ESRM 480 –LANDCAPE PLANT SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

Fall Quarter 2007

Day/time/loc:  Douglas Classroom (DRC 103), Center for Urban Horticulture
Lectures: M-W-F  9:30 – 10:20 am
Lab: Mon 1:30-3:20 pm

Instructor:  Soo-Hyung Kim, Assistant Professor, soohkim@u.washington.edu , 616-4971, Merrill 037
                       
TA:   Jeff Richardson, Graduate Student, jeffjr@u.washington.edu , 685-6250

Required text: 
Arboriculture, 4th ed., Integrated Management of Landscape Trees, Shrubs, and Vines by Richard W. Harris, James R. Clark, Nelda P. Matheny.  2004.  Prentice Hall.

Additional reading:  Assignments in texts on reserve at Miller Library and selected journal articles. 

Course objectives:  This course will cover the science of landscape plant management with an emphasis on sustainable practices in designed and naturalized urban landscapes.  Students will be exposed to the physical and physiological foundations of plant management as well as techniques in site and plant evaluation, problem diagnosis, plant selection, plant care, and sustainable maintenance practices.

Instruction method: There will be lecture and discussion periods. Two hour laboratory sessions will be designated for short field trips, field practices, and demonstrations of practical techniques. There will also be guest lecturers who have special interests and expertise in particular aspects of landscape plant management.

Assignments:

1. Lab report: Each lab will have an associated short exercise addressing the points provided by the instructor and TA.
2. Journal discussion:  Students will read selected journal articles and discuss them in small groups. Each group will then report its discussion to the entire class. Note that exams may cover the materials from these articles as well as discussion topics.  
3. Term paper and presentation: A term paper on a topic of student’s interest, 7-10 pages (1.5 spacing; 12 pt). A short presentation (7 min) on the paper topic will be presented during the final exam period.
4. Peer review: Each student will review two papers of their classmates through the peer review process moderated by the instructor and TA.

Exams

1. Midterm 1:  October 24 (Wed)
2. Midterm 2:  November 30 (Fri)

Grading                                                                     Total:  500 points

1. Lab reports                                                    100 points (20%)
2. Discussion and participation                                   100 points (20%)
1. Quality of participation is evaluated throughout the quarter, based upon relevant contributions to class discussions, posing good questions, contributing relevant materials, and attendance
3. Midterms: 50 points each                              100 points (20%)
4. Term paper                                                     100 points (20%)
5. Final presentation                                          50 points (10%)
6. Peer Review                                                   50 points (10%)
7. Extra credits
1. There may be opportunities to earn extra credits.

Office hours
By appointment. My office is located in 037 Merrill Hall.  The instructor and TA will be available after each class to address your questions. TA is available by appointment.

Academic Integrity
Plagiarism, cheating, and other misconduct are serious violations of your contract as a student. We expect that you will know and follow the University's policies on cheating and plagiarism. Any suspected cases of academic misconduct will be handled according to University regulations. More information, including definitions and examples, can be found at:  http://depts.washington.edu/grading/issue1/honesty.htm

Disability Accommodations
To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206)543-8924 (V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Student Services indicating that you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, please present the letter to the instructor so we can discuss the accommodations needed for this class.

Tentative Schedule