Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2026 - GEOG 417 D100

Advanced Soil Science (4)

Class Number: 6009

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 6, 2026: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Margaret Schmidt
    schmidtc@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-3323
    Office Hours: Thurs. 4:30-5:30 pm

  • Prerequisites:

    GEOG 317.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Advanced treatment of topics in soil science: soil physics, soil chemistry, soil biology, soil classification and/or forest soils. Students with credit for GEOG 417W may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

An advanced treatment of topics in soil science, including: soil physics, soil chemistry, soil biology, soil classification and/or forest soils.  Recent developments in selected areas of soil science will be emphasised.

In Fall 2026 the course will focus on forest soils: soil properties, processes, and fertility; forest soils in relation to resource management.  The term project allows the student to explore a particular area of interest in soil science.

Prerequisites:  GEOG 317 (Soil Science) or permission of the instructor.

Course Organization:
One two-hour lecture and one two-hour laboratory session each week.  There will be no labs held in the first week of classes.  There will be one or two field trips which will be discussed in the first lecture.  The field trips will be run during the lab and lecture time slots.

Grading

  • Assignments 35%
  • Term project 25%
  • Final examination 35%
  • Participation 5%

Materials

RECOMMENDED READING:

D. Binkley and R.F. Fisher. 2020. Ecology and management of forest soils. Fifth edition (ISBN: 9781119455721) . Wiley, New York. (Available on VitalSource). Older editions of this textbook are fine as well.

Readings and supplemental material will be assigned throughout the course to accompany lecture material.


Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.