Credits: 2 hrs (2 lectures/week)

Class Schedule:
FOR 493: Lectures 9:05 - 9:55 MW, 231Lehotsky Hall
FOR 893: Lectures 11:15 - 12:05 MW, 231Lehotsky Hall

Instructor: 
Dr. Elena Mikhailova, G12C Lehotsky Hall
Phone: 656-3535
Email: eleanam@clemson.edu
Office hours: 2:00-4:00 PM T, Th and by appointment         

Prerequisites: Upper-level undergraduate and graduate students.

Attendance Policy: You are expected to attend every lecture unless classes have been officially canceled by the University.  Students who miss more than 4 class meetings will be dropped from the course.  If you miss a class, you are responsible for the material covered during that class.  If the professor is more than 15 minutes late for class, the class is considered cancelled and the students may leave.

Textbooks:
NRCS, 2005. Urban Soil Primer. Published on the web by the US Department of Agriculture.
NRCS, 2004. Understanding Soil Risks and Hazards. Published on the web by the US Department of Agriculture.

Reading Assignments:
Reading assignments will be handed out in class.

Course Objectives:

1) To learn basic properties of soils in urban environments;

2) To identify and describe the major soil-forming factors and processes in urban environments;

3) To classify urban soils;

4) To learn management techniques of urban soils to minimize environmental pollution and destruction of plant and animal life.

Exams, Quizzes and Project: There will be two in-class exams during the semester and one final exam.  In-class exams will include material from both lectures and readings.  They will consist of short-answer questions.  The final exam will be cumulative and will consist of a number of short-answer questions.  At the beginning of most class periods, there will be short-answer quizzes (suprise!) based on the reading assignments. Project will be based on creation and presentation of educational/research web-page (using Macromedia Contribute) on the topic related to urban soils (see Project section of the course webpage). Final grades will therefore be calculated as follows:

FOR 493 Grading Policy:

Grading Scale:

Clemson University Academic Integrity Statement: "As members of the Clemson University community, we have inherited Thomas Green Clemson's vision of this institution as a 'high seminary of learning.' Fundamental to this vision is a mutual commitment to truthfulness, honor and responsibility, without which we cannot earn the trust and respect of others. Furthermore, we recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of a Clemson degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing in any form." In instances where academic standards may have been compromised, Clemson University has a responsibility to respond appropriately and expeditiosly to charges of violations of academic integrity."

"When in opinion of a faculty member, there is evidence that a student has committed an act of academic dishonesty, the faculty member shall make a formal written charge of academic dishonesty including a description of the misconduct, to the Dean of the Graduate School. At the same time, the faculty member may, but is not required to, inform privately the student charged of the nature of the allegation."

Final Examinations/Final Papers: "The standing of a student in his/her work at the end of a semester is based upon final papers, daily class work, tests or other work, and final examinations."

Retention of Examinations: "Clemson University faculty who exercise their right to retain student examinations are required to retain those examinations on file for the 90 (ninety) calendar day duration (exclusive of summer) allocated for final grade protests in the form of academic grievances."

Posting of Grades: "The United States Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits the publica distribution of grades or graded work. This is commonly understood to include posting grades by student names, initials, or student social security number. It also is understood to include placing of graded material in a public place where students go through the material to find their own graded work."

Disability Access Statement from the Office of Student Disability Services: “It is University policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities.  Students are encouraged to contact Student Disability Services to discuss their individual needs for accommodation.”

The Director of Student Health Services reminds students that it is not responsible behavior to expose classmates to infectious diseases.