SOIL BIOLOGY

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: ( ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 , or ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 and 102 , or BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 , or BIOCORE 384 ) and ( CHEM 104 , 109 , or 116 ), or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Biological Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Use scientific vocabulary and conceptual models to describe microorganisms and fauna in soil Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Describe challenges of living in the soil ecosystem and examples of life history traits adaptive to the soil habitat Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Explain the relationship between soil organisms, soil organic matter, and nutrient cycling Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Explain the importance of the roots and the soil rhizosphere Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Discuss the concept of soilborne disease, the general life history traits of soilborne pathogens, and their relationship with the soil food web Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Outline the techniques used in soil biology Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Connect basic knowledge of soil biology with current global issues Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Evaluate current and relevant research and review papers on soil biology Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Analyze and explain a specific topic in soil biology that interests you Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 10. Examine peer reviewed literature related to topics in soil biology and design a discussion to evaluate findings Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Use scientific vocabulary and conceptual models to describe microorganisms and fauna in soil Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Describe challenges of living in the soil ecosystem and examples of life history traits adaptive to the soil habitat Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Explain the relationship between soil organisms, soil organic matter, and nutrient cycling Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Explain the importance of the roots and the soil rhizosphere Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Discuss the concept of soilborne disease, the general life history traits of soilborne pathogens, and their relationship with the soil food web Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Outline the techniques used in soil biology Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Connect basic knowledge of soil biology with current global issues Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Evaluate current and relevant research and review papers on soil biology Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Analyze and explain a specific topic in soil biology that interests you Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 10. Examine peer reviewed literature related to topics in soil biology and design a discussion to evaluate findings Audience: Graduate