Farming Today for Tomorrow

A Seminar Series ConcerningIssues of Sustainable Agriculture

The overriding theme of most issues in agriculture today is sustainability in all its various facets - environment, economics, and social impacts. Each winter term, the department of Crop and Soil Science presents an undergraduate seminar series entitled Farming Today for Tomorrow that will deal with a specific theme of agricultural sustainability. 

CSS 499/599 offers 7 separate classes.  Each has the same requirements, but the topics of study will differ:

1. Soil Quality
2. Bioproducts
3. Organic Farming
4. Agriculture and Animal Interfaces
5. Vaue Added Agriculture
6. Genetically Modified Organisms and Sustainable Agriculture
7. Bioproducts: Food in the News
8. Fossil Fuel Products: Their Effects on Agricultural Sustainability - Energy, Fertilizer, Global Warming and Carbon Sequestration.

[ Instructor ] [ Class Overview ] [ Class Requirements and Grading ]

Instructor

Kimberly Hannaway Dept. of Crop and Soil Science Crop Science Building 022 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-3002

Phone: 541-737-5036 Fax: 541-737-1589 Email: kimberly@oregonstate.edu

Class Overview

This is a one-credit pass/no-pass class consisting of nine videotapes each approximately one hour in length. Each tape is a recording of a seminar presented during the on-campus CSS199 seminar series offered each Winter Term by the Crop and Soil Science Department of Oregon State University. The central theme for the seminar series is sustainable agriculture.

The course requirements are simple - watch each tape, take a short on-line quiz, and write a 3-5 page final paper on some aspect of BioProducts. Details on these requirements are given below. A web site is maintained for the class with information links.

These classes can be accessed through the OSU's teaching and learning portal (Blackboard). Students enrolled in CSS 499/599 classes are encouraged to use this system to participate in on-line discussion groups about issues in sustainable agriculture with other students in the course.

Students will need to view the streaming-video presentations that are located in their Blackboard materials for the course. When utilized through the Blackboard materials, the videos are free.

Students may also order the videotapes for this course from the OSU bookstore, by calling the toll free number (800) 595-0357. The videos will be sent by mail, or they can be picked up at the textbook counter on the lower level of the bookstore. There is a ~$25 rental fee for the videos for each class. If the videos are not returned, there is an additional $50 charged to the student’s account. This fee is nonrefundable.

Class Requirements and Grading

The class is graded pass/fail. To pass students must do the following:

1. View all video presentations.
2. Take a short on-line quiz pertaining to the important concepts and ideas presented in each video.
3. Write a three-page final paper with at least five references (journal article, magazine articles, web page sites, etc.) on the issue of pertaining to the section topic. Examples of a final papers and bibliography are posted on each class Blackboard site.
4. Those students who are taking the class for graduate credit (CSS599) a five-page final paper must be written on a topic relevant to the class material.
5. All final paper topics must be approved in advance by the instructor.
6. Grading for the course is based on 100 total points. At least 70 points must be accumulated by the student in order to get credit.  Students must complete both the quizzes and the final paper to pass the course.