Course
SOS 3022 - Introduction to Soils in the Environment

Professor

Class Hours: Tuesdays from 6-8:30 pm. The class is broadcast live through videoconference to participating University of Florida Research and Education Centers. Internet only section is available.

Office Hours:

Always open. Please call or email me if you want to set up an appointment. You can reach me in the Ft. Lauderdale campus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the rest of the week in Belle Glade.

Credits: 3 credits

Text: Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils
by Nyle C. Brady & Ray R. Weil. Format: Textbook Hardcover, 559pp. second edition ISBN: 013048038X Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2nd edition, Pub. Date: 2004

Course Description

The course will cover the fundamentals of soil science; the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils in relation to plant growth and environmental problems. 

OBJECTIVES:

To gain knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of soil science and the role soils play in our daily life.  Students will have a practical understanding of:

Formation and classification of soils

Soil physical and chemical properties

Importance of soils in agriculture and environment

Different soil management strategies

Internet Access:

Go to http://lss.at.ufl.edu/; Click on Vista, then University of Florida. Sign in using your Gatorlink account.  This will automatically take you the class link on your WebCT (and any other classes you may be taking on WebCT).

Please note that you must have completed registration to be added to the class list on WebCT.

The class web site has links to:

• Schedule of lectures and laboratory (Laboratory schedule for Fort Lauderdale location only).  

• Study guides for the various lectures for the course. The study guides include a list of objectives and material covered in the lectures. The study guides will help you in your study for the course.

• Handouts for the lecture in pdf formats.

• Power point presentations

• Homework assignments

• Your grades for exams, quizzes and homework

• Questions submitted by other students – Answers will be posted on the Bulletin Board.

  Exams
There will be three lecture exams. Your final grade will be based on the cumulative score for the three lecture exams and the homework.

Three 1-hour exam: 75% of grade

Homework assignments: 25% of grade

Grade Scale:

A = 90%; B+ = 86%; B = 80%; C+ = 76%; C = 70%; D+ = 66%; D = 60%.

Missing quizzes and Exams:

If you will be unable to attend class on the date of a scheduled exam, please contact me prior to exam date for approval and to arrange an alternative exam time, otherwise no make up exam will be provided.

Academic Honesty
As a result of completing the registration form at the University of Florida, every student has signed the following statement: "I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their academic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the University." We agree to comply with the new Honor Code, which specifies that "We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity."

UF Counseling Services
Resources are available on campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals which interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:

1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, personal and career counseling
   
2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Center, 392-1171, personal counseling
   
3. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counseling
4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling.