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Active as of Fall Semester 2014
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:
NATR 2155 - Soil Science
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
NATR 2155 - Soil Science
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
Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement 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
- Introduction to Soils
- Soil Origin and Formation
- Physical Properties of Soil
- Soil Water
- Plant Nutrition
- Soil Fertility
- Cation Exchange Capacity
- Fertilizers
- Fertilizers and Amendments
- Soil pH
- Carbon Cycle
- Nitrogen Cycle
- Phosphorus
- Soil Classification
- Soil Orders
- Soil Mapping
- Soil Testing
- Wetland Delineation
- Soil Organisms
- Land Suitability
- Forestry and Nutrient Management
- Soil Conservation
- Urban Soils
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
- Soil Horizons and Types
- Soil Texture and Particles
- Bulk Density and Porosity
- Soil Water Content
- Water Movement in Soil
- Microbial Actions in the Soil
- Soil Organic Content
- Phosphorus in Soils
- Soil Survey Manual
- Soil Mapping
- Soil Typing
- Soil Erosion
- Soil Tests
- Soil Amendments
- Wetland delineation
- Conducting a Percolation Test
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:
NATR 2155 - Soil Science
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
NATR 2155 - Soil Science
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 fulfills a requirement 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
- Introduction to Soils
- Soil Origin and Formation
- Physical Properties of Soil
- Soil Water
- Plant Nutrition
- Soil Fertility
- Cation Exchange Capacity
- Fertilizers
- Fertilizers and Amendments
- Soil pH
- Carbon Cycle
- Nitrogen Cycle
- Phosphorus
- Soil Classification
- Soil Orders
- Soil Mapping
- Soil Testing
- Wetland Delineation
- Soil Organisms
- Land Suitability
- Forestry and Nutrient Management
- Soil Conservation
- Urban Soils
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
- Soil Horizons and Types
- Soil Texture and Particles
- Bulk Density and Porosity
- Soil Water Content
- Water Movement in Soil
- Microbial Actions in the Soil
- Soil Organic Content
- Phosphorus in Soils
- Soil Survey Manual
- Soil Mapping
- Soil Typing
- Soil Erosion
- Soil Tests
- Soil Amendments
- Wetland delineation
- Conducting a Percolation Test