MSU Extension Water Quality Program has bridged extension education and technical delivery by becoming a leader in online, distantly delivered curriculum. Water Quality Specialist and program leader Jim Bauder has developed and delivered online courses for both the MSU Masters of Science in Science Education (MSSE) and National Teacher Enhancement Network (NTEN) programs. Currently Dr. Bauder and his team have three courses in the NTEN and MSSE programs. MSU Extension WQ has expanded their online student audience by offering a new, professional practitioner course:
Soil Science, Water Chemistry, and Saline-Sodic Management 101 is a 10 week online, instructor facilitated course offered through MSU Continuing Education. This course was developed to provide in-service training needs for professional service providers, laboratory managers and staff, regulatory agency staff, certified crop advisors, and consultants working in environmental areas with issues dealing in soil science, water chemistry, soil-water landscape interactions, and saline-sodic management. This course is intended to serve the needs of a diverse student audience – Professional Practitioners.
Course fee is $250. Students will earn Continuing Education Units from Montana State University. CCA accreditation available upon successful completion of the course Proficiency Test, 75% or above.
Weekly content modules guide the students through a sequence of topics that will provide them with the knowledge they need to address saline and sodic agricultural issues that emerge throughout their professional career. Topics covered in the 10 week course include:
- Introductions
- Soil Physical Properties
- Soil Chemistry and Mineralogical Properties
- Salinity in Semi-Arid Environments
- Sodicity in Semi-Arid Environments
- Coal Bed Methane Basics
- Soil and Water Salinity and Sodicity
- Effects of Saline-Sodic Water on Soil Behavior
- Water on the Landscape
- Solutions to Salinity and Sodicity
Students will participate in ten weeks of instructor facilitated content focusing on saline and sodic water quality and soil science issues as they relate to semi-arid environments. The students have access to excellent learning enhancement features such as Discussion Forums, Email, Content Modules, Resource Linkages, and Assessment tools.
Welcome to the Soil Science, Water Chemistry, and Saline-Sodic Management 101 interactive course promo. This tool is meant to provide interested individuals with a "sneak peak" of course layout and content so that they can achieve a better understand of the what this online course will offer.
The format of Soil Science, Water Chemistry, and Saline-Sodic Management 101 is laid out and presented through WebCT, an online course software program utilized by the MSU Burn Telecom Center. The image above is a snapshot of the home page to the course.
- LINKS to additional course support
- E-MAIL to connect with fellow students and course instructors.
- DISCUSSION FORUMS for in class discussions on course related topics
- GLOSSARY of class terminology
- WEEKLY MODULES - the meat of this course!
- PROFICIENCY TEST to assess student knowledge at the end of the course
 For more information about the course or preregistration details, email Suzanna Roffe or contact her by telephone at (406) 994-6589. |
