GEOL 633 - The Science of Soils

Units: 4
Aspects of soil science, including soil formation and structure, soil mineralogy, soil chemistry and fertility, soil physics, and soil ecology. Includes agricultural and urban environments, and issues such as soil contamination.

Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
Possible Instructional Methods: On-ground, or Hybrid, or Online-Asynchronous.
Grading: A-F grading only.
Cross-listed: ENSC 633
Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Identify and explain the five soil-forming factors, and their effects on different soils found in the Bay Area and around the world.
Synthesize and apply prior knowledge of mineralogy, chemistry, and physics to explain soil chemical properties, weathering, fertility, and contaminant transport.
Synthesize and apply prior knowledge of mineralogy, chemistry, and physics to explain the influence of soil composition and physical properties on water and air movement through the soil.
Identify major groups of soil organisms (including microorganisms), and explain the soil processes to which these organisms contribute.
Apply the principles of soil science to solve practical problems in situations ranging from agriculture to contamination.
Synthesize knowledge and research into a high-quality project that explores some aspect of soil science, agriculture, urban soils, soil contaminants, soil microbiology, etc.
Express themselves clearly in oral and written form, in discussions of primary scientific literature related to soils and soil science.