Crop, Soil, and Environmental Management Courses | 2025-2026 Academic Catalog | SIU

[IAI Course: AG 903] Production of important field crops of the world with greatest emphasis on U.S. and Midwestern field crops; crop production changes and adjustments, crop distribution over U.S., and crop groups and classifications, special agronomic problems, crop enemies, crop ecology, fertilizer and liming practices, tillage, crop improvement through breeding. Field trip (no cost).

Credit Hours: 3

[IAI Course: AG 904] Basic and applied chemical, physical, and biological concepts in soils. The origin, classification and distribution of soils and their relationship to humans and plant growth. Prerequisite: CHEM 140A or higher. Lab fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 4

The student will learn the basic principles needed to successfully use pesticides in agricultural production systems. The use and function of application equipment to deliver pesticides in a safe and effective manner will be taught. Basic understanding of scouting, action threshold and decision making, active ingredient rotation, product formulation, and the generation, delivery and function of droplets will be covered. Course fee of $178 is required. Students will be required to pass Illinois pesticide application basic standards exam and at least two other specialty certifications for successful completion of the class.

Credit Hours: 1

Credit for on-campus work experience in the areas of plant and soil science, or credit through a cooperative program developed between the program and the Office of Student Work and Financial Assistance. Credit awarded based on 4 hours of work per week during the semester for each hour of credit. Special approval needed from the program. Mandatory Pass/Fail.

Credit Hours: 1-10

Principles of growth and production of field crops and their utilization. Laboratory demonstrating principles including research projects and modern production techniques. Prerequisite: CSEM 200.

Credit Hours: 4

Principles of genetics and evolution of plants, elementary plant breeding, and the interaction between plant breeding and industry. Prerequisite: CSEM 200.

Credit Hours: 4

A study of the function, structure, and management of soils in urban environments. The emphasis of this class is on urban horticulture: turf, urban forests, and landscape plants in urban settings. The course will focus on the understanding and implementation of basic soil concepts, with an emphasis on sustainability and management of urban soils to minimize maintenance and maximize its utility. Prerequisite: CSEM 240. Lab fee: $80.

Credit Hours: 3

Supervised work experience program in either an agricultural agency of the government or agribusiness. Restricted to 3rd Year standing. Special approval needed from the program. Mandatory Pass/Fail.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Description and interpretation of soils in the field and laboratory. Evaluating soil information for land use determinations. Students may, but are not required to, participate in intercollegiate judging contests. May be repeated up to 4 times. Prerequisite: CSEM 240 or GEOL 220 or FOR 352 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 1

An introduction to the biotic, natural resource, environmental, social and economic implications and requirements of sustainable agriculture. Prerequisite: CSEM 200.

Credit Hours: 3

Description and interpretation of soils in the field and laboratory. Evaluating soil information for land use determinations. Students may, but are not required to, participate in intercollegiate judging contests. Prerequisite: CSEM 240 or GEOL 220 or FOR 352 with a grade of C or better. May be repeated up to 4 times.

Credit Hours: 1

Discussion of special topics and/or problems in the various areas of plant and soil science. Prerequisite: CMST 101. Restricted to 3rd Year standing.

Credit Hours: 1

Assignments involving research and individual problems. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 1-8

Independent undergraduate research sufficiently important to three hours per week of productive effort for each credit hour. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 1-4

A discussion session format will be employed as a means of acquainting students with recent literature and allowing them to remain current with latest developments in their area of specialty. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 3

A study of micro- and macro organisms and environmental factors that cause disease in plants of agricultural importance; of the mechanisms by which these factors induce disease in plants; and of the methods for managing diseases and reducing the damage they cause. Prerequisite: CSEM 200.

Credit Hours: 2

A survey of major diseases of important field crops in the United States. Disease identification, cycles, and management strategies will be addressed. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: CSEM 200.

Credit Hours: 2

A thorough literature review, effective reading, evaluating facts, structuring a fact sheet, effective writing for layman audience, learning about writing a journal article, learning how to translate a journal article into an extension shorter version, and principles of PowerPoint presentation and teaching.

Credit Hours: 2

The course focuses on the partitioning and manipulation of variation; different conventional and molecular selection methods; and the impact of plant improvement on agriculture, society, and environment. Prerequisite: CSEM 305 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as HORT 408) Climatological, ecological, physiological, sociological, and economical factors influencing world crop production practices. This course intends to provide students the opportunity to observe world crop production systems on a firsthand basis. Crop specific production, harvesting, processing, and marketing methods will be discussed. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as HORT 409) Principles of basic plant physiology. Topics include cell structure, photosynthesis, respiration, water and mineral relations, vascular transport and plant growth regulators. Prerequisites: PLB 200, CHEM 140B. Fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as PLB 419) A survey of molecular phenomena unique to plant systems. Topics will include: genome organization and synteny between plant genomes, transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of gene expression, signal transduction, epigenetics, plant-pathogen interactions and responses to biotic- and abiotic-stresses. Prerequisite: CSEM 305.

Credit Hours: 3

Study of field pests of forest, orchard, field, and garden crops; pest control principles and methods; control strategy; and consequences of pest control operations. Prerequisite: CSEM 200. Lab fee: $35.

Credit Hours: 4

Advanced topics in plant physiology. Abiotic factors such as light, water, temperature, and nutrients, as well as emerging man-made pollutants such as nanoparticle contamination. Biotic factors such as plant-microbe signaling and the rhizosphere microbiome, plant-plant signaling, and competition for resources. These topics are covered at molecular and organismal levels, as well as the physiological ecology of these processes on a larger scale. This course offers a perspective of how these processes work in nature, as well as how they are or might be manipulated for crop or agriculture practice improvement. Undergraduate Prerequisite: PLB 320 or PSAS 409. Lab fee: $35.

Credit Hours: 5

This course is designed to introduce students from a variety of backgrounds and programs to the scope and methodology of genomic and bioinformatic sciences. Real problems and solutions from genome data analysis are studied in this course to see how high throughput genomics is driving bioinformatics, and changing the biological sciences in revolutionary way. Prerequisite: CSEM 305.

Credit Hours: 4

(Same as PLB 427) Exploration of fundamental biochemical pathways in plants with an emphasis upon carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Not for graduate credit. Special approval needed from the program. Lab fee: $35.

Credit Hours: 5

(Same as AGSE 433, ANS 433, HORT 433, PLB 433) This course will cover the basic principles of plant and animal biotechnology using current examples; gene mapping in breeding, transgenic approaches to improve crop plants and transgenic approaches to improve animals will be considered. Technology transfer from laboratory to marketplace will be considered. An understanding of gene mapping, cloning, transfer, and expression will be derived. Not for graduate credit. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 3-7

(Same as ANS 435) Molecular biology is rapidly making important contributions to agricultural science through biotechnology. An appreciation of the techniques of molecular biology and their application to plant improvement is important to all in agriculture and biology. The relationships between plant molecular biology and the biotechnology industry will be discussed. Presentations on particular research problems will be made. Graded P/F. Not for graduate credit.

Credit Hours: 1-4

(Same as AGSE 438, PLB 438, ZOOL 438) Arabidopsis and Drosophila model organisms, lab-based training in laboratory safety, reagent preparation, phenotype analysis, genetics, DNA and RNA analysis, PCR, cDNA construction, cloning and sequencing of genes. Includes plant and bacterial transformation, and a population level analysis of genetic variation using RAPD markers in grasses and Alu insertion in humans. Two 2-hr labs and one 1-hr lecture per week. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: BIOL 305 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $30.

Credit Hours: 3

Exploration of the ways that soils, and to a lesser extent air and water, influence human health both positively and negatively. Soil properties and processes that control this interaction. Techniques used to explore the soil-human health relationship and needs for future advancement. Prerequisite: CSEM 240 or GEOG 303I or FOR 352 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will cover basic principles of irrigation sciences; water requirements of crops; soil water relationship; water application methods including flooding, sprinkler, and drip (or trickle) systems; water conveyance, distribution and measurement; evaluation of irrigation efficiency; and irrigation scheduling. Considerations will also include crop production effects and economic aspects of irrigation. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: CSEM 240.

Credit Hours: 3

Covers the principles of hydrologic processes and soil erosion. Consideration will be given to the occurrence of soil erosion as it affects humans, food production, and the environment. The methods and technologies for protecting against and controlling of erosion will also be discussed. Not for graduate credit. Special approval needed from the program.

Credit Hours: 3

Recent trends in fertilizer use and the implications of soil fertility build up to sufficiency and/or toxicity levels; the behavior of fertilizer material in soils and factors important in ultimate plant uptake of the nutrients; the plant-essential elements in soils and ways of assessing their needs and additions; tailoring fertilizer for different uses and management systems; implication of excessive fertilization in our environment. Not for graduate credit. Concurrent enrollment in CSEM 448 required. Prerequisite: CSEM 240.

Credit Hours: 3

A laboratory course designed to acquaint one with practical soil testing and plant analysis methods useful in evaluating soil fertility and plant needs. One hour lecture, two hours laboratory. Not for graduate credit. Concurrent enrollment in CSEM 447 required. Prerequisite: CSEM 240. Lab fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 2

(Same as MICR 454) A study of microbial numbers, characteristics and biochemical activities of soil microorganisms with emphasis on transformations of organic compounds, nitrogen phosphorus, sulfur, iron, and plant essential nutrients. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: CSEM 240 or MICR 301. Lab fee: $15.

Credit Hours: 4

The molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions and disease development in plants is examined with a critical review of original and current literature focusing on the mechanisms of pathogenesis, virulence, disease development and resistance, and response mechanisms in plants. Prerequisite: CSEM 200.

Credit Hours: 3

Losses due to weeds, weed identification and distribution, methods of weed dissemination and reproduction, mechanical, biological, and chemical control of weeds. State and Federal legislation pertaining to weed control herbicides. Herbicide commercialization. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: CSEM 200. Field trips costing approximately $5.

Credit Hours: 3

A study of the physical properties of soils with special emphasis on soil and water relationships, chemical transport, and methods of physical analysis. Prerequisite: CSEM 240 or GEOL 220 or FOR 352 with a minimum grade of C.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as FOR 486) Ecology and evolution of invasive plant species, with a focus on land management, including characteristics and biology, introduction and spread, population dynamics, community impacts and ecological interactions, and invasive plant evolution and adaptation, as well as management techniques and considerations, including biological, chemical, and mechanical control. Prerequisite: BIOL 307 or consent of instructor. Restricted to 3rd Year standing.

Credit Hours: 3

Soil Health is a hands-on training course which provides an understanding of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil health and interpret the results. This course also discusses role of healthy soils in crop production, environment and farm economics and their trade-offs. Prerequisite: Students must pass CSEM 240 prior to taking this course.

Credit Hours: 3

Development, characteristics, and identification of soils, study of profiles, and interpretation and utilization of soil survey information in land use planning. Prerequisite: CSEM 240 or GEOL 220 or FOR 352 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3