The undergraduate soil science program at the University of Idaho is coming under increased scrutiny because of financial constraints and the pressure to eliminate programs that fail to produce large numbers of graduates. Our original objective was to ensure that we maintained a program that provided adequate training for students majoring in soils, despite the elimination of a specific degree in the area of soil science. We were faced with several alternatives, all which relied on integration of our degree into that of another program. Perhaps the most logical of these alternatives was to align ourselves with an existing undergraduate program in plant science, environmental science, natural resources, or geology. However, all of these alternatives possess limitations or are fraught by institutional constraints that inhibit our ability to produce students adequately trained in soil science. Changing demographics within the State indicate that any combination with a traditional degree in the agricultural field will not serve to increase student numbers. As a consequence, we are currently relying on a collaborative arrangement with environmental science in which all seniors mentored by soil science faculty are counted in both programs. Although this has served to double our graduates from an average of three to approximately six per year, environmental science course requirements limit our ability to prepare students for occupations in soil science. Alliances with other departments such as geology or natural resources are hindered by the need to cross college boundaries. It is becoming increasingly evident that maintaining an undergraduate degree in soil science may not be possible and that our focus in the future will be on graduate programs only.