Natural Resources Courses

Agricultural Natural Resources (AGN) courses

• AGN 115 Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment

  This course examines the practice of agro-ecology: the interface of management, biology, and the environment in our effort to produce food, feed, and fiber for a rapidly growing human population. Consequences of historical and current practices, as well as strengths and weaknesses of alternative practices that attempt to employ more knowledge of biology and ecology, will also be evaluated.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	3	0	Fall, Spring

• AGN 143 Introductory Forestry

  Introduction to field of forestry. In addition to traditional topics of species identification, biology and timber management, this course examines the sociological, environmental, political and industrial influences on domestic and international management of forest resources.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	3	0	Fall, Spring

• AGN 215 Soils

  Recommended Prerequisite: CHM 107 or 116 or CHM 160. Physical, chemical and biological activities within the soil as related to moisture, temperature, drainage, and tillage.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	3	0	Fall, Spring

• AGN 216 Soils Lab

  Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 215 or concurrent enrollment. Laboratory and computer methods for evaluation of the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  1	0	2	Fall, Spring

• AGN 323 Intermediate Forestry

  Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 143. This course encompasses topics of forestry science including tree identification, Missouri forest products, integrated wildlife management, hardwood and shortleaf pine management, timber sales, urban forestry and more. The course is centered on in-field examples and field work. Each student will also compile a forestry management plan as a final project.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	2	2	Spring

• AGN 335 Soil Conservation and Water Management

  Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 103 or AGN 115 or AGN 215. The history and policies surrounding management of soil and water resources will be considered, but the majority of class time will be used addressing the processes of erosion and nutrient loss, and the practices used to conserve natural resources and sustain productivity/function of cropland, pasture, urban, and wild landscapes. May be taught concurrently with AGN 635. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 335 and AGN 635.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	3	0	Fall

• AGN 336 Dendrology and Wood Science

  Prerequisite: AGN 143.

  Dendrology includes the study of plant taxonomy, with emphasis in identification, species associations, morphology, and range of tree and woody shrub species. This course will focus on dendrology of tree species common to Missouri and surrounding states, and the identification of cellular features of both hardwood and softwood species and of tree species based on wood characteristics alone.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	2	2	Fall

• AGN 343 Measurements and Sampling for Forest Management

  Prerequisite: AGN 143.

  Theory and practice of forest sampling and cruising techniques including: stratified and non-stratified sampling systems with fixed plots, variable plots, and tree measurement techniques. Special emphasis is placed on practical application of forest measurements through field experience and computer-based learning.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  4	2	4	Fall

• AGN 345 Forest Ecosystems

  Prerequisite: AGN 143.

  This course will focus on factors affecting forest structure and composition, the effects of environmental gradients on plant species distribution, the dynamics of vegetation communities over time, and key ecosystem-level processes such as the cycling of carbon and nutrients.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	2	2	Spring

• AGN 351 Game Bird Production

  Production and management of quail, pheasants and other game birds.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  2	1	2	Fall

• AGN 353 Wildland Fire Management

  Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 143. This course provides basic knowledge of wildland and prescribed fire management and utilizes the National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) entry level courses to prepare for NWCG firefighter qualification. Subjects include fireline leadership, organization, suppression tactics, fire weather, fire suppression, prescribed fire tools, natural cover fuels, and an introduction to the use of prescribed fire for wildlife habitat management.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  2	1	2	Spring

• AGN 405 Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition

  Prerequisite: AGN 215.

  Principles of soil fertility, amendments and factors affecting nutrient availability and plant growth. May be taught concurrently with AGN 605. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 405 and AGN 605.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	3	0	Spring

• AGN 455 Soil Genesis, Morphology and Classification

  Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 215. Pedogenetic processes that are responsible for genesis, morphology, and classification of the twelve orders of soil taxonomy will be covered along with interpretation of water relationships, site characteristics, soil classification and land use. May be taught concurrently with AGN 655. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 455 and AGN 655.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	2	2	Upon demand

• AGN 465 Environmental Soil Science

  Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 215. Application of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties influencing agriculture, natural resources, and environmental science. Students will determine site suitability for agricultural and engineering purposes using information from onsite evaluations, soil survey, and other appropriate resources. May be taught concurrently with AGN 665. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 465 and AGN 665.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	2	2	Spring

• AGN 495 Problems in Plant Science and Natural Resources

  Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

  Assigned investigations, dealing with current problems in plant science and soil science supervised by an agricultural staff member. Student prepares outline, investigates sources of information concerning the subject, and summarizes the findings in a written report. May be repeated with permission.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  1-3			Fall, Spring

• AGN 543 Silviculture

  Prerequisite: AGN 143.

  This course will examine natural tree and stand development, as well as fundamentals of forest stand dynamics, site productivity, stand density and tree growth. As such, this course will provide a scientific and practical basis for concepts such as regeneration techniques, density management, wildlife habitat management and other silvicultural principles. May be taught concurrently with AGN 643. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 543 and AGN 643.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	3	0	Spring

• AGN 605 Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition

  Prerequisite: AGN 215.

  Theoretical and applied aspects of soil fertility emphasizing ion transport, nutrient availability, and root absorption in soils-plant environments. May be taught concurrently with AGN 405. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 405 and AGN 605.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	3	0	Spring

• AGN 635 Soil Conservation and Water Management

  The history and policies surrounding management of soil and water resources will be considered, but the majority of class time will be used addressing the processes of erosion and nutrient loss, and the practices used to conserve natural resources and sustain productivity/function of cropland, pasture, urban, and wild landscapes. May be taught concurrently with AGN 335. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 335 and AGN 635.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	3	0	Fall

• AGN 643 Silviculture

  This course will examine natural tree and stand development, as well as fundamentals of forest stand dynamics, site productivity, stand density and tree growth. As such, this course will provide a scientific and practical basis for concepts such as regeneration techniques, density management, wildlife habitat management and other silvicultural principles. May be taught concurrently with AGN 543. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 543 and AGN 643.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	3	0	Spring

• AGN 655 Soil Genesis, Morphology and Classification

  Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 465. Pedogenetic processes, macromorphology, micromorphology, redoximorphic features, and classification as related to soil taxonomy, with GIS applications for use of soil survey information discussed, if time allows. May be taught concurrently with AGN 455. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 455 and AGN 655.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	2	2	Upon demand

• AGN 665 Environmental Soil Science

  Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 215. Application of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties influencing agriculture, natural resources, and environmental science. Students will determine site suitability for agricultural and engineering purposes using information from onsite evaluations, soil survey, and other appropriate resources. May be taught concurrently with AGN 465. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 465 and AGN 665.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	2	2	Spring

• AGN 699 Special Topics in Natural Resources

  Special study in an identified area of natural resources not treated in other courses. Recent advances and new research techniques will be discussed. Variable content course. May be repeated to a maximum of nine hours provided the same topic is not duplicated.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  1-3			Upon demand

• AGN 725 Advanced Soils Interpretations

  Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 465. Field interpretation of physical and chemical properties, water relationships, and soil landscape relationships.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  3	2	3	Upon demand

• AGN 730 Advanced Topics in Natural Resources

  Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

  An advanced topic in natural resources will be addressed via faculty lectures and student projects. Variable content course. May be repeated to a maximum of nine hours provided the same topic is not duplicated.

  Credit hours	Lecture contact hours	Lab contact hours	Typically offered
  1-3			Upon demand