Skip to main content

Undergraduate spring application deadline is December 1 for spring term.

NSCI 206 Garden Science

The focus of this course is the science of growing plants with an ecological perspective, including basic botany, soil science and insect pest management. In this course students will grow flowers, herbs and vegetables in the University's GROW-IT center greenhouse and learn about ecosystems and environmental issues related to food supply, agriculture, soil conservation and pest control. Intended for General Education students. Includes lab.

Special information

First day attendance is mandatory.
4 Undergraduate credits

Effective May 6, 2020 to present

Meets graduation requirements for

Learning outcomes

General

  • Demonstrate understanding of the science of plant biology, soil science and insect pest management
  • Formulate and test hypotheses by performing experiments with plants, develop skill with the collection of data and its statistical and graphical analysis, and build an appreciation of the sources of error and uncertainty in scientific experiments.
  • Communicate experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing.
  • Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies
  • Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental problems related to food supply, agriculture, soil conservation and pest control
  • Explain the basic structure and function of various natural ecosystems and of human adaptive strategies within those systems.
  • Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues related to food supply, agriculture, soil conservation and pest control in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum

Goal 3: Natural Sciences

  • Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories.
  • Formulate and test hypotheses by performing laboratory, simulation, or field experiments in at least two of the natural science disciplines. One of these experimental components should develop, in greater depth, students' laboratory experience in the collection of data, its statistical and graphical analysis, and an appreciation of its sources of error and uncertainty.
  • Communicate their experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing.
  • Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies.

Goal 10: People and the Environment

  • Explain the basic structure and function of various natural ecosystems and of human adaptive strategies within those systems.
  • Discern patterns and interrelationships of bio-physical and socio-cultural systems.
  • Describe the basic institutional arrangements (social, legal, political, economic, religious) that are evolving to deal with environmental and natural resource challenges.
  • Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions.
  • Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental problems.
  • Articulate and defend the actions they would take on various environmental issues.