3 credits
Fall 2026 Lecture Lower DivisionScience
This course, intended primarily for non-majors, covers the history of agriculture, with focus on the centers of origin of our major food, fiber, and medicinal plants, and their historical, cultural, and economic relevance. The course also surveys the biology of crop plants, with respect to taxonomy, anatomy, cell structure, physiology, development, and genetics. Discussions also center on the roles plant biotechnology may play in sustainable agriculture and in helping to alleviate problems caused by overpopulation and ecological stress.
Learning Outcomes1Understand the historical, cultural, and scientific dimensions of the intricate relationship between plants and civilizations.
2Develop insights into how plants have been pivotal in advancing civilizations and shaping societal structures.
3Cultivate knowledge about the diverse applications of plants, including their roles in sustenance, medicine, textiles, and other essential resources.
4Engage with contemporary ecological and environmental issues, gaining an understanding of the importance of plant conservation and sustainable practices for the well-being of human societies and the broader ecosystem.
5Professional preparation, scientific principles, critical thinking, cultural understanding, social science principles and lifelong learning.
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