Welcome to Oceanography (OCEA101) Online

Email: kmeldahl@miracosta.edu
Office: San Elijo Campus room T142 (faculty office in the T140 building)

STUDENTS: Please provide a current email address (one that you check regularly) in “SURF” when you register. The instructor will contact all registered students before the course start date with information about getting started in the course.

If the course is full, you may waitlist yourself using the SURF system. Permission numbers for available spots will be issued in the order of the waitlist.

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Title: Cover of textbook - Description: Cover of the textbook Essentials of Oceanography 11th edition by Trujillo and Thurman REQUIRED TEXTBOOK (rent or purchase before class begins):

Essentials of Oceanography by Alan Trujillo & Harold Thurman

You may use either the 11th edition pictured here (recommended) or the 10th edition. All chapter quizzes can be completed using either the 11th edition or 10th edition.

11th edition (2014) ISBN-10: 0321814053

10th edition (2011) ISBN-10: 032166812X

Note about the 12^th edition: You do not need the more recent (and more expensive) 12th edition of the textbook, although you can use that edition if you wish, either the print version or the much less expensive eText version. If you are highly oriented to accessing textbook materials using your phone or computer, you may wish to purchase the 12^th edition eText. Click here for directions.

COURSE INFORMATION

Oceanography 101 Online (OCEA101) is an introduction to the scientific study of the oceans taught over the internet. It is a 3-credit physical science course, and is equivalent to other sections of OCEA101 for transfer credit, general education credit, and graduation requirements. It is intended to achieve the same learning outcomes as a traditional 3-credit classroom-based introductory oceanography course. There is an optional lab associated with the course (OCEA101L, 1 credit, and not taught online). The course may be taken either with or without the lab.

In this course students will learn about the modern scientific study of the oceans. Specific topics include:

Studying the major geographic features of the ocean basins and their origin. Particular emphasis is placed on plate tectonic concepts and processes.
Examining the processes that produce atmospheric circulation, weather (including severe storms), and oceanic circulation, including studying the role of the oceans in regulating climate and climate change.
Studying the origins and dynamics of wind waves, tsunamis, tides, and coastal processes, and analyzing their effects on people.
Studying the ecology and adaptations of various types of marine life, including plankton, benthos, nekton, deep-sea organisms, and marine mammals.
Exploring the use of the oceans as a resource for people, and examining the impact of people on ocean environments.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The following learning outcomes summarize the skills and knowledge that you should expect to achieve in this course.

· You will be able to use plate tectonic concepts to describe the formation of major sea floor features and the geologic history of the ocean basins.

· You will be able to reconstruct the circulation patterns of the atmosphere and oceans, and explain their causes & interrelationships.

· You will be able to explain the formation and behavior of waves and tides, and evaluate their effects on coastline processes.

· You will be able to explain key principles of marine ecology, identify major types and features of marine life forms, and analyze the relationships between marine life and physical ocean processes.

WORKLOAD & REQUIREMENTS: PLEASE READ THIS!!!

If you are thinking about registering for this course because you think it will be easier and less work than a traditional classroom course, please do yourself a favor and do not take this course.

Tip: if you have difficulty with reading comprehension or writing, you will be better off taking a traditional classroom-based course, not this online course.

This course will require MORE SELF-DISCIPLINE and MORE COMMITMENT from you than a traditional course. Because the course has no scheduled meeting times and no required lectures, you will be almost entirely responsible for your own time-management. This course involves MORE READING and MORE WRITING than most traditional classroom-based science courses. The type of work is different, but the overall workload will be equal to or even greater than that in a traditional classroom course. You must be prepared to give this course the same weekly time commitment required of regular classroom-based courses, and you must keep up with all the weekly deadlines without being prompted. You must also be sure that your computer hardware and software function properly throughout the semester.

There are no required in-class meetings for this course. All assignments, quizzes, and exams are completed independently. Your work in this course will consist mainly of the following:

Completing weekly chapter reading assignments from the textbook.
Taking weekly quizzes based on the chapter readings and associated learning materials.
Completing weekly writing assignments involving sources specified by the instructor. These may include online scientific articles, oceanographic internet sites, videos, or other materials.
Posting information for group discussion, and responding to group discussion questions.
Completing a comprehensive, essay-based Final Exam.

HOW TO GET STARTED IN THIS COURSE

1. Register for the course through MiraCosta College’s SURF system at http://surf.miracosta.edu/. The instructor cannot register students. Be sure to provide an active email address when you register.

2. Buy or rent the required textbook before the course start date.

3. Be sure that you have the following:

Regular access to an internet-enabled computer.
A fast and reliable internet connection.
An up-to-date internet browser.
An email account.