Turfgrass Management - Curriculum
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Note: Core courses require a minimum grade of "C" to meet Stockbridge School degree requirements.
Semester 1
ENGLWRIT 111 An entry-level course in writing designed for freshmen who, through their performance on the Placement Exam, demonstrate the need for intensive work in writing. Does not satisfy the Freshman Writing requirement. May not be taken Pass/Fail. (Gen.Ed. U)
ENGLWRIT 112 An entry-level course in writing. Emphasis upon the writing process: prewriting, revising, editing. Minimum of six finished essays required. Prerequisite: satisfactory performance on the Placement Exam or in ENGLWRIT 111 Basic Writing. Satisfies the Freshman Writing requirement. May not be taken Pass/Fail. (Gen.Ed. CW)
An overview course designed to provide students with information, opportunities, and skills to ease their transition into college and build a successful foundation necessary to reach their educational goals.
Structure, function, and reproduction of plants; emphasis on the flowering plants.
With lab. Interrelationship of soils and higher plants. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. Practical approach to current problems through basic soil principles. Prerequisite: some knowledge of chemistry.
With lab. Basic principles of selecting and managing turfgrass for home lawns, parks, golf courses, and other turf areas. Topics include: climatic adaptation, grass identification, establishment practices, pest control, fertility, environmental stresses, etc. Prerequisites: PLSOILIN 102 and 105 (may be taken concurrently).
Semester 2
With lab. Introduction to insect recognition, development, damage, and control. Seven-week course.
The ways in which water, light, and temperature influence plants, and the ways in which plants respond to changes in the environment. Emphasis on physical nature of these environmental factors. Seven-week course. Prerequisite: PLSOILIN 102.
Functions of mineral nutrients in plants, effects of mineral deficiencies, and sources of these nutrients to prevent or alleviate deficiencies in crop production. Seven-week course. Prerequisite: PLSOILIN 105.
Principles and practical methods of controlling turf insect pests. Prerequisites: PLSOILIN 101 (may be taken concurrently) and 230.
Applied introduction to plant pathology in horticultural crops. Identification, description, and management of diseases in modern horticultural production. Chemical, biological, cultural, and genetic controls and their integration. Seven-week course. Prerequisite: PLSOILIN 102.
Diagnosis and management of turfgrass diseases. Diagnosis techniques and appropriate cultural, chemical, genetic, and biological management strategies. Turfgrass Management majors only. Seven-week course; last half of the semester. Prerequisite: PLSOILIN 111.
Required of all students majoring in Turfgrass Management. Three month (June-August) internship in the specific field of study. Submission of reports required. Prerequisite: PLSOILIN 230 with minimum grade of "C".
Principles of engines and machinery operation, maintenance, selection, and minor repair. Turf equipment emphasized. Instruction on how to train operators of equipment. Budgeting for equipment. Seven-week course; last half of the semester.
Calculations involving area and volume measurements, fertilizer and pesticide requirements, cost analysis, seed calculations, irrigation calculations, and calculations relating to spreader and sprayer calibrations. Prerequisite: PLSOILIN 230 with minimum grade of "C".
First half of the semester: an introduction to basic concepts in agricultural chemistry as related to the growth and culture of turf grasses. Second half: the overall growth and development of grasses, including such areas as soil fertility and mineral nutrition. Prerequisite: PLSOILIN 230 with minimum grade of "C."
Semester 3
With lab. Introduction to 200 basic ornamental plants used in landscape architectural, horticultural, arboricultural, and other design uses; their identification, uses, and cultural requirements. Two weekly campus field trips. Workbook with sketches required.
This is a placeholder for math requirement (MATH 100/101/104).
The use and maintenance of trees in the urban environment from both a private and government perspective.
With lab. History of weed control; importance of weeds and their relationship to people and the environment; ecology of weeds, competition, persistence and survival mechanisms; reproduction, seed germination, and dormancy; methods of weed control, cultural, biological, chemical, and integrated pest management strategies; classification of herbicides and their selectivity; soil factors affecting herbicide performance, persistence and degradation; application equipment and calibration of sprayers; weed management systems for various crops and non-crop areas. Prerequisite: PLSOILIN 102 or 100-level biology course.
Semester 4
Topics include state and federal pesticide laws and regulations, pesticides and the environment, handling and storage of pesticides, classes and formulations of pesticides, safety and application equipment, understanding the pesticide label, toxicity, proper calculation and mixing of pesticides, and history of pesticide use. Includes preparation for the Massachusetts Pesticide Core Exam.
With lab. Principles of hydraulics and system design for turf and landscapes with an emphasis on golf courses. Irrigation systems, equipment performance, installation practices, operation procedures and troubleshooting. Drainage of sports turf also included.
Management of environmental stress in turfgrass. Special practices in managing high-quality turfgrass areas such as golf courses, athletic fields, and ornamental areas. Prerequisites: PLSOILIN 275 with a minimum grade of "C".
Basic principles of organizational operation and personnel management with emphasis on human behavior.