GLY 150 Section 300 - Introduction to Oceanography

Spring Semester 2008, M & W, 14:00 - 15:15 , DeLoach Hall 101

COURSE SYLLABUS

Instructor: Dr. Lewis Abrams

Office: Center for Marine Science 1328 and DeLoach 119

Phone: 962-2350

Email: abramsl@uncw.edu

Office Hours: 3:15 - 5:00 PM, M-W (or by appointment)

Web Page: http://people.uncw.edu/abramsl/

Department of Geology and Geography: http://www.uncwil.edu/earsci/

Textbook: Essentials of Oceanography (9th edition) by Thurman & Trujillo. Selected articles in Scientific American and The New York Times

Academic Honor Code: The University's Honor Code is enforced in this class. Please do your own work. Complete details of the Code are in the current Student Handbook.

Grading: Grades will be based on :

1) Attendance and class participation (Come to class prepared to discuss assigned reading, 1 point each class)

2) Participation on select field trips (pre-field trip homework required and field trip attendance 1 point extra credit)

3) In class quizzes based on assigned reading and class discussions (quizzes directly after we finish each chapter worth 15 - 25 points each).

4) Read Discussion section and Answer questions in the "Analysis 1" section from one (1) of the eight (8)  “Environmental issues in oceanography” presented in the "Environmental issues in oceanography" workbook and/or website that accompanies your textbook.  Answers can be neatly hand written or typed in space provided on the answer sheet (15 points). (Use Workbook answer sheet OR print answer sheet from website). Answers are due no later than Monday, April 21, 2008 in class.

5) Attend a seminar given in any science departments (Geology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics) and write a 2 page (double spaced) summary of the seminar (15 points). Seminar reviews are due no later than Monday, April 21, 2008 in class.. See the following URLs for lecture schedule:

Geology & Geography Seminar Series

Biological Sciences Seminar Series

Chemistry Seminar Series

Physics and Physical Oceanography Seminar Series  

Course letter grades will be assigned as follows:

Percentage Score Final Grade
100 - 91 A
90.9 - 88 A-
87.9 - 84.1 B+
84 - 80.1 B
80 - 77 B-
76.9 - 73.1 C+
73 - 68 C
67.9 - 66 C-
65.9 - 63.1 D+
63 - 59 D
58.9 - 55 D-
54.9 - 0 F

TENTATIVE READING and DISCUSSION SCHEDULE

Scientific American (Mondays - discuss assigned articles)

New York Times (Wednesdays - discuss articles in "Science Times" section of the Tuesday edition of NYT )

Textbook reading - Thurman & Tuijillo 9th Ed. Topics addressed
Chapter 1 What is Oceanography?  Origin of the Solar System, Earth and its Atmosphere and Oceans
Chapter 2 Plate Tectonics
Chapter 3 Marine Provinces
Chapter 5  Water and Seawater  (Section on Salinity)
Chapter 6
Atmospheric Circulation - Air-Sea interactions
Chapter 7  Ocean Circulation - Gulf Stream - El Nino
Chapter 8 Waves
Chapter 9 Tides
Chapter 10
Beaches and Shorelines,
Chapter 11 The Coastal Ocean
Chapter 4 Marine Sediments & Paleoceanography
Global Climate Change
Holidays and Fieldtrips
Mon. Jan. 21 - No Classes Martin Luther King day
Fri. Jan. 25 Fieldtrip Ft. Fisher, Aquarium - 2:50 PM
Fri. Feb.22 Fieldtrip Aquaculture Laboratory, Wrightsville Beach - 2:15 - 3:15 PM
Mar. 1-9 - No Classes Spring BREAK
Fri. Mar. 14 Fieldtrip Intracoastal Waterway - Research Vessel Cape Fear - 2:15-5:00 PM
Mar. 20-21- No Classes
GOOD FRIDAY state holiday
Fri. April 11 Fieldtrip Wrightsville Beach - 2:15-5:00 PM
Fri. April 18 Fieldtrip Masonboro Island - Research Vessel Humpback - 2:15-5:00 PM
Mon. Apr. 21 Issues in Oceanography & Seminar Reviews are Due
Mon. April 28 - Last Class
*Final Exam:

Wed. Apr. 30

15:00 - 16:15 - Room DL 101

Back to GLY150 Home Page

Back to Lewis Abrams' Home Page