Soil Science Courses
Below is listing of the soil science courses offered at WSU. Where given, the links below will direct you to either the most recent syllabus and/or course web page.
Several courses utilize the Blackboard Learning Systems (formerly known as WebCT) web interface where login is required and is limited to those enrolled.
101 Organic Gardening and Farming 3 Principles and production practices of organic gardening and farming. S, F grading. (web)
150 [Q] Science, Society and Sustainable Food Systems 3 (2-3) Introduction to food and farming systems, emphasizing scientific principles and sustainability from environmental and socioeconomic perspectives. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (PlSc 150). (web)
201 [B] Soil: A Living System 3 Biological, chemical, and physical properties of soils; fundamentals of soil ecology, soil-water-plant relations, soil fertility, and soil genesis.
(web-Flury/Fall) (web-Reganold/Spring)
301 [M] Ecological Soil Management 3 Prereq SoilS 201. Soil and water conservation and management; land classification and reclamation; soils and environmental quality; sustainable agroecosystems. (web) (distance delivery)
345 Sustainable Agriculture 3 Prereq two semesters college-level physical or biological science or by permission. Environmental issues in sustainable agriculture and food production; pesticides, fertilizers, organic wastes, biotechnology, quality of life, and risk-benefit assessment. Cooperative course taught jointly by WSU and UI (Soil 345).
360 [I] World Agricultural Systems 3 Prereq two semesters physical or biological sciences. Same as CropS 360. (web) (distance delivery)
368 Introduction to ArcGIS 3 (1-6) Prereq one course in biology, geology, or soils. Introduction to geographic information systems applied to landscape data; geographic coordinate systems and projections, make maps and use geodatabases.
374 Remote Sensing and Airphoto Interpretation 3 (2-3) Physical basis of remote sensing, fundamentals of aerial photography and image analysis applied to agriculture, forestry, wildland management problems.
402 Special Topics in Soils V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 hours. Presentation and discussion of current soils science subject matter. Cooperative course jointly taught by WSU and UI (Soil 404).
403 Agricultural Entrepreneurship 3 Designed for students who are interested in starting an agricultural enterprise or gaining knowledge of the process. Cooperative course taught by UI (AG 404), open to WSU students. S, F grading.
404 Small Acreage Farming and Ranching Overview 3 Introduction to small acreage production systems, evaluation of personal and family goals, land evaluation, business planning, marketing options, regulations, and community resources. Cooperative course taught by UI (Ag 404), open to WSU students.
412 Seminar 1 Same as CropS 412.
413 Soil Physics 3 (2-3) Prereq Math 107; Geol 101, 102 or SoilS 201. Characterization of soil properties including water content and potential and hydraulic conductivity; modeling water, solute transport, erosion and contamination of groundwater. Credit not granted for both SoilS 413 and 513. (web)
414 Environmental Biophysics 2 Prereq Math 107. Physical environment of living organisms (temperature, humidity, radiation, wind); heat and mass exchange and balance in plant and animal systems. Credit not granted for both SoilS 414 and 514. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (Biol 415). (web)
415 Environmental Biophysics Laboratory 1 (0-3) Prereq SoilS 414 or c//. Experimental methods and procedures in environmental measurements; temperature, wind, radiation, and humidity measurements in biological environments. Credit not granted for both SoilS 415 and 515. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (Biol 436).
421 Environmental Soil Chemistry 3 Prereq two semesters of Chem; SoilS 201. Soil constituents; soil solutions: mineral equilibria; absorption reactions; acid/base reactions; oxidation-reduction; soil contaminants. Credit not granted for both SoilS 421 and 521.
421 (Effective through Fall 2007) Environmental Soil Chemistry 3 Prereq Chem 105, 106, SoilS 201. Soil constituents; soil solutions: mineral equilibria; absorption reactions; acid/base reactions; oxidation-reduction; soil contaminants. Credit not granted for both SoilS 421 and 521.
431 Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry 3 (2-3) Prereq MBioS 101 or 201; SoilS 201. Biology and significance of organisms inhabiting soil; roles in nutrient cycling, ecosystem function, agriculture and bioremediation. Credit not granted for both SoilS 431 and 531.
441 Soil Fertility 3 (2-2) Prereq SoilS 201. Nutrient management impacts on crop productivity, soil and water quality; mineral requirements; soil testing; plant analysis; inorganic and organic fertilizers.
442 Analytical Methods for Soil-Plant-Water Systems 3 (2-3) Prereq SoilS 421 or 441. Standard analytical methods; e.g. major dissolved ions, organic matter concentration, carbon exchange capacity; experimental design; hypothesis testing; statistical methods. Cooperative course jointly taught by WSU and UI (Soil 404).
445 Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems 3 Experiential course visiting farms, food processing and marketing facilities to develop understanding of issues and relationships of sustainable food systems. Credit not granted for both SoilS 445 and 545. Cooperative course taught jointly by WSU and UI (AG 445/545). (web)
451 [M] Pedology 3 (2-3) Prereq SoilS 201. Soil profiles, soil-forming processes, and soil classification. Field trips required.
468 ArcGIS and Geospatial Analysis 4 (2-6) Prereq Biol 120, Geol 101 or Soils 201. Geographic information systems applied to analysis of landscape data; maps, geographic coordinate systems and projections, geodatabases. (web)
480 Practicum in Organic Agriculture 6 (3-9) Prereq by permission. Applied principles and practices of organic agriculture; immersion and participation in all required farming/gardening activities. (web)
490 Composting 2 The composting industry, including biology, methods, benefits, management, regulations, and environmental concerns.
495 Research Experience V 1-4 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 12 hours. Same as CropS 495.
497 Special Topics: Study Abroad V 1-15 May be repeated for credit. S, F grading.
498 Professional Internship V V 1-6 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 9 hours. Planned and supervised professional work experience. S, F grading.
499 Special Problems V 1-4 May be repeated for credit. S, F grading.
501 Seminar 1 May be repeated for credit. Presentation of research information.
502 Advanced Topics in Soils V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 hours. Interpretation, presentation, and discussion of current research on soils, uses, and management.
503 Advanced Soil Analysis V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 hours. By interview only. Soil research techniques; application of modern instrumentation to soil analysis. (web)
504 Research Presentation Techniques 1 Preparation of visual aids and oral presentation of research findings. S, F grading.
505 Teaching Practicum 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 4 hours. Supervised experience in classroom teaching; classroom preparation for lectures, discussions, laboratories; preparation and grading of exams. S, F grading.
511 Research Proposal and Development 2 Same as CropS 511. S, F grading.
513 Soil Physics 3 (2-3) Prereq graduate standing. Characterization of soil properties including water content and potential and hydraulic conductivity; modeling water, solute transport, erosion contamination of groundwater. Credit not granted for both SoilS 413 and 513.
514 Environmental Biophysics 2 Prereq Math 107. Graduate-level counterpart of SoilS 414; additional requirements.
515 Environmental Biophysics Laboratory 1 (0-3) Prereq SoilS 414 or c//. Graduate-level counterpart of SoilS 415; additional requirements.
521 Environmental Soil Chemistry 3 Prereq two semesters of Chem; SoilS 201. Graduate-level counterpart of SoilS 421; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both SoilS 421 and 521. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (Soil 521).
521 (Effective through Fall 2007) Environmental Soil Chemistry 3 Prereq Chem 105, 106, SoilS 201. Graduate-level counterpart of SoilS 421; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both SoilS 421 and 521. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (Soil 521).
526 Soil Mineralogy 2 (1-3) Prereq SoilS 421, 451. Distribution and significance of soils minerals; weathering and reactivity of mineral structures; techniques of mineral identification including x-ray diffraction, chemical dissolution, optical and electron microscopy. Cooperative course taught by UI (SoilS 526), open to WSU students.
531 Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry 3 (2-3) Prereq MBioS 101 or 201; SoilS 201. Same as Soils 431.
533 Advanced Vadose Zone Hydrology 2 Prereq SoilS 413. Methods and models for water, heat, vapor and solute transport in the vadose zone; transfer functions to describe solute transport; non-linear parameter estimation. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (SoilS 533).
537 Soil Biochemistry 3 Prereq MBioS 303; Micro 201; SoilS 421. Enzyme activity; microbial activity/biomass; rhizosphere; carbon, nitrogen phosphorus, sulfur, and micronutrient cycles. Cooperative course taught by UI (SoilS 537), open to WSU students.
541 Soil-Plant-Microbial Interactions 3 Prereq SoilS 421, 431, or 441. Soil-plant-microbial relationships to plant nutrition, plant health, and environmental cleanup; rhizosphere chemistry and microbial ecology. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (SoilS 541).
545 Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems 3 Graduate-level counterpart of SoilS 445; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both SoilS 445 and 545. Cooperative course jointly taught by WSU and UI (Ag 545). (web)
547 Soil Fertility Management 3 Prereq SoilS 441. Philosophy of fertilizer recommendations based on soil and plant tissue testing; principles of fertilizer manufacture, placement and use. Cooperative course taught by UI (SoilS 547), open to WSU students.
551 Advanced Pedology 3 Prereq SoilS 451. Origin and development of soil; geochemical and biochemical weathering processes; dynamics of organic matter; soil development cycles. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (SoilS 551).
557 Advanced Soil Genesis and Classification 3 (2-3) Prereq SoilS 451. Genesis, classification and interpretation of soils, including field investigation emphasizing existing interrelationships. Cooperative course taught by UI (SoilS 557), open to WSU students.
574 Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis 3 (1-4) Prereq SoilS 374; 476 or equivalent. Digital image processing theory and geographic information systems applied to landscape analysis. Cooperative course taught jointly by WSU and UI (For 572). (web)
575 Seminar in Remote Sensing 1 Presentation of research results and ideas on subjects relating to remote sensing. (web)
600 Special Projects or Independent Study Variable credit S, F grading.
700 Master's Research, Thesis, and/or Examination Variable credit S, F grading.
702 Master's Special Problems, Directed Study, and/or Examination Variable credit S, F grading.
800 Doctoral Research, Dissertation, and/or Examination Variable credit S, F grading.
Heading using the h3tag
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