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SOS 3022 - Introduction to Soils in the Environment

 
Professor
  Dr. Samira Daroub
  Dr. Daroub is an Assistant Professor in the Soil and Water Science Department and works in Belle Glade and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
 
Phone: (561)993-1593 (Belle Glade)
Fax: (561) 992-1679 or (561) 993-1582
(954) 577-6323 (Ft. Lauderdale)
Fax: (561) 475-4125
Email: sdaroub@ifas.ufl.edu
 
 
Office Hours:
Always open. Please call or email me if you want to set up an appointment. You can reach me in the Ft. Lauderdale campus on Wednesdays,  and the rest of the week in Belle Glade.
 
Credits: 3 credits
 
Textbook: Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils
by Nyle C. Brady & Ray R. Weil. Format: Textbook Hardcover, 559pp. second edition ISBN: 013048038X Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2nd edition, Pub. Date: 2004
 
Course Description:
The course will cover the fundamentals of soil science; the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils in relation to plant growth and environmental problems. 
 
Objectives:
To gain knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of soil science and the role soils play in our daily life.  Students will have a practical understanding of:
 
Formation and classification of soils
 
Soil physical and chemical properties
 
Importance of soils in agriculture and environment
 
Different soil management strategies
 
Internet Access:
Go to http://lss.at.ufl.edu/; Choose the WebCT Campus Edition. Sign in using your Gatorlink account.  This will automatically take you the class link on your WebCT (and any other classes you may be taking on WebCT).
 
Please note that you must have completed registration to be added to the class list on WebCT.
 
The class web site has links to:
 
* Schedule of lectures and laboratory (Laboratory schedule  for Fort Lauderdale location only).
* Study guides for the various lectures for the course. The study guides include a list of objectives and material covered in the lectures. The study guides will help you in your study for the course.
* Handouts for the lecture in pdf formats.
* Power point presentations
* Homework assignments
* Your grades for exams, quizzes and homework
* Questions submitted by other students – Answers will be posted on the Bulletin Board.
 
Exams
There will be three lecture exams. Your final grade will be based on the cumulative score for the three lecture exams and the homework.
Three 1-hour exam: 75% of grade
Homework assignments: 25% of grade
 
Grade Scale:

A = 90%; B+ = 86%; B = 80%; C+ = 76%; C = 70%; D+ = 66%; D = 60%.

 
Individual exams will not be “curved”.  1 to 3 % will be added to overall individual student grades before assigning final course grades, based on classroom participation including attendance. 
 
Missing quizzes and Exams:

If you will be unable to attend class on the date of a scheduled exam, please contact me prior to exam date for approval and to arrange an alternative exam time, otherwise no make up exam will be provided.

 
Academic Honesty
As a result of completing the registration form at the University of Florida, every student has signed the following statement: "I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their academic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the University." We agree to comply with the new Honor Code, which specifies that "We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity."
 
UF Counseling Services
Resources are available on campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals which interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:
  1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, personal and career counseling
  2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Center, 392-1171, personal counseling
  3. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counseling
  4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling.
 
Tentative Schedule
 
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