Introduction to Oceanography
Northwest Florida State College, Winter-Spring Semester 2016
OCE-1001C, Reference # 20468, 4 credit hours, including laboratory
Class Times: 12:30-2:45 PM, Tuesday & Thursday, Bldg. 6, Room 6-616, Ft. Walton Beach Campus
Instructor: Dr. Jon Bryan, Office S-107, Ph: 729-5246, bryanj@nwfsc.edu
Textbook: Garrison, T, 2016, Oceanography—An Invitation to Marine Science. 9th Edition. Cengage Learning.
Course Description: An introductory, interdisciplinary survey of all sciences pertaining to the study of the
global ocean. This includes the four traditional subfields of oceanography: geological, chemical, physical, and
biological oceanography. Special emphasis is also given to coastal oceanography, the Gulf of Mexico, and
marine biology/ecology. Laboratory exercises involve map and ocean chart reading, ocean sediments,
bathymetry, salinity, ocean circulation, coastal environments and processes, identification of common marine
organisms, and marine ecology. Some fieldwork may be required.
Grades: Your grade will be based on the following:
--Six exams (100 points each)………………………………………………………….……………….600 points
--Laboratory/Field exercises (minimum)……………………………….……………………………150 points
Total (minimum) = 750 points
Grading Scale:
A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = <60
Exams: All exams, including the final exam, are not cumulative. The final exam is simply exam 4 and has no
more point value that the others. We will discuss each exam and provide a study guide at least one week
before you take it. Exams may cover lab material. You may not drop any test grade and all tests must be taken
(with good faith effort) in order to pass the course. No make-up tests will be given without documented proof
that you could not attend class on the test day. Contact me IN ADVANCE if there is a problem!
Labs: This course has many labs and hands-on activities. The point value of each lab may vary, but we will
complete at least 150 points of lab material, and perhaps more. This means that your lab score will count at
least 1.5x a single test grade. You may not drop any lab assignment—all count. Labs will not be accepted past
the due date (normally about a week after they are assigned, but this can vary) without penalty or permission.
Extra Credit: There is NO extra credit available in this course, but exams may have bonus questions.
Fieldtrips: We will take advantage of our proximity to the Gulf of Mexico by taking at least one or two
fieldtrips to the coast. Fieldtrips are required and will be scheduled during class time. Fieldtrip dates subject to
change depending on weather or other circumstances.
Attendance Policy: Grades are not based on attendance, but excessive absences will obviously affect class
performance and may result in a failing grade. Children are not allowed in class.
Support Services: If you have a disability for which accommodations may be appropriate to assist you in this
class, please contact the Office of Disability Support Services in the Student Services Center on the Niceville
Campus. The counselor for Students with Disabilities may be reached by calling 729-6079 (TDD 1-800-955-8771
or Voice 1-800-955-8770) or by email at smithe15@nwfsc.edu.
Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Academic Integrity: Students are responsible for adherence to all college
policies and procedures, including those related to academic freedom, student rights and responsibilities,
cheating, classroom conduct, computer/network/e-mail use and other items included in the NWFSC Catalog
and Student Handbook. Cheating, or any other form of academic dishonesty is a serious breach of student
responsibilities and may result in consequences ranging from a failing grade to formal disciplinary action.
Date
Topic
PART 1—INTRODUCTION & GEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Jan
12
Introduction/Global Ocean/Exercise 1—Ocean-Geography
14
Map & Chart Reading/Exercise 2—Intro to Maps/Exercise 3—Ocean Charts
Textbook
Chapters
1; Appx. 4, 9
Appx. 3, 4
18
19
21
(Monday) MLK, Jr. Day (College Closed)
History of Marine Science/Theories on Origins/Nature of Science
Survey of the Ocean Floor/Exercise 4—Bathymetry & the Ocean Floor
2, 1
4; Appx. 4, 9
26
28
Plate Tectonics and the Origin of Ocean Basins
Ocean Sediments & Paleoceanography/Exercise 5—Ocean Sediments
3, 4
5, 17/Appx. 2
Page 2
PART 2—CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Feb
2
Properties of Water/Ocean Chemistry and Salinity
4
Exam 1 (Intro & Geological Oceanography)/TBA
9
11
Exercise 6—Properties of Water and Seawater/Exercise 7—Ocean Salinity
Biogeochemical Cycles/Ocean Acidification/Non-Biological Ocean Resources
16
The Ocean and Global Climate/Climate Change Past and Present
6, 7
13, 18
18
PART 3—PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
18
Atmospheric Structure and Circulation/Ocean Structure and Circulation
Mar
23
25
Exam 2 (Chemical Oceanography)/Exercise 8—Ocean Circulation
Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions/Waves
1
3
Tides/Exercise 9—Tides in the Gulf of Mexico
Sea Level Change, Past and Present
8, 6, 9
6, 9
9, 10
11
p.117; 12
PART 4—COASTAL OCEANOGRAPHY & THE GULF OF MEXICO
8
Coastal Landforms, Classification, and Processes
10
Barrier Islands/Estuaries/Coastal Wetlands/Interior Seas & Lakes
15
17
12
12
The Gulf of Mexico/Exercise 10—The Gulf of Mexico and Coastal Environments of Florida
Exam 3 (Physical Oceanography)/TBA
21-26 Spring Break (College Closed)
PART 5—BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
29
Ecological Classification of the Marine Environment and Marine Organisms/
Intro to Taxonomy/6 Kingdoms/Marine Bacteria
31
Phytoplankton, Macroalgae, Benthic Protozoa and Zooplankton
April 5
7
May
13, 14, Appx. 6
14
Exercise 11—Phytoplankton, Macroalgae, Benthic Protozoa, & Zooplankton
Exam 4 (Coastal Oceanography)/TBA
12
14
Review of Marine Macroinvertebrates
Exercise 12—Marine Macroinvertebrates
15
19
21
Fishes, Marine Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals
Exam 5 (Biological Oceanography I)
15
26
28
Marine Ecology/Primary Productivity/Trophic Structure of Marine Communities
Reef Ecology
3
5
Deep Sea Ecology/Chemosynthetic Communities
Exam 6 (Biological Oceanography II)
13, 14, 16
12
15, 4, 16
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction to Oceanography
Northwest Florida State College, Winter-Spring Semester 2016
OCE-1001C, Reference # 20521, 4 credit hours, including laboratory
Class Times: 2:30-4:45 PM, Monday & Wednesday, Science Bldg., Room 237, Niceville Campus
Instructor: Dr. Jon Bryan, Office S-107, Ph: 729-5246, bryanj@nwfsc.edu
Textbook: Garrison, T, 2016, Oceanography—An Invitation to Marine Science. 9th Edition. Cengage Learning.
Course Description: An introductory, interdisciplinary survey of all sciences pertaining to the study of the
global ocean. This includes the four traditional subfields of oceanography: geological, chemical, physical, and
biological oceanography. Special emphasis is also given to coastal oceanography, the Gulf of Mexico, and
marine biology/ecology. Laboratory exercises involve map and ocean chart reading, ocean sediments,
bathymetry, salinity, ocean circulation, coastal environments and processes, identification of common marine
organisms, and marine ecology. Some fieldwork may be required.
Grades: Your grade will be based on the following:
--Six exams (100 points each)………………………………………………………….……………….600 points
--Laboratory/Field exercises (minimum)……………………………….……………………………150 points
Total (minimum) = 750 points
Grading Scale:
A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = <60
Exams: All exams, including the final exam, are not cumulative. The final exam is simply exam 4 and has no
more point value that the others. We will discuss each exam and provide a study guide at least one week
before you take it. Exams may cover lab material. You may not drop any test grade and all tests must be taken
(with good faith effort) in order to pass the course. No make-up tests will be given without documented proof
that you could not attend class on the test day. Contact me IN ADVANCE if there is a problem!
Labs: This course has many labs and hands-on activities. The point value of each lab may vary, but we will
complete at least 150 points of lab material, and perhaps more. This means that your lab score will count at
least 1.5x a single test grade. You may not drop any lab assignment—all count. Labs will not be accepted past
the due date (normally about a week after they are assigned, but this can vary) without penalty or permission.
Extra Credit: There is NO extra credit available in this course, but exams may have bonus questions.
Fieldtrips: We will take advantage of our proximity to the Gulf of Mexico by taking at least one or two
fieldtrips to the coast. Fieldtrips are required and will be scheduled during class time. Fieldtrip dates subject to
change depending on weather or other circumstances.
Attendance Policy: Grades are not based on attendance, but excessive absences will obviously affect class
performance and may result in a failing grade. Children are not allowed in class.
Support Services: If you have a disability for which accommodations may be appropriate to assist you in this
class, please contact the Office of Disability Support Services in the Student Services Center on the Niceville
Campus. The counselor for Students with Disabilities may be reached by calling 729-6079 (TDD 1-800-955-8771
or Voice 1-800-955-8770) or by email at smithe15@nwfsc.edu.
Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Academic Integrity: Students are responsible for adherence to all college
policies and procedures, including those related to academic freedom, student rights and responsibilities,
cheating, classroom conduct, computer/network/e-mail use and other items included in the NWFSC Catalog
and Student Handbook. Cheating, or any other form of academic dishonesty is a serious breach of student
responsibilities and may result in consequences ranging from a failing grade to formal disciplinary action.
Date
Topic
PART 1—INTRODUCTION & GEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Jan
11
Introduction/Global Ocean/Exercise 1—Ocean-Geography
13
Map & Chart Reading/Exercise 2—Intro to Maps/Exercise 3—Ocean Charts
18
20
(Monday) MLK, Jr. Day (College Closed)
History of Marine Science/Theories on Origins/Nature of Science
25
27
Survey of the Ocean Floor/Exercise 4—Bathymetry & the Ocean Floor
Plate Tectonics and the Origin of Ocean Basins
Textbook
Chapters
1; Appx. 4, 9
Appx. 3, 4
2, 1
4; Appx. 4, 9
3, 4
Page 2
Feb
1
Ocean Sediments & Paleoceanography/Exercise 5—Ocean Sediments
PART 2—CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
3
Properties of Water/Ocean Chemistry and Salinity
8
10
Exam 1 (Intro & Geological Oceanography)/TBA
Exercise 6—Properties of Water and Seawater/Exercise 7—Ocean Salinity
15
17
Biogeochemical Cycles/Ocean Acidification/Non-Biological Ocean Resources
The Ocean and Global Climate/Climate Change Past and Present
PART 3—PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
22
Atmospheric Structure and Circulation/Ocean Structure and Circulation
24
Exam 2 (Chemical Oceanography)/Exercise 8—Ocean Circulation
Mar
29
2
Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions/Waves
Tides/Exercise 9—Tides in the Gulf of Mexico
7
Sea Level Change, Past and Present
PART 4—COASTAL OCEANOGRAPHY & THE GULF OF MEXICO
9
Coastal Landforms, Classification, and Processes
14
16
Barrier Islands/Estuaries/Coastal Wetlands/Interior Seas & Lakes
Exam 3 (Physical Oceanography)/The Gulf of Mexico/
Exercise 10—The Gulf of Mexico and Coastal Environments of Florida
21-26 Spring Break (College Closed)
PART 5—BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
28
Ecological Classification of the Marine Environment and Marine Organisms/
Intro to Taxonomy/6 Kingdoms/Marine Bacteria
30
Phytoplankton, Macroalgae, Benthic Protozoa and Zooplankton
April 4
6
May
5, 17/Appx. 2
6, 7
13, 18
18
8, 6, 9
6, 9
9, 10
11
p.117; 12
12
12
13, 14, Appx. 6
14
Exercise 11—Phytoplankton, Macroalgae, Benthic Protozoa, & Zooplankton
Exam 4 (Coastal Oceanography)/TBA
11
13
Review of Marine Macroinvertebrates
Exercise 12—Marine Macroinvertebrates
18
20
Fishes, Marine Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals
Marine Ecology/Primary Productivity/Trophic Structure of Marine Communities
25
27
Exam 5 (Biological Oceanography I)
Reef Ecology
2
4
Deep Sea Ecology/Chemosynthetic Communities
Exam 6 (Biological Oceanography II)
15
15
13, 14, 16
12
15, 4, 16
__________________________________________________________________________________________________