Agriculture

BIO 152

The second semester of an integrated one-year sequence (BIO 148 and 152) that is designed to develop understanding and appreciation for the biocomplexity of multicellular eukaryotes, with emphasis on animals and terrestrial plants. Structure and function relationships will be explored at many levels of organization.

Prereq: C or better in BIO 148 or permission of Department.

ECO 201

This course will introduce you to the economic way of thinking and provides basic tools of economic theory used to study markets, individual consumer behavior, and the behavior of firms. It employs concepts such as scarcity, opportunity costs, tradeoffs, marginal thinking, and gains from trade. This course will examine how markets work and how supply and demand interact to determine prices, explore market failure such as externalities, the tragedy of the commons and public goods and the role of the government in market activity. Students will also be introduced to theories of the firm and individual behavior, competition and monopoly, and welfare economics. Students successfully completing this course should leave with an understanding of these basic economic principles and their applicability to real world situations. Students should also be able to incorporate the tools of economic analysis into their own decision-making processes as they weigh costs and benefits to make choices.

PLS 210

This course is intended to provide a basic understanding of the natural products and processes that shape the nature of modern plants, and govern their interactions with the environment and other living organisms. We shall focus on the structural and biochemical characteristics unique to plants, and develop a basic understanding of how these plant attributes relate to organismic function. Emphasis will be placed on exploring the nature of the major plant biomes of the Earth, their community dynamics, and how member plants compete for space and other resources. Development of optimal plant strategies for reproductive success, plant interaction with other living systems as well as abiotic factors and their defense from predation and attack will also be considered.

PLS 366

Study of the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and how these properties relate to plant nutrient availability and plant growth, land- use planning and management issues, and soil and water quality issues. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours.

Prereq: CHE 105.

AEC 302

A comprehensive study of economic principles and management tools useful in farm and agribusiness decision making. Utilizes a systems approach to the planning, implementation and control of the agricultural business. Specific attention to application of management and decision theory, economic principles used in decision making, and risk management strategies. Emphasis on planning the future course of the business, acquiring and managing the necessary resources, and establishing physical and financial control over the business. Lab incorporates microeconomic applications of management principles developed in lectures. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, two hours per week.

Prereq: "C" or better in ECO 201.

WRD 204

Instruction and experience in writing for science and technology. Emphasis on clarity, conciseness, and effectiveness in preparing letters, memos, and reports for specific audiences. This course is a Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course in certain programs, and hence is not likely to be eligible for automatic transfer credit to UK.

Prereq: Completion of University writing requirement.

STA 296

Introduction to principles of statistics with emphasis on conceptual understanding. Students will articulate results of statistical description of sample data (including bivariate), application of probability distributions, confidence interval estimation and hypothesis testing to demonstrate properly contextualized analysis of real-world data.

Prereq: MA 113, MA 123, MA 137, or equivalent.

ENT 310

Identification, life histories and control of insects attacking field crops, especially those of importance in Kentucky. The damage that these insects cause, the reasons for their abundance, and alternatives in control practices will also be emphasized. Lecture, two hours per week; laboratory, two hours per week.

PLS 386

In-depth analysis of the underlying principles of plant production systems. Successful strategies, based on application of the principles developed by lecture and laboratory activities, will be discussed in either agronomic or horticultural contexts. Special attention will be given to minimizing the the environmental impact of the plant production techniques employed. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, two hours per week.

Prereq: PLS 210 and PLS 366 or concurrently or consent of instructor.

PPA 400G

To present students with the principles of plant pathology. The causes, effects, control and nature of plant diseases will be studied; the laboratory will expose students to common diseases and pathogens discussed in lecture. Emphasis will be given to diseases important in Kentucky. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, two hours.

Prereq: BIO 148 and BIO 152, or BIO/PLS 210, or consent of instructor.

ASC 382

A broad survey of animal agricultural management cov- ering cattle, horses, poultry, swine, sheep and goats. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of scientific disciplines including anatomy, physiology, nutrition, reproduction and genetics. For nonmajors only.

PLS 404

A study of weed management concepts based on the integration of weed biology and ecology data with cultural, biological, and herbicidal control. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, two hours per week.

Prereq: PLS 386.

AES 301

This course will introduce you to the significance of microbiomes in natural and managed ecosystems: where microbiomes are found, what their constituents are, and how they shape ecosystem form and function on planet Earth. This course will introduce the significance of microorganisms in our world and the similarities and differences of microbiomes depending on the ecosystem in which they are found. It will explore how various ecosystems shape the microbiome that develops, and how understanding the microbiomes in agricultural systems can facilitate better food, fiber, feed, fuel production, and water management.

Prereq: BIO 148 or consent of instructor.

PLS 470G

Soil reaction/cycling of elements essential to plant growth; rates, timing and placement of nutrient sources in modern crop/soil management systems; plant and soil sampling and analysis to diagnose plant nutrition stress.

Prereq: CHE 105, PLS 386 and PLS 366 or consent of instructor.

ABT 360

The basic principles of heredity as currently understood from evidence accumulated in classical, cytogenetic, molecular, and squantitative genetic experiments. Emphasis is placed on a thorough understanding of genetic principles and the relationship of genetics to all biological disciplines.

Prereq: BIO 148, BIO 152 and CHE 105 or consent of instructor.

BIO 152

The second semester of an integrated one-year sequence (BIO 148 and 152) that is designed to develop understanding and appreciation for the biocomplexity of multicellular eukaryotes, with emphasis on animals and terrestrial plants. Structure and function relationships will be explored at many levels of organization.

Prereq: C or better in BIO 148 or permission of Department.

STA 210

The goal of this course is to help students develop or refine their statistical literacy skills. Both the informal activity of human inference arising from statistical constructs, as well as the moral formal perspectives on statistical inference found in confidence intervals and hypothesis tests are studied. Throughout, the emphasis is on understanding what distinguishes good and bad inferential reasoning in the practical world around us.

Prereq: Any course in the new Quantitative Foundations area of General Education beginning Spring 2012.

CHE 107

A continuation of CHE 105. A study of the principles of chemistry and their application to elements and compounds.

Prereq: CHE 105 or CHE 110 (with a C or better).

CHE 113

A laboratory course, to accompany CHE 107, emphasizing qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis.

Prereq: CHE 111. Prereq or coreq: CHE 107.

ENT 300

Fundamentals of insect biology and relationships among insects, plants, and other organisms; identification of commonly encountered insects. Beneficial and detrimental effects of insects are discussed. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, two hours per week.

Prereq: One course in introductory biology.

ENT 395

Special problems for individual students who are capable of pursuing independent investigations in the various areas of entomology. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits.

Prereq: ENT 300.

ABT 201

A course designed to acquaint students with the common experimental methods used in agricultural biotechnology. Students will be presented with several case studies which demonstrate basic scientific reasoning and experimental strategies. The students will then use their understanding of basic scientific methods and agricultural systems to critically evaluate work from the current scientific literature. Each student will be required to provide a written and oral evaluation of a research project in some aspect of agricultural biotechnology. The class will provide the students with the basic skills needed for preparing their own research proposals. This course is a Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course in certain programs, and hence is not likely to be eligible for automatic transfer credit to UK.

Prereq: ABT 101 and enrollment in the Agricultural Biotechnology degree program or consent of instructor.

ABT 301

The goals of this course are to expose students to current scientific literature in the life sciences, develop skills for the evaluation of primary research literature and presentations, prepare students to write an independent research proposal, and develop oral communication skills. Student participation is a key component of activities, and students are required to provide both oral and written evaluations of research publications, presentations, and proposals. A major part of the course involves students developing, writing, and presenting an independent research proposal in coordination with a research mentor. This course should be taken prior to ABT 395 or ABT 399, and students must identify a research mentor early during the semester. This course is a Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course in certain programs, and hence is not likely to be eligible for automatic transfer credit to UK.

Prereq: Agricultural Biotechnology major or consent of instructor.

ENT 564

A study of insect taxonomy including the collection, preparation, and identification of adult insect specimens.

Prereq: Consent of instructor.

ENT 395

Special problems for individual students who are capable of pursuing independent investigations in the various areas of entomology. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits.

Prereq: ENT 300.