Person

John Charles Sorochan

Distinguished Professor | Plant Sciences
Overview

A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Dr. John Sorochan began working on the grounds crew at Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in 1988. He received his Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science from Michigan State University in 2002, and is presently a Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee (UT). Dr. Sorochan is also the Director for the UT Center for Athletic Field Safety. Dr. Sorochan is responsible for the department's academic turf programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level and teaches several classes in the Turfgrass Science and Management Program. His research program coordinates investigations on environmental turf stress physiology including indirect heat, shade, drought, and wear stress for golf course, sports turf, and commercial and home lawn turf. His research also includes athletic field management, including athletic field performance and safety, athlete to surface interactions, new cultivar and species evaluation for management and use, sustainable strategies for reduced inputs for golf courses, residential turf, and sod production. Since arriving at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Sorochan has given over 200 invited presentations at regional, national, and international professional meetings.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
AGNR 491 - International Experience in Agriculture and Natural Resources
1 - 12 credit hours

Credit for formalized international experiences related to agricultural sciences and natural resources. Determination of credit based on nature of the proposed experience. Students should discuss the opportunity with their faculty advisors prior to the trip to determine if it is appropriate for credit. Credit hours will be determined by the department and college depending on the extent of activity and types of projects and/or presentations to be completed by the student upon return.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 12 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Ader, David Russell | Pekarcik, Gracie

PLSC 240 - Turfgrass Management
3 credit hour(s)

Practical turfgrass management. Cultivar selection, identification, and establishment. Basic fertility programs, mowing, irrigation practices, and thatch removal and compaction control. Pest identification and basic controls.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours lecture.
Comment(s): Students in turfgrass science and management concentration must also register for 241.

PLSC 441 - Advanced Turfgrass Management
2 credit hour(s)

Principles and scientific basis of turfgrass culture. Adaptation, ecology, physiology, climatic influences on grass culture, mowing, water management, and design impacts are discussed.

Contact Hour Distribution: 1-hour lecture and one 1-hour lab. Credit Restriction: Students may not receive credit for both PLSC 441 and PLSC 541.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : PLSC 240 and BIOL 113 or BIOL 114.
Comment(s): Offered first session Spring.

PLSC 442 - Turfgrass Root-zone Construction
2 credit hour(s)

Construction and management of root-zones for home lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields. Credit Restriction: Students may not receive credit for both PLSC 442 and PLSC 542.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : PLSC 240 and BIOL 113 or BIOL 114.
Comment(s): Offered first session Spring.

PLSC 469 - Teaching Practicum
1 - 2 credit hours

Supervised experience in teaching. May involve preparation of lectures and teaching aids, preparation and supervision of laboratory exercises, evaluation of student performance.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 2 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Pulte, Andy | Horvath, Brandon Joseph | Walters, Kellie Jean | Spangler, Amanda Diane

PLSC 541 - Advanced Turfgrass Management
3 credit hour(s)

Principles and scientific basis of turfgrass culture. Adaptation, ecology, physiology, climatic influences on grass culture. Clipping and water management; design.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 hour lab. Credit Restriction: Students may not receive credit for both 441 and 541.

PLSC 542 - Turfgrass Root-zone Construction
3 credit hour(s)

Construction and management of root-zones for home lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields. Credit Restriction: Students may not apply 542 towards their graduate degree requirements if they received credit for 442.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.

PLSC 569 - Teaching Practicum
1 - 3 credit hours

Supervised experience in teaching. May involve preparation of lectures and teaching aids, preparation and supervision of laboratory exercises, evaluation of student performance, and for second-year graduate students, responsibility for course delivery.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 3 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Butler, David M. | Pulte, Andy | Ross, Michael

PLSC 593 - Problems in Plant Sciences
1 - 3 credit hours

Independent study. Current topic related to technology, science or design.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours. Credit Restriction: For MS students, a maximum of 6 hours may be applied to the major. For PhD students in PSI, a maximum of 9 hours may be applied to the major.

Other Instructors: Klingeman III, William E | Ross, Michael | Bates, Gary Edward | Stewart, Neal

Picture of John Charles Sorochan
112 Plant Biotechnology Building
2505 E J Chapman Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4500
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, No/Unknown Field of Study, Michigan State University, 2002

John Charles Sorochan

Distinguished Professor | Plant Sciences
Picture of John Charles Sorochan image
112 Plant Biotechnology Building
2505 E J Chapman Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4500
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, No/Unknown Field of Study, Michigan State University, 2002
Overview

A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Dr. John Sorochan began working on the grounds crew at Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in 1988. He received his Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science from Michigan State University in 2002, and is presently a Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee (UT). Dr. Sorochan is also the Director for the UT Center for Athletic Field Safety. Dr. Sorochan is responsible for the department's academic turf programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level and teaches several classes in the Turfgrass Science and Management Program. His research program coordinates investigations on environmental turf stress physiology including indirect heat, shade, drought, and wear stress for golf course, sports turf, and commercial and home lawn turf. His research also includes athletic field management, including athletic field performance and safety, athlete to surface interactions, new cultivar and species evaluation for management and use, sustainable strategies for reduced inputs for golf courses, residential turf, and sod production. Since arriving at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Sorochan has given over 200 invited presentations at regional, national, and international professional meetings.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
AGNR 491 - International Experience in Agriculture and Natural Resources
1 - 12 credit hours

Credit for formalized international experiences related to agricultural sciences and natural resources. Determination of credit based on nature of the proposed experience. Students should discuss the opportunity with their faculty advisors prior to the trip to determine if it is appropriate for credit. Credit hours will be determined by the department and college depending on the extent of activity and types of projects and/or presentations to be completed by the student upon return.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 12 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Ader, David Russell | Pekarcik, Gracie

PLSC 240 - Turfgrass Management
3 credit hour(s)

Practical turfgrass management. Cultivar selection, identification, and establishment. Basic fertility programs, mowing, irrigation practices, and thatch removal and compaction control. Pest identification and basic controls.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours lecture.
Comment(s): Students in turfgrass science and management concentration must also register for 241.

PLSC 441 - Advanced Turfgrass Management
2 credit hour(s)

Principles and scientific basis of turfgrass culture. Adaptation, ecology, physiology, climatic influences on grass culture, mowing, water management, and design impacts are discussed.

Contact Hour Distribution: 1-hour lecture and one 1-hour lab. Credit Restriction: Students may not receive credit for both PLSC 441 and PLSC 541.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : PLSC 240 and BIOL 113 or BIOL 114.
Comment(s): Offered first session Spring.

PLSC 442 - Turfgrass Root-zone Construction
2 credit hour(s)

Construction and management of root-zones for home lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields. Credit Restriction: Students may not receive credit for both PLSC 442 and PLSC 542.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : PLSC 240 and BIOL 113 or BIOL 114.
Comment(s): Offered first session Spring.

PLSC 469 - Teaching Practicum
1 - 2 credit hours

Supervised experience in teaching. May involve preparation of lectures and teaching aids, preparation and supervision of laboratory exercises, evaluation of student performance.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 2 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Pulte, Andy | Horvath, Brandon Joseph | Walters, Kellie Jean | Spangler, Amanda Diane

PLSC 541 - Advanced Turfgrass Management
3 credit hour(s)

Principles and scientific basis of turfgrass culture. Adaptation, ecology, physiology, climatic influences on grass culture. Clipping and water management; design.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 hour lab. Credit Restriction: Students may not receive credit for both 441 and 541.

PLSC 542 - Turfgrass Root-zone Construction
3 credit hour(s)

Construction and management of root-zones for home lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields. Credit Restriction: Students may not apply 542 towards their graduate degree requirements if they received credit for 442.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.

PLSC 569 - Teaching Practicum
1 - 3 credit hours

Supervised experience in teaching. May involve preparation of lectures and teaching aids, preparation and supervision of laboratory exercises, evaluation of student performance, and for second-year graduate students, responsibility for course delivery.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 3 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Butler, David M. | Pulte, Andy | Ross, Michael

PLSC 593 - Problems in Plant Sciences
1 - 3 credit hours

Independent study. Current topic related to technology, science or design.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours. Credit Restriction: For MS students, a maximum of 6 hours may be applied to the major. For PhD students in PSI, a maximum of 9 hours may be applied to the major.

Other Instructors: Klingeman III, William E | Ross, Michael | Bates, Gary Edward | Stewart, Neal