MEPS 601 Physiology of Plants
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Advanced physiology of higher plants, includes water relations, mineral metabolism, biochemistry, growth, development, hormones, environmental signals and stress physiology. Emphasis on current literature and research trends; cellular and sub-cellular mechanisms related to whole plant behavior. Prerequisites: BICH 410 and MEPS 313 or approval of instructor.
MEPS 605/HORT 607 Plant Biochemistry
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Major metabolic pathways in plant metabolism; emphasis on biochemistry unique to plants. Prerequisites: BICH 410; MEPS 313 or equivalent. Cross Listing: HORT 607/MEPS 605.
MEPS 610/HORT 610 Physiological and Molecular Basis for Plant Stress Response
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Provide the tools to understand the molecular and physiological consequences caused by environmental factors (abotic and biotic) on plant growth and development and the mechanisms of stress adaptation to stress. Prerequisite: MEPS 313 or equivalent. Cross Listing: HORT 610/MEPS 610.
MEPS 618/HORT 618 Root and Rhizosphere Biology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Focuses on root and rhizosphere function, emphasizing interactions among roots, soil and microorganisms. Topics include root responses to abiotic stress, soil heterogeneity, microbial and mycorrhizal interactions, biogeochemical cycling and effects of emerging contaminants and pollutants. Students review current literature and engage in in-class discussions to analyze and critique recent research. Prerequisites: Graduate classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: HORT 618/MEPS 618.
MEPS 619 Plant-Associated Microorganisms
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Basic concepts and current topics in plant-microbe interactions including the diversity of plant-associated microorganisms; the plant as a microbial environment; endophytes; microbial roles in plant nutrition and fitness; uses of microorganisms for improved plant health and sustainable agriculture; microbial roles in food safety and future challenges; discussion of current literature. Prerequisites: Basic plant biology or plant ecology is recommended; microbiology is helpful, but not required. Cross Listing: HORT 619 and PLPA 619.
MEPS 654 Analysis of Complex Genomes
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
History and current status of genetic and molecular analysis of higher eukaryotic genomes; coverage of techniques for dissection of genomes into manageable parts; investigations in genetics, breeding and evolution; emphasis on quantitative inheritance, genetic mapping, physical mapping, map-based cloning, with examples drawn from a wide range of organisms. Prerequisite: GENE 603 or GENE 431/BICH 431. Cross Listing: GENE 654 and SCSC 654.
MEPS 655 Analysis of Complex Genomes—Lab
Credits 3.
7 Lab Hours.
Analysis of Complex Genomes--Lab. Laboratory methods in molecular genetic techniques for genetic mapping, physical mapping, and map-based cloning of both qualitative and quantitative phenotypes. Prerequisite: GENE 603 or equivalent or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: SCSC 655 and GENE 655.
MEPS 665 Journaling Scientific Research in Plant Biology
Credit 1.
1 Lecture Hour.
Journal club intended to share and critically analyze primary research publication in plant biology, biochemistry, genetics, and related area; includes student-led presentation and discussion. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Graduate classification.
MEPS 671/SCSC 671 Plant Growth and Development
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Comprehensive analysis of plant development primarily focused on the molecular and cellular processes underlying morphogenesis, vegetative growth and reproduction; role of the major phytohormones as coordinators of development will be analyzed; plastic development responses to conditioning environmental signals. Prerequisites: MEPS 601 or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: SCSC 671/MEPS 671.
MEPS 681 Seminar
Credit 1.
1 Other Hour.
Professional development for students pursuing careers in plant physiology; oral and poster presentations, writing skills, grantsmanship, job search and the promotion and tenure process.
MEPS 685 Directed Studies
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Other Hours.
Individual problems or research not pertaining to thesis or dissertation. Prerequisite: MEPS 313.
MEPS 689 Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Lecture Hours.
1 to 4 Lab Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of plant physiology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
MEPS 691 Research
Credits 1 to 23.
1 to 23 Other Hours.
Original investigations in support of thesis or dissertation.
SCSC 604 Soil and Water Microbiology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Discussion of the roles of soil and water microorganisms in the sustainability and productivity of various ecosystems; emphasis on plant-microbial interactions, nutrient cycling, degradation of pesticides and other xenobiotics, generation of trace gases, and soil and water quality. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 605 Pedology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Soil genesis, morphology and classification; development of a working knowledge of soil taxonomy and diagnostic horizons used in placement of soils. Prerequisites: SCSC 301 or equivalent; or approval of instructor. Two 2-day field trips for which departmental fees may be assessed to cover costs.
SCSC 607 Crop Physiology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Growth and productivity of major agronomic crops as related to plant physiological processes and environmental parameters, including manipulation of crop growth for enhanced production. Prerequisites: SCSC 303; MEPS 313.
SCSC 608 Water in Soils and Plants
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Introduction to the physics of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum; focus on soil, its physical properties, and their interactions with water and weather in terrestrial ecosystems; examination of processes including precipitation, rainfall interception, raindrop impact, infiltration, runoff, drainage, soil water storage, evaporation, transpiration, solar radiation partitioning, soil temperature, and heat transfer near the land surface; interactions of these processes with plant growth, solute transport, water quality, and greenhouse gas emissions are considered; quantitative analysis is emphasized with applications in soil and environmental science, agronomy, ecology, hydrology, and climatology. Prerequisites: SCSC 301; knowledge of college-level algebra; graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 610 Host Plant Resistance
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Host plant resistance programs from the standpoint of the plant breeder, plant pathologist and entomologist; team taught with each discipline represented; roundtable discussion of assigned readings and lectures. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Cross Listing: ENTO 610 and PLPA 610.
SCSC 611 Introduction to Environmental Biophysics
Credits 4.
3 Lecture Hours.
2 Lab Hours.
Theoretical and experimental analysis of interactions between living organisms and their environments; measurement and modeling of the physical environment; measurement and modeling of energy and mass transfer between organisms and their environments, and of organism response to fluxes of mass and energy. Prerequisites: Graduate classification and approval of instructor.
SCSC 612 Professional Development in Agronomy
Credit 1.
1 Lecture Hour.
Development of soft skills required for a successful career in soil & crop sciences; includes a field trip to South Texas to interact with leadership from global agricultural companies; enhancement of effective learning skills, job seeking and retention, including setting and achieving both near-term and long-term professional goals. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 613 Ethical Aspects of International Agricultural Systems
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
0 Lab Hours.
Diverse theories of morality; ethical dimensions of population growth, high yielding crop production systems, genetic engineering, and use of land, soil, and water. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 615 Reclamation of Drastically Disturbed Lands
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Theoretical and practical aspects of reclamation of lands disturbed during mining of lignite, uranium, phosphorous, oil shale and other minerals and disturbances due to industrial activities; emphasis on physical and chemical characteristics of disturbed materials and their impact on establishment of permanent vegetation. Prerequisite: SCSC 301 or approval of instructor.
SCSC 616 Field and Lab Methods in Soil Physics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
1 Lab Hour.
Field and laboratory methods used to quantify soil physical and hydraulic properties including texture, bulk density, water retention characteristics, infiltration, saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, and aggregate stability; hands-on experience using a variety of standard and novel field and laboratory instruments, collecting and managing data associated with such measurements, and performing independent data analysis; design and complete research project using available instrumentation and equipment. Prerequisites: SCSC 301, SCSC 309, graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 617 Advanced Soil Physics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Overview of the history of the discipline of soil physics, including foundational research on and quantification of the dynamics of water, solute, and energy transport within the soil-plant-atmosphere system; topics include derivation of key theories in the field, including Poiseuille’s Law, the Buckingham-Darcy Law, Richard’s equation, and the convection-dispersion equation; use of MATLAB software for the development of programming scripts to be used to solve analytical problems in homework, a course project, and exams. Prerequisites: MATH 171, MATH 172, and any differential equations course; graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 618 Analysis of Environmental Systems
Credits 2.
1 Lecture Hour.
2 Lab Hours.
Classical and contemporary methods for analyzing chemical components of environmental systems, soil, water, plants and gases; environmental chemistry coupled with experiential. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
SCSC 619 Molecular Methods for Microbial Characterization
Credits 3.
2 Lecture Hours.
2 Lab Hours.
Underlying principles of molecular methods for microbial detection and characterization in natural and man-made ecosystems; emphasis on method application and data interpretation; emphasis on microbial pathogens and indicator organisms in foods and environment; laboratory covers select protocols. Prerequisites: FSTC 326/ANSC 326; SCSC 405; POSC 429; approval of instructor. Cross Listing: FSTC 619, POSC 619 and VTMI 619.
SCSC 620 Brazilian Agriculture and Food Production Systems
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Compare Brazilian and U.S. agriculture and culture related to soil, water, and forest conservation and management in Brazil; tour and learn about Amazon River, rain forest, Brasilia, farm, ranch, and floral production systems, agricultural cooperatives and research, sugar and alcohol production, phosphate mining and production; visit points of interest. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
SCSC 621 International Agricultural Research Centers - MX
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Introduction to international agricultural research, Consultative Group on International Agriculture activity; modern and underdeveloped tropical agricultural systems; introduction to Mexican culture; critical evaluation of complex and international agricultural issues and research programs. Prerequisites: Approval of instructor; graduate classification.
SCSC 622 X-ray Diffraction for Soil Mineral Quantification
Credits 2.
2 Lecture Hours.
Fundamental concepts of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and its applications in quantifying crystalline and amorphous materials in soils, sediments, clays, cement, rocks, and synthetical materials; focus on Full XRD pattern simulation, particularly, the Rietveld quantitative XRD method; introduction of theory of X-ray diffraction, instrumental parameters that determine the XRD peak shape, and parameters of crystal structures and size that determine the peak intensities; basic mathematics on the effects of most parameters on XRD peak shape and intensity. Prerequisites: Graduate classification.
SCSC 624 Soil Chemistry
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Chemistry of clay minerals, inorganic solid phases, and organic colloids in soil; mass transfer reactions in soils: absorption/desorption, precipitation/dissolution, gas/liquid phase exchange; principles of soil acidity and salinity; introduction to application of equilibrium concepts in soils. Prerequisites: SCSC 301 or approval of instructor.
SCSC 626 Soil Mineralogy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Crystal structures and properties of important minerals in soils and sediments especially clay minerals and oxides combined with identification techniques involving theory and practice with x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, infrared and chemical methods.
SCSC 627 Nutrients in Soils and Plants
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Chemical and biological behavior of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in soils; secondary nutrients, micronutrients and soil acidity and liming; interpretation of soil chemical/biochemical research from historical and current literature and relationships with nutrient availability, plant uptake, and environmental quality. Prerequisites: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 628 Soil Mineralogy Lab
Credits 2.
4 Lab Hours.
Mineral identification and quantification techniques involving theory and practice with x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and chemical methods. Prerequisite: SCSC 626.
SCSC 629/VTMI 629 Laboratory Quality Systems
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Quality systems and method development used within a laboratory; ensuring the integrity of procedures used in lab processes, chain of custody, information management, and international laboratory standards; regulatory requirements for laboratory operation; bio-security precautions; laboratory management. Cross Listing: VTMI 629/SCSC 629.
SCSC 634 Regulatory Science Principles
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Regulatory tools, standards and practices to improve the protection and compliance of regulated systems; interdependence of regulatory agencies; models of risk analysis with emphasis on conducting a qualitative and quantitative risk assessment; and implications of compliance.
SCSC 635 Comparative Global Standards in Food Systems
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Laws, regulations and standards governing the production, distribution, processing and marketing of food across regions of the world; international standard setting bodies and risk assessment committees; regulatory equivalency and harmonization; product approval procedures; cost/benefits of global standards and trade agreements.
SCSC 636 Regulatory Science: Methodology in Food Systems
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Risk management methodology including investigation of food and feed firms, conducting internal compliance audits; sample collection, chain-of-custody, trace-back and trace-forward, recalls, label review, data interpretation, risk ranking, resource prioritization, incident command and rapid response. Prerequisite: SCSC 634.
SCSC 640 Intellectual Property in the Plant Sciences
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Introduction to major foci of intellectual property (IP) impacting plant sciences, including: 1) traditional vs. emerging knowledge economies, 2) governing statutes and treaties, 3) forms of IP, and 4) IP asset identification, valuation, capture and deployment towards understanding the best practices for IP strategy development and IP portfolio management.
SCSC 641 Plant Breeding I
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Theoretical and practical aspects of plant breeding including genetic basis; application of breeding methods and interdisciplinary considerations in breeding problems. Prerequisites: SCSC 304 or HORT 404; GENE 301; STAT 651.
SCSC 642 Plant Breeding II
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Expectations of genetic improvement for different plant breeding methods; relative efficiency for crops of different reproductive mechanisms; genetic variances, covariances and genotype-environment interaction components of variance used in planning selection procedures. Prerequisites: SCSC 641; GENE 613; STAT 619.
SCSC 643/GENE 643 Molecular Quantitative Genetics and Plant Breeding
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Classical, applied and molecular aspects of quantitative genetics in plant breeding; genetic relationships; genetic diversity; genetic phenomena (linkage, heterosis and epistasis); genotype by environment interaction; mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL); genomic and marker-assisted selection; application of statistical software. Prerequisites: STAT 651, SCSC 642 or GENE 613; or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: GENE 643/SCSC 643.
SCSC 644 Forage Ecology and Management
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Investigation of multidisciplinary approaches toward the development of integrated forage, livestock, and wildlife production systems that are economically feasible and environmentally sustainable. Prerequisites: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 647 Genome Editing in Crop Plants
Credits 2.
2 Lecture Hours.
Principles of genome editing technologies; applications of genome editing for crop improvement; review of intellectual property and regulatory issues in crop gene editing. Prerequisites: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 649 Weed Judging
Credit 1.
1 Lecture Hour.
Comprehensive understanding of weed identification and management; practical, hands-on training; participation in the Southern Weed Science Society Weed Contest; expanding knowledge of forest, rangeland, agronomic, and turfgrass weeds. May be taken three times for credit. Prerequisites: SCSC 653 and graduate classification, or approval of instructor.
SCSC 650 Mode of Action and Environmental Fate of Herbicides
Credits 3.
2 Lecture Hours.
3 Lab Hours.
Relationships between physical-chemical characteristics of herbicides and their biological activity, selectivity, environmental fate in soil, water, and plants. Laboratory includes practical applications of gas and liquid chromatography, liquid scintillation counting and plant bioassays. Prerequisite: SCSC 450 or approval of instructor.
SCSC 651 Weed Biology and Ecology
Credits 3.
2 Lecture Hours.
2 Lab Hours.
Fundamentals of weed invasion, development, persistence and competition with agronomic crops; consideration of ecological concepts important to weed-crop relationships as influenced by weed control and other cultural practices. Practical consideration of integrated weed management systems and weed identification. Prerequisites: SCSC 303; MEPS 313.
SCSC 652 Weed Molecular Physiology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Molecular mechanisms underlying weed adaptation to environmental factors and management, including herbicides; theory and application of physiological and molecular methods in weed science and weed management; reading of journal article each week and participation in discussions; practical hands-on experience in basic molecular laboratory techniques. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 653 Essentials for Weed Systematic Identification and Management in Agronomy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Fundamental understanding and hands-on training on the basics of plant weed identification and management; relevant to agronomy, turf, horticulture and rangeland science and vegetation identification and management.
SCSC 654 Analysis of Complex Genomes
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
History and current status of genetic and molecular analysis of higher eukaryotic genomes; coverage of techniques for dissection of genomes into manageable parts; investigations in genetics, breeding and evolution; emphasis on quantitative inheritance, genetic mapping, physical mapping, map-based cloning, with examples drawn from a wide range of organisms. Prerequisite: GENE 603 or GENE 431/BICH 431. Cross Listing: GENE 654 and MEPS 654.
SCSC 655 Analysis of Complex Genomes—Lab
Credits 3.
0 Lecture Hours.
7 Lab Hours.
Analysis of Complex Genomes--Lab. Laboratory methods in molecular genetic techniques for genetic mapping, physical mapping, and map-based cloning of both qualitative and quantitative phenotypes. Prerequisite: GENE 603 or equivalent or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: GENE 655 and MEPS 655.
SCSC 657 Environmental Soil and Water Science
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Discussion of physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and water and the impact on productivity and sustainability of various ecosystems; application of the knowledge of properties and soil processes to develop and evaluate strategies for protecting and/or improving soil and water quality. Prerequisite: SCSC 301.
SCSC 658 Watershed Water and Soil Quality Management
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Land use impact on surface and ground water chemistry; legislation impacting water quality; surface and groundwater impairment and restoration; case studies in best management practices. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
SCSC 659 Optics and Photonics for Agriculture
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Fundamental principles of optics, such as wave and particle nature of light, diffraction, interference, etc.; principles of light interactions with biological matter; exploration of optics and photonics technology applied to agricultural research; provides exposure to state-of-the-art advanced optical and photonics technologies. Prerequisites: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 660 Experimental Designs in Agriculture
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Fundamental principles and procedures of experimental designs in agricultural sciences; emphasis includes factorial designs, predicting outputs, use of covariance, balanced and unbalanced experimental designs as related to common agricultural research projects under field, greenhouse or growth chamber culture; familiarization with computer programming of common statistical software. Prerequisite: STAT 651.
SCSC 662 Agricultural Remote Sensing
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Remote sensing principles and their applications in agriculture; identification and utilization of various remote sensing technologies and platforms, including satellites, unmanned aerial systems and proximal sensors; application of remote sensing in crop monitoring, yield prediction, precision farming, soil health assessment, irrigation management and pest detection; methods for acquiring and processing remote sensing data. Prerequisites: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
SCSC 671/MEPS 671 Plant Growth and Development
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Comprehensive analysis of plant development primarily focused on the molecular and cellular processes underlying morphogenesis, vegetative growth and reproduction; role of the major phytohormones as coordinators of development will be analyzed; plastic development responses to conditioning environmental signals. Prerequisites: MEPS 601 or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: MEPS 671/SCSC 671.
SCSC 681 Seminar
Credit 1.
1 Lecture Hour.
For graduate students and staff members in soils and crops; presentation and discussion of special topics and research data; participation required of all graduate students in agronomy.
SCSC 684 Professional Internship
Credits 1 to 16.
1 to 16 Lecture Hours.
Program planned to provide professional training in student's particular field of interest. Faculty and employer will supervise the activity. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
SCSC 685 Directed Studies
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Lecture Hours.
Advanced problems in some phase of agronomy not directly related to thesis or dissertation.
SCSC 689 Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Lecture Hours.
0 to 4 Lab Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of agronomy. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
SCSC 691 Research
Credits 1 to 23.
1 to 23 Other Hours.
Investigations leading to thesis or dissertation.
