Formatted version

Riverside: Departments

Sociology
Sociology grew out of the Division of Social Sciences which was established at Riverside in 1954. During the first nine years many courses were given and a bachelor's degree was conferred, but sociology did not become a separate department until 1963.

Until 1960, most of the courses offered were fairly standard types of service courses and primarily oriented towards some fundamental topics in the field. Beginning in 1960, several new courses were added which reflected developments in the field throughout the country. Some of these important additions included courses on theory and research methodology. The course list gradually began to include other specialties which are often taught in graduate programs.

The number of undergraduate majors increased steadily as did the faculty complement. In 1965, there were 77 undergraduate students and six members of the staff; 24 courses were offered. source

Soils and Plant Nutrition
This department, which was called agricultural chemistry until 1947, was founded in 1914 as part of the Citrus Experiment Station. Walter P. Kelley was the first chairman. The importance of the citrus industry and the attendant problems of disease, insects, soft fertility, and management led to the establishment of the Citrus Experiment Station and strongly influenced the research program which developed in soils and plant nutrition.

Between 1914 and 1938, under Kelley's leadership, the department became deeply involved in alkali, base exchange, and water quality problems; significant contributions concerning the origin, nature, and reclamation of alkali soil emerged. During the same period, long-term field experiments with citrus were begun. The major fertility experiment, which was conducted in cooperation with other departments, was laid out in 1916 and continued until the early 1960's.

This fertility experiment and the initiation of supplemental soil and citrus nutritional studies by Homer D. Chapman and his colleagues in the early 1930's led into a second phase of departmental activities dealing with the development of diagnostic criteria for determining the nutrient status of citrus trees and guiding fertilizer practices. This work which developed especially during the 1938-61 period when Chapman was department chairman, led to the widespread use of leaf analysis, visual symptomatology, and soil analysis as guides to citrus fertilizer practices. In 1947, the name of the department was changed to soils and plant nutrition. Undergraduate and graduate instruction was added to departmental responsibilities beginning in 1961. That same year Nathaniel T. Coleman succeeded Chapman as department chairman. source

Statistics
There is no history currently available for this department.

Copyright © 1999-2005
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Last updated 06/18/04.