PHYS 120 Oceanography

Students will be introduced to the four major disciplines in ocean sciences: geological, chemical, biological, and physical oceanography in order to understand important linkages among physical oceanography and the other oceanographic disciplines—marine biology, chemical oceanography, and marine geology. In addition, the course will discuss human use of, impact on, and management of the oceans. For Oceanography Laboratory, see PHYS 121.

Credits

3

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. Analyze and describe the dominant physical processes in the ocean system.
2. Analyze the interrelated nature between the ocean and atmospheres’ chemical and physical
   processes and the effects these have on the ocean system.
3. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to
   solve problems pertaining to the study of physical oceanographic variables in order to solve
   problems and analyze solutions in a variety of situations.
4. Analyze how the ocean system developed and how it and its inhabitants have evolved and
   changed and the processes involved in the change over the past three billion years.
5. Examine the adaptive features of marine organisms and the roles these features play in the
   organism’s survival and success in unique ecosystems.
6. Communicate oceanographic concepts using appropriate symbols, notation, and
   vocabulary.
7. Analyze and debate the problems and issues associated with the ocean systems and
   synthesizing real-world ocean management problems including, but not limited to, coastline
   management, ocean pollution (on a local to global scale), overfishing, and climate change,
   including those associated with El Nino and La Nina.

Course Objectives

1. Analyze and describe the dominant physical processes in the ocean system.
2. Analyze the interrelated nature between the ocean and atmospheres’ chemical and physical
   processes and the effects these have on the ocean system.
3. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to
   solve problems pertaining to the study of physical oceanographic variables in order to solve
   problems and analyze solutions in a variety of situations.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Quiz

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

   Scientific Reasoning

   • SR3
4. Analyze how the ocean system developed and how it and its inhabitants have evolved and
   changed and the processes involved in the change over the past three billion years.
5. Examine the adaptive features of marine organisms and the roles these features play in the
   organism’s survival and success in unique ecosystems.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

6. Communicate oceanographic concepts using appropriate symbols, notation, and
   vocabulary.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Quiz

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

   Scientific Reasoning

   • SR2
7. Analyze and debate the problems and issues associated with the ocean systems and
   synthesizing real-world ocean management problems including, but not limited to, coastline
   management, ocean pollution (on a local to global scale), overfishing, and climate change,
   including those associated with El Nino and La Nina.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Quiz

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

   Scientific Reasoning

   • SR2