Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details
This course meets in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:40–11:10 AM. Class sessions will include a mix of lectures, group discussions, guest lectures and examining scientific literature.
Active participation is expected and strongly encouraged. Students should come to class prepared, having completed any assigned readings or pre-class work. While most instruction will occur during scheduled class periods, supplemental materials and assignments will be posted to Blackboard, which students are expected to check regularly for updates, deadlines, and announcements.
There is no separate laboratory component for this course, but several class activities will involve applied exercises related to soil sampling, survey interpretation, and real-world soil management practices relevant to the Midwest region.
Contact Information
1.0
Upon successful completion of this course...
1. The student will discuss the background on soils around us.
2. The student will describe the formation of soils.
3. The student will explain the productivity of soils.
4. The student will describe the impact of fertility on the cropping systems.
5. The student will define soil profiles.
6. The student will effectively utilize Soil Survey tool.
There is no required textbook for this course. All readings, peer-reviewed articles, and supplemental materials will be provided by the instructor and posted on Blackboard. Students are expected to check Blackboard regularly for updates, reading assignments, and class resources.
Describe the formation, characteristics, and importance of soils in the Midwestern United States.
Interpret soil survey data and evaluate how soil properties influence land use and crop production.
Demonstrate understanding of basic soil sampling techniques and the use of soil test results in fertility management.
Identify key physical, chemical, and biological indicators of soil health.
Explain the role of cover crops, amendments, and conservation practices in maintaining and improving soil function.
Analyze the relationship between soil and water, including management practices that reduce erosion and improve infiltration.
Apply soil science principles to real-world agricultural and environmental decision-making in the Midwest.
Tentative Schedule:
Week | Date | Topic | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8/25/2026 | Syllabus | |
| 8/27/2026 | Ohio Weather & Ohio Soils | Assignment 1: The Importance of Soils | |
| 2 | 9/1/2026 | Soil Fertility | |
| 9/3/2026 | Soil Surveys & USDA Web Soil Survey | Assignment 2: Soil Fertility | |
| 3 | 9/8/2026 | Soil Properties & Sampling | |
| 9/10/2026 | Soil Degradation | Assignment 3: Soil Sampling & Degradation | |
| 4 | 9/15/2026 | Soil Amendments | |
| 9/17/2026 | Soil & Water Management | Assignment 4: Research Article | |
| 5 | 9/22/2026 | Soil Health & Soil Microbes | |
| 9/24/2026 | Soil Conservation | Assignment 5: Soil Health | |
| 6 | 9/29/2026 | Dr. Tvisha Martin- Soil Ecology | |
| 10/1/2026 | Cover Crops | Assignment 6: Cover Crops | |
| 7 | 10/6/2026 | Research Article Presentations/Final Exam Review | |
| 10/8/2026 | Final Exam | Final Exam |
Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.
This course includes a variety of assignments designed to reinforce lecture material, connect students to real-world applications, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Assignments include written reflections, soil survey and management exercises, a research article review, and other applied activities related to course topics. Students will also participate in class discussions and complete in-class activities designed to encourage collaboration and application of course concepts. The final exam, worth 70 points, will assess overall comprehension of the material covered throughout the semester.
Each component of the course is weighted according to its complexity and contribution to the course learning objectives. See the table below for a full breakdown:
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Weekly Assignments (15 points x 5) | 75 |
| Research Article (Written & Oral Presentation) | 25 |
| Attendance & Participation | 10 |
| In-Class Activities | 25 |
| Final Exam | 70 |
| Total | 205 |
The grading scale will be as follows:
Letter Grade | Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| A | 100 – 96 |
| A− | 95.9 – 91 |
| B+ | 90.9 – 88 |
| B | 87.9 – 85 |
| B− | 84.9 – 82 |
| C+ | 81.9 – 79 |
| C | 78.9 – 76 |
| C− | 75.9 – 72 |
| D+ | 71.9 – 69 |
| D | 68.9 – 66 |
| F | Below 65.9 |
Instructor Course Policies
Regular attendance and active participation are expected in this course. Because many class periods include discussions, group activities, problem-solving exercises, and other applied learning experiences, attendance is essential to success in the course.
Participation and in-class activities contribute to the final course grade. Some in-class assignments and activities may only be completed during the scheduled class period and cannot always be made up outside of class. As a result, absences may result in missed participation points and/or missed opportunities to earn credit for in-class work.
If you must miss class due to illness, a family emergency, or another extenuating circumstance, please notify me as soon as possible. Alternative arrangements may be made at the instructor's discretion; however, make-up opportunities are not guaranteed for all missed participation activities or in-class assignments.
Students are responsible for obtaining notes from classmates and staying current with announcements, assignments, and course materials posted on Blackboard.
Please refer to the current Student Handbook for the college's full Attendance Policy, including guidelines regarding excused absences.
All students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. This means submitting your own work, properly citing sources, and collaborating only when explicitly permitted. Acts of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, cheating on exams, falsifying data, or unauthorized collaboration, will not be tolerated.
Any violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action, which may include a zero on the assignment, failure in the course, or referral to the college’s academic conduct board. If you are ever unsure about what constitutes appropriate collaboration or citation, please ask before submitting your work.
See the current Student Handbook for the college's Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges.
Institutional and Program-Level Policies
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.
Undergraduate: FA26 Final Exam Schedule
Out-of-class Work Expectation A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week. |
Instructional Course Delivery Definition of Courses |
Academic Integrity Policy The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions. Academic Integrity Policy |
Class Attendance Policy Institutional Class Attendance Policy |