GEO105N Renewal 2013
I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 2/8/13)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
II. Mathematics
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III. Language
VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * IX: American & European
if requesting
IV: Expressive Arts
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab 
w/out lab 
education
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement Dept/Program GEOSCIENCES
Course #
GEO105N
Course Title
Prerequisite
Oceanography None
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Various/Hinman/Sears
Phone / Email X2341
Program Chair Johnnie Moore
Dean
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew X
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
3
Date
Change
Remove
Request from Faculty Senate for
renewal of long-taught Gen Ed
course
Description of change
NONE
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
This is not a new course, but a renewal of an existing course that has been taught for many
years, with appropriate modifications approved by ASCRC, etc. This course focuses on the
properties of the ocean; the processes that shape the physical, chemical, and biological
environment of the ocean; the interactions of the ocean with other environments; and the type,
use, and vulnerability of ocean resources. The purpose of the course is to inform students about
the intricate interrelationships of the natural world and to raise their awareness of the
vulnerability and use of ocean resources in global and societal contexts. Offered spring. The
ocean covers 70 % of the globe, and yet vast regions remain unexplored. Interactions between
the atmosphere and the sea moderate and control our climate. Nearly 40 % of the world’s
population lives within 100 kilometers of the coast. The oceans are geographically,
environmentally, culturally, and economically critical to society. This course introduces
oceanography, including the origin of water and ocean basins; marine resources; atmospheric
circulation; air-sea interaction; ocean-climate feedback; currents, tides, and coastal processes;
marine ecology; and use and misuse of the oceans.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. Courses explore a discipline in the natural
The oceans are used as a means of presenting
sciences and demonstrate how the scientific
fundamental physical, chemical, geological,
method is used within the discipline to draw
and biological processes that shape natural
scientific conclusions.
systems. The use of the scientific method of
inquiry is emphasized, and students are
encouraged to question and investigate
topics highlighted in current events and
according to their own interests.
2. Courses address the concept of analytic
Concepts are presented using inquiry-based
uncertainty and the rigorous process required to approaches in early oceanographic studies to
take an idea to a hypothesis and then to a
modern, space-based missions. The use of
validated scientific theory.
hypotheses, methodologies, and
interpretations is emphasized. Plate tectonic
theory is used as a prime example of a
validated scientific theory that allows
development of better understanding of the
earth and nearby planets.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. understand the general principles associated
Oceanography is an interdisciplinary
with the discipline(s) studied
science. As such, general principles of
physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology,
and biology are presented. The interaction
of relevant principles is emphasized.
2. understand the methodology and activities
In-depth examples of methodology, data
scientists use to gather, validate and interpret
acquisition, data validation, and
data related to natural processes
interpretation from plate-tectonic theory,
meteorology, and marine biology are used to
illustrate approaches to scientific inquiry in
appropriate disciplines.
3. detect patterns, draw conclusions, develop
conjectures and hypotheses, and test them by
appropriate means and experiments
Natural patterns of oceanic circulation,
waves, atmospheric circulation, geological
processes, and biological migrations are
used to promote pattern recognition,
hypothesis development, and hypothesis
testing.
4. understand how scientific laws and theories
Actual data form systems listed in (3) are
are verified by quantitative measurement,
used to develop critical reasoning skills.
scientific observation, and logical/critical
Experiments are discussed, but no data are
reasoning
collected or analyzed because this is not a
laboratory class.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. ⇓ The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.
GEOSCIENCES 105N, OCEANOGRAPHY
SPRING 2012 MW 5:10 to 6:30
Molly F. Staats
Department: Geosciences
Email: molly.staats@umontana.edu
Office: CHCB 355
Office hours: Monday 3:30 to 4:30, Thursday 1:30 to 2:30, or by appointment
Expectations: At the end, students are expected to have a general understanding of
 the origin of the earth and ocean basins,
 the geology of the ocean floor and the processes that control its topography,
 materials on the seafloor whether living or inanimate,
 the role of the oceans in climate control,
 processes and patterns of oceanic and atmospheric circulation,
 seawater chemistry,
 marine productivity, and
 some biology of marine organisms.
Assessment and Grading Policies:
Assignments: Assignments will be taken from reading materials, in class topics, and the
internet. All assignments taken together will constitute 25% of the overall course grade. There will be
7 assignments, 5 to count for the course grade. If you miss an assignment then that will become the
dropped score. Some assignments will be completed in groups during class. Late assignments will not
be accepted for any reason, as you get to drop 2.
Examination: Examinations will be administered in class at the times scheduled below.
Material will come from reading materials, class notes, and in-class videos. Exams will be a
combination of multiple-choice, short-answer, and diagramming questions. There will be 3 exams (2
midterms and a semi-cumulative final). There will be NO MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS for any
reason.
Course grading scheme:
Assignments (5)
Midterm Exam (2)
Final Exam (1)
Total
25%
40%
35%
100%
Final grade breakdown: 93-100% = A; 90-92% = A-; 87-89% = B+; 83-86% = B; 80-82% = B-; 7779% = C+; 73-76% = C; 70-72% = C-; 60-69% = D; Below 60% = F.
Required Materials:
 TEXTBOOK: Sverdrup, Duxbury and Duxbury. 2006, Fundamentals of Oceanography, costume
edition, McGraw-Hill, New York. ISBN: 978-1-1214-2244-5. Available only at the bookstore of
$75.
 Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm, 1997, any publisher or copy. (PS)
 Do buy the books because you will need to read all of it.
Other notes
1. My Job: Is to help you learn. I am passionate about scientific literacy and hope to help you
understand the scientific process as well as oceanography. I will work hard to provide an
environment that supports multiple learning styles. Your Job: is to learn. This will require
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
effort on your part. You will need to think critically, engage, and study. If you have any
questions, concerns, or comments, I look forward to discussing these during my office hours or
during an appointment.
Prerequisites: None, open to all undergraduates.
Email. The UM email policy requires that faculty “must use only UM’s assigned student email
accounts for all email exchanges with students, since such communication typically involves
private student information.” You are therefore required to send correspondence to us through
your UM email system account—we cannot, and will not, respond to you through other
accounts, so please make sure to check this when you send email. You may communicate with
me by email, but realize there is one of me and many of you. I will not respond to emails
regarding homework questions/etc. Please come to office hours or ask questions at the
beginning of class rather than emailing me. You may email me to set up a meeting time if you
cannot attend office hours. If you miss class, please do not email me to ask what you missedcheck Moodle and/or talk to classmates.
Moodle: You will be using Moodle extensively. Log-in and get acquainted with the site.
Moodle works best with the latest version of Firefox (So, download it if you do not have
Firefox, or update if you do). http://umonline.umt.edu/
Academic Integrity: All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is
subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the
University—these can be quite severe, so all students need to be familiar with the Student
Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at:
http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php
Equal Access: Whenever possible, and in accordance with civil rights laws, the University of
Montana will attempt to provide reasonable modifications to students with disabilities who
request and require them. Please feel free to setup a time with me to discuss any modifications
that may be necessary for this course. For more information, visit the Disability Services for
Students website at www.umt.edu/dss/.
Date
Topic
Reading
1/23, 1/25
Introduction to the History of Oceanography, Earth
Ch. 1, 2
1/30, 2/1
Plate Tectonics: 2/1 In Class Assignment 1 (due in class)
Ch. 3
2/6, 2/8
The Sea Floor, Sediments: Assignment 2 handed out 2/6, due 2/13
Ch. 4
2/13 Catch up and review day, 2/15 EXAM 1
Exam: Chapters 1 – 4
2/20 No Class; 2/22 Water
Ch. 5
2/27, 2/29
Water Continued & Atmosphere and Oceans: Assignment 3
handed out 2/27, due 3/5
Ch. 5, 6 (PS through
Gloucester, Mass., 1991)
3/5, 3/7
Ocean Circulation: Assignment 4 handed out 3/5, due 3/12
Ch. 7 (PS through The
Flemish Cap)
3/12, 3/14
Waves and Tides
3/19, 3/21
3/19 Catch up, review, and Coasts, 3/21 EXAM 2
Ch. 8 (PS through
Graveyard of the
Atlantic)
Exam: Chapters 5 - 8
3/26, 3/28
Ch. 9 (PS through The
World of the Living)
4/2, 4/4
Coasts, Estuaries, Environmental Issues: Assignment 5 handed out
3/26, due 3/28
Spring Break-No Class
4/9, 4/11
Oceanic Environment and Productivity
Ch. 10
4/16, 4/18
Life in the Water: Assignment 6 handed out 4/16, due 4/23
Ch. 11
4/23, 4/25
4/23 Life on the Sea Floor, Perfect Storm
4/30, 5/2
Marine Resources, 5/2 In Class Assignment 7 (due in class)
Ch 12, (PS through end
of book)
Extra readings
2/13, 2/15
2/22
5/7
FINAL EXAM, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Exam: 75% on Chapters
9-12 & 25% on 1-8