Full Schedule of course topics and readings.

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Schedule & Readings (Spring 2004) Below is a week-by-week summary of the topics and readings for the class. Always log-in to WEBCT to see the specific activities for each of the Weekly Assignments - which make use of these video and text resources. (If there is a discrepancy between this summary page and the specific activities outlined in the online environment, the one in WEBCT is the one to follow.)

Also, note that the schedule is subject to change - for example if an issue in the news related to the course suddenly comes up, we may well switch from the plan laid out below and take advantage of the opportunity to discuss that issue instead. Hence this page may be updated during the course.

The readings listed below are considered a minimum, and you are encouraged to bring in additional sources to your discussions. In addition, you are encouraged to remind yourself of the Course Objectives and the objectives of each individual Unit as you begin each new topic.

*Week*	Topic*	*Text Resources*
1	UNIT I. Introduction, & Emergence of Agriculture
	A. Introduction (Video 1a)	-Hillel ch. 1 & 2 -Smith ch. 1
	B. Origins of Agriculture, & Domestication (Video #1b)	-Hillel ch. 6 & 9 -Aegerter (19xx) article

2	C. Hunter-Gatherer Systems (Video #1c)	- Hillel ch. 8 - Landeen & Pinkham: Nez Perce Fishing - Martin, 1996: Keepers of the Oaks - Smith ch. 2, ch. 3.
	Suggest getting a start on next week’s work (Meteorology and Climate) this week. There is a lot of material, and some of it is fairly technical. Also, don't forget to turn in the Unit I Assignment!

	UNIT II. Environmental Factors in Agriculture (Note that this unit has a relatively large technical component and most of the assignments (2 of the 3 Weekly Assignments, as well as the Unit Assignment) will require some 'leg work' on your part - i.e., some research. Make sure to look at the details for these ahead of time so that you are not caught off guard.)
3	A. Climate and Meteorology (Video 2)
	A1. World Climate and Agriculture	Cox and Atkins pp. 177-189
	A2. Meteorological Processes and Climate	Cox and Atkins pp. 161-177; also start on the global climate change articles assigned for Week 4

4	B. Soils and Agricultural Systems (Video #3) (There is one extended video for Soils that has been broken into two parts.)	-Harpstead et al., ch. 11 -Hillel: Ch. 3, 7, 20 -Runnels: Environ. Deg. in Ancient Greece -(Hillel: Ch. 26, 28)
5	C. Effect of Disasters on Agricultural Systems (Video 4)	-FAO (2003): Impact of Disasters... http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/MEETING/ 006/Y8936E/Y8936E00.HTM

	UNIT III. Centers of Agriculture and Their History
6	A. Fertile Crescent (Video #5)	-Smith Ch. 4
	A2. Focus on Wheat (Video #6)	Find (and read!) one or more informative popular press articles about agriculture-related *genetically modified organisms* (short magazine article, or an extended newspaper article).

7	A3. Nile River (Video #7)	-Hillel: Ch. 12 (ch 11 optional)
	B. Europe & Africa (Video #8)	-Smith Ch. 5

8	C. Asian Agric. History (SE Asia & N China) (Video #9)	-Smith Ch. 6
	C2. Focus on Rice (Video #10)	-Williams: From Asia's Good Earth

9	D. Americas (Video #11)	-Smith Ch. 7
	D2. Focus on Corn and Potato (Video #12)

	*UNIT IV. Agricultural Systems Today*
10	A. Mixed Farming (Video #13)	Klinkenborg: A Farming Revolution…
	B. Mediterranean Agriculture (Historically, and today in California) (Video #14)

11	C. Subsistence Agriculture (Video #15)	Hillel 22, 24
	D. Plantations (Video #16)	Jenkins. Politics of Bananas

12	E. Commercial small grain production (Video #17)	Granatstein: Dryland Farming in the NW U.S.
	F. Pastoral Nomadism (Video #18)	Montaigne: Nenets...

13	G. Dairying (Video #19)	-Diamond, 1995: Why is a cow like a... -Virtual Dairy Field Trip (Gangwer)
	H. Ranching (Video #20)	-Stolzenburg, 2000: Good Cow, Bad...

	UNIT V. What is the Future? *(Unit Assignment combined with Unit IV)*
14	A. Economics of Agriculture (Video #21)
	B. Population, Hunger, & World Food (no video)	Gardner and Halweil, 2000: Nourishing...

15	C. Conclusion (Video #22-brief!)

*Each 'Topic' within a Unit has a videotape with the same name, which should be viewed in the corresponding week of the course. In some cases the videotapes will cover material similar to that in the reading, or provide an introduction to more detailed information contained in the reading. However, in many cases, the two sets of resources (video and text) will cover different materials that are meant to compliment one another. In all cases you are encouraged to use other text or Internet resources as supplements to further your understanding.

Selected additional resources (for 'those who want to dig deeper') are suggested within the online course space for most sections of the course.

Unless otherwise noted, Weekly Assignments are due by 11:55 pm Friday of the corresponding week.. (That is, Week 2 assignment will be evaluated as of Friday evening). I tend to give a little leeway due to busy schedules, so if you get it in by the following Tuesday, I won't penalize you. Of course, you can continue the discussion long after the due date. If you miss the due date, you are still welcome and encouraged to join in, but you only be given up to 1/2 of the the participation credit (see Course Syllabus for more information).

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Dept. Crop and Soil Sciences
Washington State University
Pullman , WA 99164-6420