Course overview
Soil is an essential and non-renewable resource on which life on earth depends. Humans rely on the ecosystem services provided by soil for their food, building materials, fibre, and textiles. Other organisms also rely on soil to provide habitat and food, both in the soil itself and in the ecosystems that grow on it. This course will provide you with a fundamental understanding of how soil develops, how it works, what role it plays in the environment and in supporting human activities, what threatens it and why it should be protected.
- Soil Formation, Description And Classification
- Basic Properties And Functions Of Soil
- Soil Issues, Degradation And Management
Course learning outcomes
- Understand the importance of soils and ecosystem services they provide
- Understand fundamental principles underlying the formation and physical, chemical and biological properties of soil
- Determine and interpret basic soil properties in the laboratory and field
- Apply soil physical and chemical properties to classify soils into broad categories using a standard classification system
- Familiarity with soil degradation processes, their causes, remediation processes and the concept of sustainable use of soil
Availability
Class details
Waite Campus
Class number 52134
Section FR01
Size 60
Available 60
Notes:
Class number 53137
Section FR02
Size 44
Available 44
Notes:
Class number 52135
Section PR01
Size 104
Available 104
Fee calculator
To display course fees, please select your status and program below:
We’re updating this Fee Calculator. It currently shows fees for programs only. Please check the relevant program for full fee details.
Study Abroad student tuition fees are available here.
Only some Postgraduate Coursework programs are available as Commonwealth Supported. Please check your program for specific fee information.
The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.