STOCKSCH 108 (4 Credits)
How to Enroll in an Online Class
| Instructor | Dr. Susan Han, susanh@umass.edu Retired Faculty, University of Massachusetts |
| Course description | This course is a one-semester introductory study of plants that is intended for plant science majors. It is a prerequisite for most of the intermediate and upper-level classes in plant sciences. Topics that will be discussed include classification, cell structure, levels of organization from cells to tissues to organs, reproduction, and structure and function of plant systems. In addition, students will develop a basic understanding of the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. On completion of the course, students will have learned the unique features of plants, how plants function, how they are categorized, and how they fit into the ecosystem. |
| Prerequisites and Textbooks | None |
| Exams | There are no pre-determined exam dates for the 15 tests for this course. When you finish studying for one topic and have submitted the active learning assignment, an exam will be released. Only when you earn a passing grade that you will be able to continue onto the next topic. If you do not earn a passing grade, you will need to study again before retaking the exam, which consists of a different set of questions. Grades from all attempts are included in the final grade calculations. Depending on the length and difficulty of the subject, each topic is assigned a point value. The total value of all exams is 800 points. |
| Experiential assignments | Several low-stakes experiential assignments will be released throughout the semester. These assignments are meant for you to apply the information you learn from the course to plants in your surrounding environment. These experiential assignments will also help you in your preparation for the exams. Grades are determined by the quality and accuracy of the active learning exercises. These assignments are worth 20% of the total grade for the course. |
| Grading | A 1000-point system is used to calculate your final grade for the course. 80% of those grades are from exams taken after completion of each topic. The remaining 20% grades are from the experiential assignments. |
Topics
| 1. Plant classification |
| 2. Plant Cells |
| 3. Cell Cycle |
| 4. Kinds of cells and tissues |
| 5. Roots |
| 6. Stems |
| 7. Leaves |
| 8. Flowers |
| 9. Reproductive structures and Meiosis |
| 10. Sexual Reproduction |
| 11. Fruits |
| 12. Seeds and Seedlings |
| 13. Absorption and conduction of water and minerals |
| 14. Photosynthesis and conduction of food |
| 15. Respiration |
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This class fulfills requirements for all three of the online programs offered by the University of Massachusetts Stockbridge School of Agriculture in Sustainable Food and Farming:
Sustainable Food and Farming Online 