All course information is listed within this syllabus.
PPEM 412: Turfgrass Disease Management (3 credits). Introduction to biology of turfgrass pathogens and management of cool- and warm-season turfgrass diseases.
Prerequisite: TURF 235
Instructor
John E. Kaminski, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Head, Department of Plant Science
Director, Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program
Department of Plant Science
16 Tyson Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone (Office): 814-865-3007
E-mail: Use Canvas Inbox
Course Overview
This course will provide an introduction to concepts of disease processes in plants and the biology of plant pathogens, principles of turfgrass disease diagnosis based on symptom development, recognition of signs and microscopic structures of the pathogens, environmental and cultural management factors influencing disease development, the significance of pathogen life cycle in disease epidemic development, and integrated turfgrass disease management practices. Disease of various turf types for golf courses, residential lawns, landscapes, and athletic fields will be discussed. Disease topics will include diseases that commonly occur in winter, diseases that develop in spring and persist into summer, and diseases that initiate in summer and remain active until late fall in most regions of North America. A number of non-infectious disorders of turf caused by extreme environmental conditions and improper cultural practices will also be discussed.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- recognize plant disease caused by microorganisms
- discuss the nature of the cause of turfgrass diseases, the influence of environmental conditions on disease development, and disease management strategies
- apply strategies to diagnose and manage turfgrass diseases
Course Schedule
For due dates, refer to the Course Summary on the Syllabus page in Canvas.
Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check the World Campus Course Catalog approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Optional
ISBN: 978-1733288125
Kaminski, J. (2023). An Introduction to Turfgrass Diseases (1st ed.). Turfpath, LLC. (A digital copy (PDF) is available for purchase from the Turfpath website. A Spanish version of the textbook is also available.)
ISBN: 978-0890546871
Tredway, L. P., Tomaso-Peterson, M., Kerns, J. P., & Clarke, B. B. (Eds.). (2023). Compendium of Turfgrass Diseases (4th ed.). APS Press.
You may purchase course materials from Barnes & Noble College (the bookstore used by Penn State's World Campus). For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website. Materials will be available at Barnes & Noble College approximately three weeks before the course begins. Alternatively, you may obtain these texts from other favorite bookstores. Be sure you purchase the edition/publication date listed.
E-Reserves
This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in the Course Navigation Menu, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and searching for your instructor's last name.
Assignments
There are two exams in this course. Exam I covers information from Modules 1 through 8. Exam II covers information from Modules 9 through 15.
In addition, there is a group project spanning several weeks of the course as well as a series of class discussions. Each module ends with a quiz on that module's content.
- Quizzes: There are 12 graded quizzes in the course, with one ending each content module. Quizzes help you to assess your understanding of the module content as well as prepare for the cumulative exams.
- Discussions: In class discussions, students will draw on their real-world experiences to expand upon and add context to the course material. Initial discussion posts are due by the end of the day on Sundays. Replies to at least 2 classmates are due by the end of the following Sunday.
- Group project — Developing a Disease Fact Sheet: In this multi-week, multi-part assignment, students will collaborate in small groups to create informative and user-friendly extension fact sheets on specific turfgrass diseases.
Please see Canvas for additional details about assignments, requirements, point values, and due dates.
Grading Policy
The following table is the grading criteria for the course.
Requirement | Cumulative Point Value |
---|---|
Quizzes (12) | 120 |
Discussions (6) | 66 |
Disease Fact Sheet (4 parts) | 92 |
Exams (2) | 200 |
TOTAL: | 478 |
The following table is the grading scheme for the course.
Letter Grade | Percentage |
---|---|
A | 100% – 94% |
A- | < 94% – 90% |
B+ | < 90% – 86% |
B | < 86% – 83% |
B- | < 83% – 80% |
C+ | < 80% – 76% |
C | < 76% – 70% |
D | < 70% – 60% |
F | < 60% |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information.
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please see "Graduation" under World Campus Student Resources.
Online Students Use of the Library
As Penn State students, you have access to many of the materials that the library offers to students. The library website has a lot to offer but can be overwhelming. A guide has been created to serve as your introduction to important library resources, services, and important pages within the library. The Online Student Library Guide is updated regularly by the online librarian. It is intended to provide a level of comfort through an introduction to help you feel comfortable navigating the library website to find valuable information for your coursework.
Technical Requirements
This course is offered online and it is assumed you possess the minimum system requirements and computing skills to participate effectively. A list of technical requirements is listed on World Campus' Penn State Technical Requirements page.
Minimum Skills
- You should have an understanding of basic computer usage (creating folders/directories, switching between programs, formatting and backing up media, accessing the internet).
- You must be able to conduct word processing tasks such as creating, editing, saving, and retrieving documents.
- You must be able to use a web browser to open web pages, download files, and search the internet.
- You must be able to use an e-mail program to send and receive messages and to attach and download documents/files.
- You must be able to download and install programs or plug-ins from the internet.
Getting Help With Canvas Courses
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Support Services
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- World Campus Student Services
- Penn State Student Support Resources for University Park and Commonwealth campuses
Accessibility Information
Netiquette
The term "Netiquette" refers to the etiquette guidelines for electronic communications, such as e-mail and discussion postings. Netiquette covers not only rules to maintain civility in discussions but also special guidelines unique to the electronic nature of messages. Please review Virginia Shea's "The Core Rules of Netiquette" for general guidelines that should be followed when communicating in this course.
Penn State Policies
Login Policy
Students are expected to log in regularly to keep up to date with announcements, discussions, etc. The class will progress at a regular pace throughout the semester and there are specific due dates and times for assignments, etc.
Course Availability
Your course will be available to you beginning the first day of class and will remain open for one year. After one year the course will close.
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According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is "an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically." Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean's List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
You can learn more at The College of Agricultural Sciences Academic Integrity Information for Students.
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- Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS): 814-863-0395
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- Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 1-877-229-6400
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In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Accommodations for Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Use of Trade Names
Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by World Campus, Outreach and Cooperative Extension, the College of Agricultural Sciences, or The Pennsylvania State University is implied.
Subject to Change Statement
Please note that this Course Syllabus is subject to change. Students are responsible for abiding by such changes.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search to start planning ahead.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search to start planning ahead.