UMass Amherst students…. complete your Biological Science GenED online and take a step toward graduation!  

4 Credits (satisfies the Biological Sciences BS-GenED for UMass Amherst students)

How to enroll!

This is a class on the science of plant growth, using world food production, our favorite foods and backyard gardening as the framework for study whenever possible.  We will look at what plants are made of (plant anatomy), how they interact with other plants and animals (ecology), how the environment affects plants (plant physiology), and where they came from over time (evolution).  Most importantly, we will think together about our relationship with plants in order to better understand our place in the world.

This class is offered in January (4 weeks), both Summer (6 week) terms through UMass Online and on campus (14 weeks) during the Fall semester.  There are PowerPoint lessons and videos, exams, quizzes covering the Botany of Desire text, required journal posts, as well as online discussions.  You are invited to do this class at your own pace any time of the day.

Instructor:  John M. Gerber, Professor
Office:        17 Stockbridge Hall; Univ. of Massachusetts
Contact:      jgerber@umass.edu or 413-545-5301 (emergencies)
Web Page:  https://sustfoodfarm.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sustfoodfarm/

Format:  This class is a lecture format including a PowerPoint with notes, a related video, and most units include an optional reading in the textbook Botany for Gardeners.  You will also read Botany of Desire and take quizzes on the four main chapters of this engaging book.   You may take the quizzes at your own pace up to 3 times.

Technology: According to UMass Online, in order to take this course you must:

• have access to a personal computer (Mac or Windows)
• be familiar with basic computer skills
• be connected to the internet
• have an e-mail program and account
• have at least a 56 kbps modem
• have a Java capable browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer)

NOTE: If you have any problems with technology, please contact the UMass Online Tech Support office for help.

Required Textbook: Pollan, M. 2002. Botany of Desire: a Plant’s Eye View of the World.  This book is often available at the local library and may be purchased new or used from on-line booksellers.  The chapters will also be available free to download in pdf format on the class web page.

Suggested Textbook: Capon, Brian (any edition) Botany for Gardeners. Timber Press, Portland, OR.  This book is available from online booksellers.  The older edition is just fine and can be purchased on line very cheaply.  Here are the pages from the text.

Grading:  There are four unit exams and exam questions will come from PowerPoints, videos, as well as the required text (Botany of Desire).  No test questions come exclusively from the suggested text, Botany for Gardeners, unless the material was also introduced in the PowerPoints or videos. Test questions may also be from the discussion topics. Exams are timed.  You will have 60 minutes to complete the exam, once it is opened.  The exams are “open book”.  You are welcomed to use whatever resource you like during the exam period except another human being!

There are 4 quizzes covering the 4 main chapters of Botany of Desire (required text).  You may buy the text or read the chapters on Blackboard.  The total of the 4 quizzes will add up to 100 points and equal one unit exam.

There are four required journal posts covering anything from gardening to sustainable living. The total of the four posts will add up to 100 points and equal one unit exam.   Journal posts are scheduled with due dates.  Late posts will lose one point for each day late.  In addition, there are Discussion topics posted on a regular basis.

Grades will be given using these ranges:

A    = 95-100
A-   = 90-94
B+   =87-89
B    = 83-86
B-   = 80-82
C+   = 77-79
C    = 73-76
C-   = 70-72
D+  = 67-69
D    = 63-66
F     <62

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This class is part of the Sustainable Food and Farming Online Certificate Program and will count toward the Associate of Science degree as well as the Online B.S. degree.  Online classes during the winter and summer cost $482/credit.

To begin planning for the future, see….

Annual Class Schedule

NOTE: The UMass Sustainable Food and Farming Certificate has been declared eligible for Veterans Educational Benefits. For instructions see: Veterans Benefits.

If you are not interested in earning college credit, there are many non-credited workshops and short courses you can take outside of the university.  For a list see: non-university workshops and courses.