use and management, and climate change threats.

Graduates gain valuable hands-on experience allowing them to join research and development teams in soil and water-related agro-tech industries, or to pursue higher academic research and degrees.

Courses include:

• The research and teaching in the Soil and Water teaching program integrate both chemical and physical aspects of the soil, water and atmosphere. The teaching is closely linked to research as well as agricultural work.

• The curriculum includes specialized courses which provide in-depth knowledge on specific, narrow topics, and bridging courses which link between the various scientific and technological disciplines in the teaching program.