12/21/2024 9:08:21 AM	AGRI 20 Course Outline as of Fall 2018	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  AGRI 20	Title:  INTRO TO PLANT SCIENCE
Full Title:  Introduction to Plant Science
Last Reviewed:4/11/2022

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  AG 51

Catalog Description:

Introduction to plant science including structure, growth processes, propagation, physiology, growth media, biological competitors, and post-harvest factors of food, fiber, and ornamental plants.  Laboratory required.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Introduction to plant science including structure, growth processes, propagation, physiology, growth media, biological competitors, and post-harvest factors of food, fiber, and ornamental plants.  Laboratory required.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	C	Natural Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B2	Life Science		Fall 1981
	B3	Laboratory Activity
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	5B	Biological Sciences		Fall 2019
	5C	Fulfills Lab Requirement
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: AG - PS 106L	Introduction to Plant Science (with Laboratory)	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): AGRI20

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Demonstrate understanding of the fundamentals of botany and the taxonomy of plant

    structure and function.

2.  Describe the relationships between plants, soils, and climates.

3.  Analyze and compare plants, growing conditions, and types of crop production.

 

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1.   Categorize the roles of higher plants in the living world.

2.   Describe the structural components of higher plants.

3.   Explain the standard plant propagation methods.

4.   Describe sexual and asexual reproduction in higher plants.

5.   Explain photosynthesis, respiration, and translocation in higher plants.

6.   Describe the physical and chemical properties of soils.

7.   Hypothesize solutions for soil erosion problems.

8.   Describe the climatic influences on plant growth and development.

9.   Categorize the biological competitors of higher plants.

10. Describe the scientific method and explain its application in solving problems in plant and

     soil science.

Topics and Scope

I. The Role of Higher Plants in the Living World

    A. Fossil fuels

    B. Food chains

    C. Industrial products

    D. Lower forms of plant life

II. Structure of Higher Plants

    A. The life cycle of a plant

    B. The cell

    C. Cell structure

    D. The plant body

III. Naming and Classifying Plants

    A. Climate

    B. Botanical names

    C. Botanical classifications

    D. Plant taxonomy

IV. Origin, Domestication, and Improvement of Cultivated Plants

    A. Origin of cultivated plants

    B. Domestication of plants

    C. Crop plants

    D. Germplasm

    E. Genetic concepts in plant improvement

V. Propagation of Plants

    A. Propagation methods

    B. Sexual propagation

    C. Vegetative propagation

VI. Vegetative and Reproductive Growth and Development

    A. Vegetative growth and development

    B. Reproductive growth and development

    C. Plant growth regulators

VII. Photosynthesis, Respiration, and Translocation

    A. Photosynthesis

    B. Plant respiration

    C. Electron transport system

    D. Assimilation

VIII. Soil and Soil Water

    A. Factors involved in soil formation

    B. Physical properties of soil

    C. Chemical properties of soil

    D. Soil organisms

    E. Soil organic matter

    F. Soil water

    G. Water quality

IX. Soil and Water Management and Mineral Nutrition

    A. Land preparation

    B. Irrigation

    C. Mineral nutrition

    D. Soil conservation

X. Climatic Influences on Crop Production

    A. Climatic factors affecting plant growth

    B. Climatic requirements of some crop plants

    C. Weather and climate

    D. Climatic influences on plant diseases and pests

XI. Crops/ Harvest Practices

    A. Crops grown in region

    B. Harvest practices

    C. Post-harvest practices

XII. Biological Competitors of Useful Plants

    A. Weeds

    B. Plant diseases

    C. Plant pests

    D. Nematodes

    E. Rodents

    F. Pesticide impacts on the environment

XIII. The Scientific Method

    A. Developing a hypothesis

    B. Scientific design

    C. Application to plant/soil problems

 

All areas are covered in both the Lecture and Lab portions of the course.

Assignments:

Lecture-Related Assignments:

1. Reading (20 - 30 pages per week)

2. Homework (1 - 2 pages per week)

3. Crop report (6 - 8 pages) on production of selected crop

4. Quizzes, midterm and final exam

 

Lab-Related Assignments:

1. Lab activities

2. Lab write-ups: drawing and labeling plant specimens, describing the morphology and function

    of dissections of seeds

3. Plant collection of crop and weed plants

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 50%
Lab reports, crop report, homework
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 50%
Lab activities and plant collection
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 60%
Quizzes, midterm, final exam: Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion, essay, short answers
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Stern's Introductory Plant Biology. 14th ed. Bidlack, James and Jansky, Shelley. McGraw-Hill Education. 2017

Plant Science: Growth, Development, and Utilization of Cultivated Plants. 5th ed. McMahon, Margaret and Kofranek, Anton and Rubatzky, Vincent. Prentice Hall. 2010 (classic)

Instructor-prepared lab manual

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