I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Soil Science

2. Course Prefix & Number:
NATR 2155

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 2

Lab Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

This course is designed to give students an awareness of soil characteristics and techniques to evaluate physical and chemical properties. Practical uses of soil information and soil conservation techniques will be emphasized. Physical and chemical analysis, soil survey techniques, and soil conservation practices are included in the lab.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

2. Transfer - regional institutions with which this course has a written articulation agreement:

Name of Institution	Date of Acceptance	Discipline/Area/Program of Transfer
University of Minnesota Crookston	March 2010	Natural Resources Management
University of Wisconsin Steven’s Point	2007-2009	Natural Resources Management

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Natural Resources Technology, AAS

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Compose weekly lab reports related to soil science.
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Determine the particle size of soil.
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Distinguish and compare different soil uses based on soil characteristics and properties of soil.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Define and determine the 7 physical properties of soil.
• Categorize the 12 different soil orders.
• Evaluate the importance of soils to natural resource management.
• Utilize the basics of soil science techniques in order to determine their specific uses in natural resource management.
• Determine soil particle sizes and compare to the soil triangle.
• Understand the importance of soil science and the role a soil scientist plays in natural resources management.
• Understand the historical development of soil science in the US.
• Describe the use of soil maps in natural resources management.
• Describe the development of organic and mineral soils.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Introduction to Soils
• Soil Origin and Formation
2. Physical Properties of Soil
• Soil Structure
3. Soil Water
• Water Conservation
4. Plant Nutrition
• Soil Fertility
• Cation Exchange Capacity
5. Fertilizers
• Fertilizers and Amendments
6. Soil pH
• Carbon Cycle
• Nitrogen Cycle
• Phosphorus
7. Soil Classification
• Soil Orders
• Soil Mapping
• Soil Testing
8. Wetland Delineation
9. Soil Organisms
10. Land Suitability
• Forestry and Nutrient Management
• Soil Conservation
• Urban Soils

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Soil Horizons and Types
2. Soil Texture and Particles
3. Bulk Density and Porosity
4. Soil Water Content
5. Water Movement in Soil
6. Microbial Actions in the Soil
7. Soil Organic Content
8. Phosphorus in Soils
9. Soil Survey Manual
10. Soil Mapping
11. Soil Typing
12. Soil Erosion
13. Soil Tests
14. Soil Amendments
15. Wetland delineation
16. Conducting a Percolation Test