Graduate Courses for Natural Resources Sciences (NRSC)

Schedule of Classes: Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer
(Only current and next semester available)

NRSC 601 Plant Genomics (3 credits)
Not open to students who have completed AGRO 601. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO 601 or NRSC 601. Formerly AGRO601.
An advanced course in plant genomics which is the study of genes of plant chromosomes. It will cover current topics in gene mapping, molecular markers, QTLs, gene sequencing, and genetic engineering with special focus on agriculturally important traits.

NRSC 602 Advanced Crop Breeding II (2 credits)
Prerequisites: NRSC 601 and a graduate statistics course. Not open to students who have completed AGRO 602. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO 602 or NRSC 602. Formerly AGRO602.
Quantitative inheritance in plant breeding including genetic constitution of a population, continuous variation, estimation of genetic variances, heterosis and inbreeding, heritability, and population movement.

NRSC 608 Research Methods (1-4 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Repeatable to 4 credits if content differs. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO 608 or NRSC 608. Formerly AGRO608.
Development of research viewpoint by detailed study and report on crop and soil research of the Maryland Agriculture Experiment Station or review and discussion of literature on specific agricultural problems or new research techniques.

NRSC 609 Integrated Pest Mangement (1-4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Repeatable to 10 credits if content differs. Also offered as ENTM 609. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: ENTM 609 or NRSC 609.
A modular course with an interdisciplinary approach to the theory and practice of integrated pest management. Topics of modules, each 3-4 weeks long, vary each semester over a three year time frame, with the first module serving as a prerequisite for all other modules. See www.EntmClasses.umd.edu for description of modules.

NRSC 682 Methods of Plant Science Research (4 credits)
Two hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: HORT 682 or NRSC 682. Formerly HORT682.
The application of biochemical and biophysical methods to problems in biological research with emphasis on plant materials.

NRSC 683 Light and Plant Development (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI 442 or permission of instructor. Recommended: PHYS 263, PHYS 406, BSCI 435. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: HORT 683 or NRSC 683. Formerly HORT683.
Photobiology including: photochemistry, photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis. How light (UV, visible and near infrared) interacts with plants to regulate physiological responses such as stomatal function, carbon fixation, phototropism and flowering.

NRSC 685 Advanced Plant Ecophysiology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: One course in plant physiology..
Growth, productivity and survival are intimately linded to a plant's ability to adjust to its environment. The information provided in this course is designed to provide an introduction to the basic physical and psysiological principles necessary for understanding the interactions between plants and their environment. The overall objective of this course is to understand plant responses and adaptations to the environment and the ecological relevance of these responses.

NRSC 689 Special Topics (1-3 credits)
Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: HORT 689 or NRSC 689. Formerly HORT689.
Credit according to time scheduled and organization of the course. Organized as a lecture series on a specialized advanced topic.

NRSC 711 Advanced Plant-Soil Relationships (2 credits)
Not open to students who have completed AGRO 711. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO 711 or NRSC 711. Formerly AGRO711.
Integration of the biological, physical, and chemical aspects of plant growth in soils.

NRSC 722 Advanced Soil Chemistry (3 credits)
Prerequisites: AGRO 302 and permission of both department and instructor.
A continuation of AGRO 421 with emphasis on soil chemistry of minor elements necessary for plant growth.

NRSC 761 Methods in Pedological Investigations (4 credits)
Two hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: NRSC 414 (AGRO 414) or permission of department.
This is designed to equip students with analytical tools for soil microfabric and mineralogical analysis in order to understand soil properties and processes. A number of techniques will be discussed, but emphasis will be placed on micromorphology and x-ray diffractometry. Both theoretical and applied considerations will be convered, and students will gain substantial hands on experience in collecting and interpreting data germane to their research interests.

NRSC 783 Molecular Aspects of Plant Environment Interactions (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI 442. Not open to students who have completed HORT 783. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: NRSC 783 or HORT 783. Formerly HORT783.
A study of the interactions between abiotic environmental factors and plants. The course will emphasize the molecular aspects of how plants perceive, tranduce, and respond to environmental factors.

NRSC 785 Advanced Post-Harvest Physiology (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BCHM 461 and PLSC 474 (formerly HORT 474); or permission of department.
Physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects of senescence of detached plant organs, such as fruits, leaves and flowers.

NRSC 789 Advances in Research (1-4 credits)
Repeatable to 4 credits if content differs. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO 789 or NRSC 789.
A study of recent advances in agronomy research.

NRSC 798 Graduate Seminar (1 credits)
Repeatable to 6 credits. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO 798, HORT 798 or NRSC 798.
First and second semester.

NRSC 799 Master's Thesis Research (1-6 credits)

NRSC 821 Advanced Methods of Soil Investigation (3 credits)
Prerequisites: AGRO 302; permission of both department and instructor.
First semester, alternate years. An advanced study of the theory of the chemical methods of soil investigation with emphasis on problems involving application of physical chemistry.

NRSC 831 Soil Mineralogy (4 credits)
Soil minerals, with emphasis on clay minerals, are studied from the viewpoint of soil genesis and physical chemistry. Mineralogical analyses by x-ray and chemical techniques.

NRSC 832 Advanced Soil Physics (3 credits)
Prerequisites: AGRO 417; and permission of both department and instructor.
An advanced study of physical properties of soils.

NRSC 898 Pre-Candidacy Research (1-8 credits)