SRJC Course Outlines

3/28/2024 7:07:51 AMAGRI 20 Course Outline as of Fall 2018

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  AGRI 20Title:  INTRO TO PLANT SCIENCE  
Full Title:  Introduction to Plant Science
Last Reviewed:4/11/2022

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled2.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled35.00
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled3.0017.5 min.Lab Scheduled52.50
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total5.00 Contact Total87.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00Total 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:
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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: Untitled document
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:
 B2Life ScienceFall 1981
 B3Laboratory Activity  
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 5BBiological SciencesFall 2019
 5CFulfills Lab Requirement  
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
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:
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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: Untitled document
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
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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:
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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:
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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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