SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES

Subject abbreviation: SWSC


Faculty | Graduate Curricula
Undergraduate Courses | Graduate Courses | Professional Courses
SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES

Subject abbreviation: SWSC


Walter J. Farmer, Ph.D., Chair
Michael A. Anderson, Ph.D., Graduate Advisor
Program Office, 2207 Geology
(909) 787-5103; soilwater.ucr.edu

Faculty E-mails

Professors
Christopher Amrhein, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Chemistry
Andrew C.-S. Chang, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Agricultural Engineering
David E. Crowley, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Microbiology
Walter J. Farmer, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Chemistry
William T. Frankenberger, Jr., Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Microbiology
Robert C. Graham, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Mineralogy and Pedology
William A. Jury, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Physics
John Letey, Jr., Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Physics
Lanny J. Lund, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Morphology, Genesis, and Classification
David R. Parker, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Biogeochemistry
Daniel Schlenk, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Marylynn V. Yates, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Environmental Microbiology
Professors Emeriti
Glen H. Cannell, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Physics
Homer D. Chapman, Ph.D., LL.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soils and Plant Nutrition
Albert L. Page, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Chemistry
Parker F. Pratt, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Chemistry
Associate Professors
Michael A. Anderson, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Environmental Chemistry
David M. Crohn, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Biosystems Engineering
Laosheng Wu, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Soil Physics
Paul J. Ziemann, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Atmospheric Chemistry
Assistant Professors
Jiangying "Jay" Gan, Ph.D. Environmental Chemistry (Environmental Sciences)
Brian Lanoil, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Environmental Microbiology
Thomas Meixner, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Hydrology
Lisa Stein, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Environmental Microbiology
••
Acting Assistant Professor
W. Bowman Cutter, M.S. (Environmental Sciences)
Adjunct Professors
Andrej Bytnerowicz, Ph.D. Atmospheric/Forest Sciences
James D. Oster, Ph.D. Soil Chemistry
James D. Rhoades, Ph.D. Soil Science
Donald L. Suarez, Ph.D. Geochemistry
Martinus T. van Genuchten, Ph.D. Soil Physics
Scott R. Yates, Ph.D. Soil Physics
Adjunct Associate Professor
Sabine Goldberg, Ph.D. Soil Chemistry
Cooperating Faculty
Michael F. Allen, Ph.D. (Biology/Plant Pathology)
Mark R. Matsumoto, Ph.D. (Chemical and Environmental Engineering)
Harry W.K. Tom, Ph.D. (Physics)

GRADUATE PROGRAM

The graduate program in Soil and Water Sciences is administered by the Department of Environmental Sciences and offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The university requires GRE General Test scores (verbal, quantitative, analytical). As well as fulfilling the university requirements for admission to the Graduate Division, students must satisfy certain program requirements. Admission to the program requires a baccalaureate degree with preparation in both physical and life sciences. Students entering the program are expected to have completed one year of general chemistry, as well as courses in general physics, organic chemistry, calculus through integrals, general biology, statistics, and physical geology or physical geography. Students who have not taken these courses are directed by the admissions and review committee and their major advisor to the appropriate curriculum to correct the deficiencies.

Students, in consultation with their advisory committee and other faculty as appropriate, develop a program of course work to satisfy the degree requirements and the career objective. A study list of required and elective courses must be completed by the end of the second quarter of study and submitted to the admissions and review committee for review.

All students must complete one course in each of the following four broad categories of soil and water sciences: chemistry, physics, biology, and natural structure and diversity. Students may have completed these prior to admission or they may take them early in their graduate program. Courses at UCR that meet the requirement of each category are listed below.

Chemistry

 ENSC 104/SWSC 104 (Environmental Soil Chemistry)

 CHEM 136/ENSC 136/ENTX 136/SWSC 136 (Chemistry of Natural Waters)

Physics

 ENSC 107/SWSC 107 (Soil Physics)

 ENSC 163 (Hydrology)

Biology

 BPSC 134/ENSC 134/SWSC 134 (Soil Conditions and Plant Growth)

 SWSC 111 (Microbiology and Biochemistry of Soils)

 ENSC 141 (Aquatic Microbiology)

Natural Structure and Diversity

 ENSC 138/GEO 138/SWSC 138 (Soil Morphology and Classification)

 ENSC 140/SWSC 140 (Limnology)

In partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree in Soil and Water Sciences, all students must present a departmental seminar summarizing results of their thesis or dissertation or internship. This requirement is formalized by enrolling in SWSC 250 for two units during the final quarter of matriculation.

For a complete description of the program's requirements, students are referred to the Guidelines for Graduate Students available in the Environmental Sciences Student Affairs Office. Other general university requirements for advanced degrees are given in the Graduate Studies section of this catalog.

Master's Degree

Two options are available for students seeking the M.S. degree in Soil and Water Sciences: Plan I (Thesis), and Plan II (Comprehensive Examination).

Only seminar courses, directed study, internship, thesis and dissertation hours may be taken on a Satisfactory (S)/No Credit (NC) basis.

Plan I (Thesis)

Students must complete a minimum of 36 quarter units of graduate and upper-division undergraduate courses in, or significantly related to, soil and water sciences. At least 24 of the 36 units must be in graduate courses. A maximum of 12 of these units may be in graduate research for the thesis. No more than 4 units of SWSC 290 and 2 units of SWSC 250 may be applied toward the degree. Students must pass a final oral examination.

Plan II (Comprehensive Examination)

Students must complete a minimum of 36 quarter units of graduate and upper-division undergraduate courses in or significantly related to soil and water sciences. At least 18 units must be in graduate courses. No more than 2 units of SWSC 250 and 6 units of SWSC 298-I may be counted toward the required 18 units, and no units from graduate research for thesis or dissertation (SWSC 297 or SWSC 299) are applicable.

Students take a comprehensive written examination that covers fundamental topics in soil and water sciences. The written exam, which is three to four hours long, is prepared and evaluated by a committee appointed by the department chair. The exam is taken during the latter part of the final quarter in the M.S. program. Students must wait at least eight weeks before retaking a failed examination. Students failing the examination twice are dismissed from the program.

Doctoral Degree

The Ph.D. program provides specialized, research-based training in a variety of soil and water sciences fields. In addition to the four core courses enumerated above, the minimum requirements for the Ph.D. degree include the following:

  1. Completing all course work with an average GPA of 3.0 or greater
  2. Passing both the written and oral qualifying examinations
  3. Completing at least 4 units of Teaching Practicum (SWSC 302)
  4. Submitting an approved research dissertation

Before advancement to candidacy, students must complete all required course work as approved by their advisory committee, pass a written qualifying examination administered by a five-member committee, and pass an oral examination administered by the same committee; the latter includes the defense of an original research proposal. The examining committee must include one member from outside the graduate program. After successfully completing these examinations and complying with university rules, students are advanced to candidacy.

Students must submit a dissertation consisting of original research in the field of soil and water sciences. The dissertation must be accepted by a three-member dissertation committee. Students must then pass a final oral examination, which deals primarily with the dissertation and is conducted by the dissertation committee.

Normative Time to Degree 15 quarters


UPPER-DIVISION COURSES

SWSC 100L. Introductory Soil Science Laboratory. (2) F Lecture, one hour; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C and concurrent enrollment in ENSC 100; GEO 001 is recommended. Properties of soils and their uses. Evaluation of physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. Frankenberger

SWSC 104. Environmental Soil Chemistry. (5) F Lecture, three hours; laboratory, six hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 005 or ENSC 100 or consent of instructor. A study of the chemistry of the solid, liquid, and gas phases in soils and soil-like materials. Topics include solid and solution equilibria, mineral solubility, clay mineralogy, ion exchange, surface chemistry, redox reactions, kinetics, and the chemistry of organic contaminants and toxic trace elements in soils. Cross-listed with ENSC 104. Amrhein

SWSC 107. Soil Physics. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): MATH 009A or MATH 09HA, MATH 009B or MATH 09HB, PHYS 002A; or consent of instructor. Topics include physical properties of soils and methods of evaluation. Emphasis is on movement of water, heat, gases, and chemicals through soil. Cross-listed with ENSC 107. Wu

SWSC 111. Microbiology and Biochemistry of Soils. (4) W Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B, CHEM 112A, CHEM 112B (CHEM 112B may be taken concurrently). Topics include the nature of soil microflora and soil organic matter; effects of microbial processes upon chemical and physical properties of soils, mineral cycles, and plant nutrition; and biodegradation of natural and synthetic compounds added to soil. Crowley

SWSC 124. Soils of Wildland Ecosystems. (4) Lecture, three hours; two one-day and one two-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 100; ENSC 100L or SWSC 100L. The properties and functions of soils in desert, grassland, chaparral, forest, and alpine ecosystems, with emphasis on California; the importance of soils in natural plant communities and animal habitats; and implications of soil properties for wildland management.

SWSC 127. Fate and Transport of Contaminants in Soil. (4) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001A or CHEM 01HA; CHEM 001B or CHEM 01HB; CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC; ENSC 100; MATH 009B or MATH 09HB. Topics include interactions of environmental conditions with abiotic and biotic transformation and transport of major organic and inorganic contaminants in soil. Cross-listed with ENSC 127.

SWSC 134. Soil Conditions and Plant Growth. (4) W Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 104/BPSC 104, ENSC 100; or consent of instructor. A study of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of soils and their influence on plant growth and development. Topics include soil-plant water relations; fundamentals of plant mineral nutrition; soil nutrient pools and cycles; soil acidity, alkalinity, salinity, and sodicity; root symbioses and rhizosphere processes. Cross-listed with ENSC 134 and BPSC 134. Parker

SWSC 136. Chemistry of Natural Waters. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 005 with a grade of "C-" or better or ENSC 104 /SWSC 104 with a grade of "C-" or better or consent of instructor. Introduction to processes controlling the chemical composition of natural waters. Topics include chemical equilibria, acid-base and coordination chemistry, oxidation-reduction reactions, precipitation-dissolution, air-water exchange, and use of equilibrium and kinetic models for describing marine nutrient, trace metal, and sediment chemistry. Cross-listed with CHEM 136, ENSC 136, and ENTX 136. Ziemann

SWSC 138. Soil Morphology and Classification. (4) S Lecture, three hours; laboratory, normally three hours; two one-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 100; GEO 001 or GEO 002; or consent of instructor. The study of soils as they occur in the field and their relations to current and past environmental conditions. Use of field and laboratory data to understand soil genesis, causes of soil variability, fundamentals of soil classification, and land use potentials. Laboratory emphasizes the description and interpretation of soils and landscapes in the field. Cross-listed with ENSC 138 and GEO 138. Graham

SWSC 140. Limnology. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001A or CHEM 01HA; CHEM 001B or CHEM 01HB; CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC; ENSC 101. Study of surface waters. Considers in detail the physical and chemical processes in surface waters, aquatic biology, ecosystem dynamics, and aspects of surface water quality and modeling. Cross-listed with ENSC 140. Anderson

SWSC 176. Acquisition and Analysis of Environmental Data. (5) Summer Lecture, two hours; discussion, one hour; laboratory, three hours; field, three hours. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 100, ENSC 101, ENSC 102, either the STAT 100A and STAT 100B sequence or STAT 120A and STAT 120B sequence; or consent of instructor. Explores general principles of environmental sampling. Field exercises cover sampling and analysis of air, water, and soil; hydrologic and limnological measurements; and biological characterization of soils and surface waters. Topics also include principles and use of geographic positioning systems (GPS); basic surveying and cartographic techniques for site characterization; and interpretation and presentation of field and laboratory data using computer software. Cross-listed with ENSC 176. Parker, Anderson, Bytnerowicz

SWSC 190. Special Studies. (1-5) F,W,S Conference and discussion, variable time. Prerequisite(s): advanced standing. Directed group study in soil and water sciences for advanced undergraduates. Course is repeatable.

SWSC 197. Research for Undergraduates. (1-4) F,W,S Conference and discussion, variable time. Prerequisite(s): advanced standing. Individual research on a problem relating to soil and water sciences to be conducted under the guidance of an instructor. Course is repeatable.


GRADUATE COURSES

SWSC 202. Soil Chemical Conditions and Plant Growth. (4) S Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BPSC 134/ENSC 134/SWSC 134, ENSC 104/SWSC 104; or consent of instructor. BIOL 143/BPSC 143 recommended. Soil chemical processes that influence the bioavailability of essential mineral nutrients and potentially toxic trace elements, and the plant uptake, metabolism, and partitioning of these elements. Soil solution and rhizosphere chemistry; root surface chemistry; ion transport processes in plants; mechanisms of trace element toxicities and tolerance; plant uptake and partitioning of environmentally hazardous elements. Parker

SWSC 203. Surface Chemistry of Soils. (4) W, Odd Years Lecture, four hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 109 or CHEM 110A; ENSC 104/SWSC 104; or consent of instructor. Quantitative description of the properties of and reactions at the soil-water interface, including charge properties, the electric double layer, ion exchange, and surface complexation reactions. Anderson

SWSC 204. Environmental Organic Chemistry. (4) W, Even Years Lecture, four hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 109 or CHEM 110A; CHEM 112A, CHEM 112B; or consent of instructor. ENSC 104/SWSC 104 is recommended. Considers the properties and reactions of organic contaminants in soils and surface waters, including partitioning, exchange, and transformation reactions. Anderson

SWSC 206. Principles and Theories Relating to Arid Zone Soils. (4) S,Odd Years Lecture, three hours; seminar, one hour. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 104/ SWSC 104. Characteristics of soils in arid regions; soil and water resources; genesis and properties of salt-affected soils, principles and methods of reclamation; agronomic factors; salt tolerance, nutrition, and crop selection criteria. Amrhein

SWSC 207. Advanced Soil Physics. (4) Lecture, four hours. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 107/SWSC 107. Applications of physics and physical chemistry to soil systems.

SWSC 208. Ecotoxicology. (4) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B, CHEM 112A, CHEM 112B; or consent of instructor. Introduction to the impact of chemicals upon ecological systems. Examination of the fate and effects of environmental chemicals in various hierarchies of biological organization to learn how to carry out precise and accurate assessments of ecological risk. Cross-listed with ENSC 208 and ENTX 208. Schlenk

SWSC 211. Microbial Ecology. (3) S, Odd Years Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing or consent of instructor. Application of ecological principles to microbial communities. Emphasizes methods for analysis of diversity and community structure and statistical methods relating genetic and biochemical fingerprints to functional properties. Case studies explore applications for agriculture, disease biocontrol, and bioremediation of environmental contaminants. Cross-listed with MCBL 211. Crowley

SWSC 213. Soil Mineralogy. (3) W, Even Years Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 001A or CHEM 01HA; CHEM 001B or CHEM 01HB; CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC; GEO 001. ENSC 104/SWSC 104 and ENSC 138/GEO 138/SWSC 138 are recommended. The composition, structure, and classification of minerals commonly found in soils. Origin, occurrence, and properties of soil minerals in relation to chemical, pedologic, and geomorphic conditions. Theory of mineral identification techniques including X-ray diffraction, thermal and infrared analysis, and electron microscopy. Graham

SWSC 213L. Soil Mineralogy Laboratory. (4) W, Even Years Discussion, one hour; laboratory, nine hours. Prerequisite(s): concurrent enrollment in SWSC 213. Training in methods of soil mineralogical analysis, including sample preparation, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and surface area analysis. Data interpretation and presentation. Graham

SWSC 216. Biodegradation of Xenobiotic Chemicals. (3) Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite(s): BCH 100, BIOL 121A/MCBL 121A, BIOL 121L/MCBL 121L; or equivalents. Explores the importance of microorganisms in metabolizing synthetic organic chemicals. Topics include ecology, physiology, growth, isolation, and identification of degradative bacteria; bioremediation processes; and environmentally related problems. Examines studies of catabolic pathways including metabolites, enzymes, genes, and environmental factors. Cross-listed with ENTX 216 and MCBL 216. Focht

SWSC 216L. Laboratory in Biodegradation of Xenobiotic Chemicals. (2) Discussion, one hour; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): BCH 100, BIOL 121A/MCBL 121A, BIOL 121L/MCBL 121L; or equivalents. Covers laboratory methods used for isolation and identification of degradative bacteria and kinetics of growth and metabolism. Examines studies of catabolic pathways, separation, and spectroscopic identification of metabolites. Cross-listed with ENTX 216L and MCBL 216L. Focht

SWSC 218. Pedology. (4) F, Even Years Lecture, three hours; two two-day and two one-day field trips. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 138/GEO 138/SWSC 138 or consent of instructor. Integrated functioning of natural chemical, physical, and biological processes in soils in relation to the lithologic, geomorphic, biologic, and climatic environmental factors; soil diversity and effects of pedologic processes on scales ranging from microscopic to global. Graham

SWSC 221. Transport and Fate of Inorganic Contaminants in Soil-Water Systems. (4) Lecture, four hours. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 104/SWSC 104, ENSC 107/ SWSC 107, SWSC 111; or consent of instructor. BPSC 134/ENSC 134/SWSC 134 is recommended. Integrated presentation of the basic processes involved in the transport and fate of important inorganic contaminants in soil-water systems; discussion of remediation procedures for contaminant cleanup; analysis of case studies of soil pollution.

SWSC 222. Transport and Fate of Organic Contaminants in Soil-Water Systems. (4) Lecture, four hours. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 104/SWSC 104, ENSC 107/ SWSC 107, SWSC 111; or consent of instructor. BPSC 134/ENSC 134/SWSC 134 is recommended. Integrated presentation of the basic processes involved in the transport and fate of important organic contaminants and pathogens in soil-water systems; discussion of remediation procedures for contaminant cleanup; analysis of case studies of soil pollution.

SWSC 224. Watershed Hydrologic Systems. (5) Lecture, three hours; discussion, two hours. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 163, GEO 157, MATH 009C or MATH 09HC; or consent of instructor. Discusses the hydrologic processes occurring at watershed scale and the systems of and distributed approaches to watershed hydrologic modeling. Focuses on modeling rainfall-runoff processes and considering water quality to determine the validity of hydrologic simulation models. Cross-listed with ENSC 224. Meixner

SWSC 225. Watershed Biogeochemistry. (3) Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite(s): ENSC 163; CHEM 136/ENSC 136/ENTX 136/SWSC 136 or ENSC 104/SWSC 104 or ENSC 232/SWSC 232 is recommended. Emphasizes terrestrial-aquatic linkages in headwater catchments, focusing on hydrologic pathways, isotopic and geochemical tracers, nutrient cycling, water quality, experimental manipulations, and modeling. Cross-listed with ENSC 225.

SWSC 232. Biogeochemistry. (4) S, Odd Years Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing; consent of instructor. A study of the biogeochemical cycling and exchange of carbon and important nutrients (N, S, base cations) between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Quantitatively describes processes at scales ranging from local to global. Addresses modern concerns about water and atmospheric quality, including global climate change. Cross-listed with ENSC 232. Parker

SWSC 245. Chemistry and Physics of Aerosols. (3) F, Odd Years Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 109, CHEM 110B; or consent of instructor. Fundamentals of chemical and physical processes controlling behavior and properties of airborne particles. Topics include particle mechanics; electrical, optical, and thermodynamic properties; nucleation; surface and aqueous-phase chemistry; gas-particle partitioning; sampling; size and chemical analysis; atmospheric aerosols; and environmental effects. Cross-listed with CHEM 245 and ENTX 245. Ziemann

SWSC 250. Seminar in Soil and Water Sciences. (1-2) F,W,S Seminar, one hour. Formal seminars on selected topics in the field of soil and water sciences by graduate students, staff, and invited scholars. Two units of credit for students who present seminars and one unit of credit for students enrolled. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

SWSC 251. Seminar in Soil Physics. (2) Seminar, two hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Oral reports and discussion by students, faculty, and visiting scholars on current research topics in soil physics and hydrology. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC).

SWSC 252. Seminar in Soil Chemistry. (2) Seminar, two hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate status. Oral reports and discussion by students, faculty, and visiting scholars on current research topics in soil chemistry. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

SWSC 255. Graduate Seminar in Soil Microbiology and Soil Biochemistry. (2) Seminar, two hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate status and SWSC 111 or consent of instructor. Oral reports and discussion by students, faculty, and visiting scholars on current research topics in soil microbiology and soil biochemistry. Emphasis will be placed on the microbiological and biochemical role of the soil in relation to maintenance of environmental quality. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC).

SWSC 256. Graduate Seminar in Soil Mineralogy and Soil Genesis. (2) Seminar, two hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Oral reports and discussion by students, faculty, and visiting scholars on historical developments and current research topics in soil mineralogy and soil genesis. Graded on a Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) basis; however, students may petition the instructor for a letter grade.

SWSC 257. Environmental Chemistry Seminar. (1) Seminar, one hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Chemistry or Soil and Water Sciences. Oral presentations by visiting scholars and UCR faculty on current research topics in environmental chemistry, environmental sciences, and environmental toxicology. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable. Cross-listed with CHEM 257.

SWSC 260 (E-Z). Special Topics in Soil and Water Sciences. (1-3) Seminar, one to three hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing and consent of instructor. Seminars on advanced and current topics in soil and water sciences. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC).

SWSC 262. Wetlands Biogeochemistry Seminar. (2) Seminar, two hours. Prerequisite(s): CHEM 136/ENSC 136/ENTX 136/SWSC 136 or ENSC 104/SWSC 104; ENSC 141 or SWSC 111; or consent of instructor. Oral reports and discussion by students, faculty, and visiting scholars on current research topics in biogeochemical cycling in wetland environments. Emphasis is on environmental quality issues, use of constructed wetlands as recipients of various wastewaters, and the role of wetlands in global nutrient cycles and thus climatic change. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC).

SWSC 290. Directed Studies. (1-6) Individual study, three to eighteen hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing and consent of instructor. Individual studies on specially selected topics in soil and water sciences under the direction of a staff member. No more than four units may be applied toward the unit requirements for the Master's degree. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable to a maximum of 8 units.

SWSC 297. Directed Research. (1-6) Conference and research, variable time. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC).

SWSC 298-I. Individual Internship. (1-12) Internships, three to thirty-six hours per week. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Soil and Water Sciences. Individual study or apprenticeship with an appropriate professional individual or organization and an academic advisor to gain professional experience and knowledge on a topic related to soil or water quality. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable but only 6 units may be used toward the 36 units required for the M.S. degree.

SWSC 299. Research for Thesis or Dissertation. (1-12) Conference and research, variable time. Prerequisite(s): consent of a staff member. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.


PROFESSIONAL COURSES

SWSC 302. Teaching Practicum. (1-4) F,W,S Practicum, four to twelve hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Supervised teaching in Soil and Water Sciences or Environmental Sciences courses. Required for all teaching assistants in Soil and Water Sciences. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

SWSC 401. Professional Development in Soil and Water Sciences. (2) Seminar, two hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Soil and Water Sciences; Ph.D. students must also be advanced to candidacy. Oral reports and discussions by students and faculty on: reading, reviewing, and preparing professional manuscripts; preparing research proposals; developing teaching skills; preparing oral and poster presentations; choosing a research topic. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC).