SPSS Course Spotlight

Spring 2025 Course Spotlights:

SAPL 160 | SPSS 1060…………The Great American Lawn: History, Culture and Sustainability

  • Examination of the health, social, cultural, and environmental impacts of the largest irrigated crop in the U.S. Satisfies CA 2, CA 3.
  • 3 credits / Every spring semester
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Taught by Jason Henderson
  • TTh 11am-12:15pm

SAPL 210 | SPSS 2210…………Golf Course Management

  • Cultural management techniques including soil aeration, topdressing, mowing, thatch removal, grass or species selection, fertilization, irrigation and management of personnel, pests, equipment, and inventory. Field trips required.
  • 3 credits / Every spring semester
  • Prerequisites: none
  • Taught by Kevin Miele
  • MWF 3:35-4:25pm

SAPL 500 | SPSS 2500E……….Principles and Concepts of Agroecology

  • Application of ecological processes to modern agricultural production practices. Soil quality and maintenance of soil health and productivity. Ecological management of soils, crops, and livestock systems. Sustainability and enhancement of ecological services within agroecosystems.
  • 3 credits / Every spring semester
  • Prerequisites: Recommended preparation: introductory course in plant biology, plant ecology, or environmental science. Not open for credit to students who have passed PSLA 3995 when offered as Agroecology.
  • Taught by Roy Davis
  • TTh 3:30pm-4:45pm

SPSS 3255 | PLSC 5255...............Traditional and Modern Plant Breeding Techniques

  • Hands-on experiments for traditional and modern plant breeding techniques, including artificial crossing/hybridization, polyploidy induction, plant tissue culture and transgenic plant production, and radiation- and genome editing-mediate mutagenesis.
  • 3 credits / Spring semester on even years Prerequisites: One of BIOL 1102, 1108, or 1110; or MCB 2410; or SPSS 3210 (PLSC 3210) , 3230 (PLSC 3230), 3245, or 4210 (PLSC 4210). Not open to students who have passed PLSC 3250.
  • Taught by Yi Li
  • TTh 2:15pm-4:45pm

SAPL 440 | SPSS 3440..............Small Fruit Production

  • The commercial production of small fruits and grapes in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions including varieties, fruit-growing systems and pruning, site requirements, harvesting methods, post-harvest requirements, marketing, pest complexes and IPM strategies of the major berry crops.
  • 3 credits / Every spring semester
  • Prerequisites: Not open for credit to graduate students.
  • Taught by Evan Lentz
  • MWF 9:05am-9:55am

SAPL 680 | SPSS 3680…………Advanced Cannabis Horticulture

  • Advanced concepts of Cannabis production, management, processing and product development that build upon SPSS 2130. Students will choose highly focused study of either indoor controlled environment production or outdoor cultivation of Cannabis for part of the course.
  • 3 credits / spring semester
  • Prerequisites: SPSS 2130 or instructor consent. Not open to students who have completed SPSS 3995 when offered as Advanced Cannabis Horticulture.
  • Taught by Matthew DeBacco
  • TTh 3:30pm-4:45pm

SAPL 670 | SPSS 3670……….Greenhouse Technology and Operations

  • Introduction to greenhouse crop management with emphasis on structures, environmental control systems, and management techniques used to control crop response.
  • 3 credits / spring semester
  • Prerequisites: SPSS 1120
  • Taught by Changhyeon Kim
  • MWF 11:15am-12:05pm

SAPL 675 | SPSS 3675……….Greenhouse Technology and Operations Laboratory

  • Greenhouse crop production techniques and methodologies. Follows a travel-course format, in which students participate in regularly scheduled field trips to commercial greenhouse operation in CT and neighboring states. Students will make observations on the mechanical systems, management considerations, and crop production practices employed by commercial businesses.
  • 1 credit / spring semester
  • Prerequisites: SPSS 3670, which may be taken concurrently.
  • Taught by Changhyeon Kim
  • F 12:20pm-3:20pm

SPSS 3995………………………….Special Topics: Turfgrass Pathology

  • This course equips students to proficiently identify and manage turfgrass diseases through in-depth lectures on disease diagnosis, fungicide fundamentals, and integrated pest management tactics. By the end of the course, students will be skilled in recommending sustainable solutions and developing effective fungicide programs for turfgrass health
  • Prerequisites: none 2 credits
  • Taught by John Inguagiato
  • MW 9:05am-9:55am

Additional courses being offered in Spring 2024:

  • SAPL 430 | SPSS 2430 Herbaceous Ornamental Plants – Julia Kuzovkina
  • SAPL 520 | SPSS 2520 Floral Art – Justine Ramsey
  • SAPL 315 | SPSS 3150 Advanced Turfgrass Management – Jason Henderson
  • SAPL 550 | SPSS 3550 Urban Plant Systems: Construction and Maintenance – Julia Kuzovkina
  • SAPL 640 | SPSS 3640 Plant Propagation – Mark Brand
  • SAPL 660 | SPSS 3660 Nursery Production – Jessica Lubell-Brand
  • SAPL 840 | SPSS 3840 Integrated Pest Management – Ana Legrand
  • SPSS 2120 Environmental Soil Science – Mia Maltz
  • SPSS 2125 Soils Lab – Mia Maltz
  • SPSS 2560W Written Communications in Horticulture – Evan Lentz
  • SPSS 4210 Plant Physiology: How Plants Work – Huanzhong Wang

*PLEASE NOTE: Nursery Productions 3660W will not be offered this Spring 2025. Instead, the department is offering SPSS 2560W, a 1-credit W course, taught by Evan Lentz.