UA Courses | Soil, Water, and Environmental Sciences

Fall 1999 Course Descriptions
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Soil, Water, and Environmental Sciences (SWES) Dept Info - College Info

SWES 105. Introduction to Environmental Science: Land, Water, and Air (3) I II Introduction to contemporary environmental issues and their relationship to physical, chemical, and biological principles. Discussion and evaluation of risks and trade-offs in addressing solutions to environmental pollution. Optional field trip. P, high school chemistry recommended; CR, SWES 106 recommended.

SWES 106. Environmental Science Laboratory: Land, Water, and Air (1) I II Laboratory exercises and field trip experiences to study environmental problems related to land, water, and air resources. Basic physical, chemical and biological principles that relate to understanding environmental problems will be stressed. P, high school algebra and chemistry recommended.

SWES 197A. Workshop (1) S P, offered through Horizons Unlimited Summer Program.

SWES 200. Soils (3) I II GRD Fundamental principles of soil science-origin, nature, and constitution of soils; their chemical, physical, and biological properties in relation to plant growth and the nonplant uses of soils. P, CHEM 101A, CHEM 102A, CHEM 103A.

SWES 201. Soils Laboratory (1) I II CDT Laboratory exercises for 200. P, or CR, SWES 200

SWES 250. Water and Its Uses (3) I GRD P, open to non-majors only. (Identical with ABE 250, which is home).

SWES 285L. Principles of Microbiology Laboratory (1) II P, MCB 181R, MCB 181L, ECOL 182, CHEM 103A, CHEM 103B, CHEM 104A, CHEM 104B: CR, MIC 285R for MIC and V SC majors. Strongly recommended for all others. (Identical with MIC 285L, which is home).

SWES 285R. Principles of Microbiology (4) II P, MCB 181R, MCB 181L, ECOL 182, CHEM 103A, CHEM 103B, CHEM 104A, CHEM 104B: CR, MIC 285L for MIC and V SC majors. Strongly recommended for all others. (Identical with MIC 285R, which is home).

SWES 299. Independent Study (1-3) [Rpt./]

SWES 299H. Honors Independent Study (1-3) [Rpt./]

SWES 302. Introduction to Environmental Toxicology (3) II P, two semesters of biology and chemistry. (Identical with PCOL 302, which is home).

SWES 305. Pollution Sciences (3) II Introduction to abiotic and biotic scientific processes within the soil/water/atmosphere continuum that affects that fate and transport of pollutants. Evaluation of the extent, fate, mitigation and impact of environmental pollution. P, CHEM 241A, MIC 205, MATH 125A, PHYS 102.

SWES 316. Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition (3) II Chemical and biological properties of soil as they affect soil nutrient availability and crop production. Principles of plant nutrition and nutrient acquisition also discussed. Additional topics: fertilizers and fertilization, irrigation water quality, soil salinity, environmental impacts of fertilizers, and principles of soil and plant tissue testing. P, SWES 200.

SWES 317. Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition laboratory (1) II Practical discussion and application of the principles of soil fertility and plant nutrition. Laboratory and greenhouse exercises involve soil and plant tissue testing and fertilizer response experiments. Field trips demonstrate crop production field experimentation, and use of soil as a medium for waste disposal. P, or CR, SWES 316.

SWES 325. Soil Microbiology (3) II Introduction to the biology and soil microorganisms, their interactions in soil ecosystems and relations with higher plants; laboratory exercises emphasize methods for identifying populations of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes and algae and their activities in soils. P, CHEM 103B, MCB 181.

SWES 330. Introduction to Remote Sensing (3) I (Identical with GEOG 330, which is home).

SWES 393. Internship (1-3) [Rpt./] I II

SWES 397A. Teaching Workshop (2-3) P, sophomore or higher status with a grade of "A" in SWES 105-106.

SWES 399. Independent Study (1-4) [Rpt./]

SWES 399H. Honors Independent Study (1-3)

SWES 401. Management of Arid Lands and Salt-Affected Soils (3) II Principles and practices of soil, water and crop management under arid and semiarid conditions; the use of diagnostic procedures for evaluating soils and waters, reclamation, and economics of irrigation project development. P, SWES 200.

SWES 404. Irrigation Principles and Management (3) II 2R, 3L. P, MATH 110, SWES 200. Open to non-majors only. (Identical with ABE 404, which is home). May be convened with SWES 504.

SWES 405. Environmental, Soil and Water Chemistry Laboratory (3) II Principles and methods of the chemical analysis of soils, water and biological materials with emphasis on illustrating important soil and environmental concepts and processes. P, CHEM 322, CHEM 323, PHYS 102. May be convened with SWES 505.

SWES 417. Geographic Information Systems for Natural Resources (3) II 2R, 3L. P, basic knowledge of computer operations. (Identical with RNR 417, which is home). May be convened with SWES 517.

SWES 420. Environmental Physics (3) I Physical principles used in assessment, prevention or reduction of environmental problems. Main themes include energy sources; energy and mass transport; and pollution within soil, water and air. P, MATH 129, PHYS 103. May be convened with SWES 520.

SWES 421A. Microbiological Techniques (3) I 1R, 6L. P, MIC 205R, MIC 205L. MIC 421A is not prerequisite to MIC 421B. (Identical with MIC 421A, which is home).

SWES 421B. Microbiological Techniques (3) II 1R, 6L. P, MIC 205R, MIC 205L. MIC 421A is not prerequisite to MIC 421B. (Identical with MIC 421B, which is home).

SWES 425. Environmental Microbiology (3) I Current concepts in water quality, aerobiology and microbial biogeochemistry. P, SWES 325; CR, CHEM 241B. (Identical with MIC 425). May be convened with SWES 525.

SWES 426. Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (2) I Basic techniques for isolation and characterization of environmental soil and water microflora including methods for enumeration and measurement of physiological activity. P, SWES 425. (Identical with MIC 426). May be convened with SWES 526.

SWES 428. Microbial Genetics (3) I II Writing Emphasis Course. P, SWES 325 or ECOL 320 or PL S 312. (Identical with PL P 428, which is home).

SWES 430. Environmental Monitoring and Remediation (3) I Theory and application of environmental measurements to the sampling and monitoring of groundwater, soil, surface water, and near-surface atmospheric systems. P, SWES 305, HWR 450 or SWES 411 or equivalent.

SWES 431. Soil Morphology, Classification and Interpretation (3) I Theory and practice of describing characteristics of soils; principles of soil classification and classification systems; making soil interpretations for selected land uses. P, SWES 200, SWES 201. May be convened with SWES 531.

SWES 438. Environmental, Soil and Water Chemistry (3) II Basic soil and water chemical properties and interactions, chemical behavior, and processes in the environment. Natural and anthropogenic examples. P, SWES 200, CHEM 103B, CHEM 104B.

SWES 440. Biodegradation of Pollutants in Soil and Groundwater (3) II Description of modern pollution problems and potential biological remediation techniques focusing on the chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology of biodegradation of hazardous and toxic compounds. P, SWES 425. (Identical with MIC 440). May be convened with SWES 540.

SWES 444. Applied Environmental Law (3) I A guided journey through real world environmental law; U.S. legal system, major environmental laws-criminal and civil; common marketplace problems and solutions; high profile cases; essential professional skills. May be convened with SWES 544.

SWES 450. Anticipating the Future: Focus on Environment (3) II Techniques and approaches to understand broad issues about the future with focus on environmental topics. Uses computer conferencing with Internet and significant student discussion and opportunities for team approaches and reporting. Writing Emphasis Course. P, upper division status. May be convened with SWES 550.

SWES 453. Remote Sensing of the Environment (3) II Remote sensing techniques and applications for improved natural resource utilization of soils, water, grasslands, and forest. Fundamental energy-matter interactions that influence the spectral characteristics of vegetation, soil, and water. P, SWES 330 or PHYS 102B. May be convened with SWES 553.

SWES 461. Soil and Water Conservation (3) S Consideration of major world soil and water conservation problems and solutions; principles of soil and water degradation by erosion, ground water overdraft, chemical transport in surface and ground water and their effects on world food production and environmental problems. P, SWES 200. May be convened with SWES 561.

SWES 470. Soil Physics (3) II CDT Soil structure and physical constitution of soils; the physical properties of soil-water systems, movement and exchange of gases in the soil, and physical laws governing the movement and availability of soil water. P, SWES 200, PHYS 103; CR, MATH 125. May be convened with SWES 570.

SWES 474. Aquatic Plants and the Environment (4) I II The role of riparian areas, estuaries, and constructed wetlands in the environment. Emphasis on plants as wildlife habitat for nutrient cycling and bioremediation. (Identical with ECOL 474, WFSC 474). May be convened with SWES 574.

SWES 475. Freshwater and Marine Algae (4) II P, 4 units of biological or plant sciences. (Identical with ECOL 475, which is home). May be convened with SWES 575.

SWES 483. Geographic Applications of Remote Sensing (3) II P, 2 units of remote sensing or equivalent. (Identical with GEOG 483, which is home). May be convened with SWES 583.

SWES 490. Remote Sensing for the Study of Planet Earth (3) II (Identical with REM 490, which is home). May be convened with SWES 590.

SWES 493. Internship (1-3) [Rpt./]

SWES 494R. Research (3) [Rpt./ 1] I II P, ENGL 101, MATH 117, ABE 120, consent of instructor.

SWES 498. Senior Capstone (1-3) I II

SWES 498H. Honors Thesis (3) [Rpt./ 2] I II

SWES 499. Independent Study (1-4) [Rpt./]

SWES 499H. Honors Independent Study (1-3) [Rpt./] I II

SWES 501. Management of Arid Land and Salty Soil (3) II Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of a current topic.

SWES 504. Irrigation Principles and Management (3) II P, open to non-majors only. (Identical with ABE 504, which is home). May be convened with SWES 404.

SWES 505. Environmental, Soil and Water Chemistry Laboratory (3) II For a description of course topics see SWES 405. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of a current topic. May be convened with SWES 405.

SWES 511. Soil Chemistry (3) I CDT Composition and crystal chemistry of soil minerals; nature of soil organic matter; application of colloidal chemistry to the soil system; chemistry of the soil solution and acid- and salt-affected soils.

SWES 517. Geographic Information Systems for Natural Resources (3) II (Identical with RNR 517, which is home). May be convened with SWES 417.

SWES 520. Environmental Physics (3) I For a description of course topics see SWES 420. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of a current topic. May be convened with SWES 420.

SWES 525. Environmental Microbiology (3) I For a description of course topics see SWES 425. Graduate-level requirements include extra journal readings and more comprehensive exams. (Identical with MBIM 525). May be convened with SWES 425.

SWES 526. Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (2) I For a description of course topics see SWES 426. Graduate-level requirements include additional assignments. (Identical with MBIM 526). May be convened with SWES 426.

SWES 531. Soil Morphology, Classification and Interpretation (3) I For a description of course topics see SWES 431. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of a current topic. May be convened with SWES 431.

SWES 540. Biodegradation of Pollutants in Soil and Groundwater (3) II For a description of course topics see SWES 440. Graduate-level requirements include analysis and oral presentation of a remediation case study and more comprehensive exams. (Identical with MBIM 540). May be convened with SWES 440.

SWES 541. Soil Genesis (3) II Physical and chemical processes and mineralogy of weathering and soil formation; quantitative pedology; the soil as part of the ecosystem. P, GEOS 101, CHEM 103B. (Identical with GEOS 541).

SWES 544. Applied Environmental Law (3) I For a description of course topics see SWES 444. Graduate-level requirements include extra term papers and case studies. May be convened with SWES 444.

SWES 546. Environmental Biotechnology (2) II Molecular methods for detection of microorganisms in the environment. Fate and survival of introduced organisms in the environment. Molecular mechanisms of microbial inactivation in waste treatment systems and microbial risk assessment. P, SWES 525. (Identical with MBIM 546).

SWES 550. Anticipating the Future: Focus on Environment (3) II For a description of course topics see SWES 450. Graduate-level requirements include a report in an area of special interest. May be convened with SWES 450.

SWES 553. Remote Sensing of the Environment (3) II For a description of course topics see SWES 453. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of a current topic. May be convened with SWES 453.

SWES 561. Soil and Water Conservation (3) S For a description of course topics see SWES 461. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of a current topic. May be convened with SWES 461.

SWES 564. Environmental Chemistry (3) I Physical and chemical processes influencing the behavior of contaminants in the subsurface environment. Includes equilibrium and kinetic theory of solubilization-dissolution, volatilization, sorption, hydrolysis, photolysis, surface catalysis and radioactive decay. P, CHEM 103B, CHEM 480A.

SWES 565. Contaminant Transport in Porous Media (3) II The transport of contaminants in the subsurface environment. Effects of dispersion, interphase mass transfer, transformation reactions, and porous-media heterogeneity on transport; covers aqueous (dissolved) and multiphase (immiscible liquid, gas) systems. P, SWES 570 or HWR 518 or HWR 531.

SWES 566. Soil and Groundwater Restoration (3) I Principles of characterizing and remediating contaminated soil and groundwater systems, with a focus on case studies. P, HWR 531 or equivalent, SWES 564 or equivalent. (Identical with HWR 566).

SWES 570. Soil Physics (3) II CDT For a description of course topics see SWES 470. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of a current topic. May be convened with SWES 470.

SWES 573. Monitoring Biosphere Process (3) I Global-scale interactions of soils with their plant cover and climate. The spatial distributions and dynamics of soil-plant-water processes with emphasis on measurements from space. P, SWES 330 or SWES 453; SWES 200.

SWES 574. Aquatic Plants and the Environment (4) I II For a description of course topics see SWES 474. Graduate-level requirements include an additional research project and class presentation. (Identical with ECOL 574, WFSC 574). May be convened with SWES 474.

SWES 575. Freshwater and Marine Algae (4) II (Identical with ECOL 575, which is home). May be convened with SWES 475.

SWES 583. Geographic Applications of Remote Sensing (3) II (Identical with GEOG 583, which is home). May be convened with SWES 483.

SWES 590. Remote Sensing for the Study of Planet Earth (3) II (Identical with REM 590, which is home). May be convened with SWES 490.

SWES 593. Internship (1-3) [Rpt./] I II

SWES 599. Independent Study (1-4) [Rpt./]

SWES 602. Soil-Plant Relationships (3) I Principles of soil solution and colloid chemistry, soil-water relationships, soil microbiology, and plant physiology and metabolism will be discussed. These principles will be applied to processes of soil nutrient cycling, nutrient availability, and plant growth. P, SWES 200.

SWES 605. Soil-Water Dynamics (3) II Water flow in soils; closely related problems of solute, pollutant, and heat transfer; emphasis on current concepts and research. P, MATH 254. (Identical with ABE 605, HWR 605).

SWES 665. Advanced Contaminant Transport (3) I The topic of this course is the transport and fate of contaminants in subsurface systems. We will discuss the many factors and processes influencing contaminant transport, and will emphasize the impact of these processes, and representative conceptual/mathematical models. The course is based on critical, detailed analyses of case studies of actual contaminant transport problems. This provides a "real-world" basis, and allows an opportunity to develop skills necessary to evaluate real systems.

SWES 693. Internship (1-3) [Rpt./] I II

SWES 696A. Soils ,Water, and Environmental Science (1) [Rpt./ 4] I II

SWES 699. Independent Study (1-6) [Rpt./] I II

SWES 900. Research (1-6) [Rpt./]

SWES 909. Master's Report (1-9) [Rpt./]

SWES 910. Thesis (1-8) [Rpt./]

SWES 920. Dissertation (1-9) [Rpt./]

SWES 930. Supplementary Registration (1-9) [Rpt./]

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