GEOL 5320 - Origin and Classification of Soils

Consideration of concept of soil and factors of soil formation, introduction to soil morphology and systems of soil classification, discussion of major soil groups of world and soils of Ohio.

Requisites:
Credit Hours: 4
Repeat/Retake Information: May not be retaken.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 2.0 lecture, 2.0 laboratory
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:

Be able to define and recognize all Group-level soils.
Be familiar with the common field methods for soil description and classification.
Extra quantitative problems for graduate students possess greater complexities and the qualitative questions require deeper syntheses than are expected of undergraduate students.
Graduate student abilities are tested by extra quantitative and qualitative problems added to the five assignments given to all students.
Graduate students are held to a higher standard than undergraduate students. Graduate students must demonstrate a greater ability to understand and synthesize course topics.
Know the basic physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in soils.
Know the major types of organisms in soils and understand how organisms contribute to soil development and evolution.
Understand soils from a geomorphic perspective, wherein soils are simultaneously active participants in landscape evolution and historical records of the system’s evolution.