An overview of physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. Sub-disciplines of soil chemistry, soil physics, soil microbiology, soil genesis, and classification. Lab.

Introduces basic and applied ecology of forests, with emphasis on ecosystem processes, including water, energy, and nutrient cycles; biological interactions, including biodiversity and plant-plant, plant-animal, and plant-microbe relationships; and human impacts, including forest management, land-use/land cover-change, and changes in atmospheric chemistry. Lab.

Contemporary natural resource and environmental policy problems/issues are addressed from a policy sciences perspective with emphasis on domestic policy solutions. Critical assessment of major policy initiatives and their implementation toward sustainable resource use and a healthy environment. Public policies are analyzed to determine the extent to which their implementation strategies have succeeded, and to assess their adequacy within a bioregional or ecosystem approach, and/or capacity to integrate economic and environmental decisions. Cases include national and local policies in their global context. Students apply public policy analysis and decision tools in laboratory sessions.

Introduces animal-habitat associations, including an examination of spatial and temporal features of wildlife habitat, the evolution of habitat selection, and how habitat suitability/productivity is evaluated.