Please read before or during the first week of class.
Course Prefix/Number: BSC 2311 (Online Internet Course)
Course Title: Introduction to Oceanography and Marine Biology
Course Credit Hours: 3
Instructor Name and Contact Information: Dr. Wayne A. Bennett; wbennett@uwf.edu
; 474-3362; building 58, room 62-H
Prerequisites or Co-Requisites: None. A separate, optional laboratory
section is available, but is not accessible until the second week of classes.
Course Description: An introduction to the chemical, physical and geological features of the world ocean and the major groups of living marine organisms that inhabit it. Physical, chemical, and biological interrelationships will be emphasized. Credit not granted toward a major in Biology.
(General Studies Course: NS/LEC)
Goals: Upon completion of the course, students will be able to apply basic oceanographic principals as well as understand the ecology, biodiversity and organization of major marine habitat types. Students will also be able to identify and describe a variety of marine habitats and the plant and animal groups that are found in each. This course will begin the process of teaching students to use modern techniques to solve practical oceanographic and marine biological problems.
Modules Covered / Student Learning Outcomes:
Topic: Program Overview & Online Course Introduction

Student Learning Outcomes:
- Outline necessary technical requirements to participate in this on-line course.
- Download and install all necessary components to participate in distance learning environment
- Establish online learning community to facilitate student interaction and motivation in new web-based learning environment
- Participate and collaborate in asynchronous and synchronous communication environments to help establish the learning community.
Introduction to Oceanography and Marine Biology Lecture and Laboratory is designated as a General Studies course. The General Studies curriculum at the University of West
Florida is designed to provide a cohesive program of study that promotes the development of a broadly educated person and provides the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in university studies. This course has been approved as meeting the requirement in the Biological Sciences area. The General Studies learning outcomes for this course are Problem Solving and Writing.
Chapter 1- Section 1.3
Chapter 2- All
Chapter 3- Sections 3.3, 3.4, 3.7, 3.9, & 3.10 - 3.13
Chapter 4- Sections 4.2, 4.6, 4.8, 4.9, & 4.11 - 4.17
Chapter 5- Sections 5.2 - 5.7, 5.9, 5.10, & 5.11
Chapter 7- All
Chapter 8- All
Chapter 9- All

Chapter 10- All
The Nature of Science
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Explain what science is as well as the goal of science
-Learn the major differences between Oceanography and Marine Biology
-Identify the historicity of Oceanography and Marine Biology
Geology and Geography of the Ocean Basins
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Describe how the oceans were formed
-Describe the structure of the Earth’s crust and interior
-Explain the mechanisms/theory of Plate Tectonics
-Describe how ocean floors are formed
-Identify inorganic and organic sediment types that make up the ocean bottom
Waves, Tides and Currents
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Explain the mechanisms driving atmospheric circulation
-Identify major oceanic current types
-Explain tides and their effect on waves

The Nature of Life
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Identify the chemical components of life
-Explain the differing opinions on Spontaneous Generation
-Explain the origin of life
Concepts in Marine Ecology
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the major habitat types
-Explain the Condition-Resource Concept
-Explain the major Ecological entities
Evolution Revolution
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Explain the history of Evolutionary thought
- Explain the evidence of Evolution
- Explain the importance of reproduction

Classification of Animals
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the history of classification
- Explain the phylogenetic hierarchy of life
Marine Primary Producers
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the Kingdoms Monera, Plantae and Fungi
-List major characteristics of these kingdoms
-Know the major sub-groups of these within each kingdom and give important details of each
The Marine Protists
Student Learning Outcomes:
-List major characteristics of the protists
-Identify the major types of protists
-Identify major alga types
The Sponges
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the divergence of the family Porifera

- Explain the overall morphology of sponges
-Identify the ecological role of sponges
The Cnidarians
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the general morphology of the Cnidarians
-Identify the two body forms of Cnidarians
The Flatworms
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the general morphology of flatworms
-Identify the symbiotic relationships of flatworms and other organisms
The Molluscans
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the diversity of this group
-Identify general morphology of molluscs
-List the major characteristics of molluscs
-Identify the different types of molluscans

The Annelids
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the major characteristics of Annelids
-Explain the general morphology of Annelids
The Crustaceans
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the major crustacean characteristics
-Identify the importance of crustaceans to humans
-Identify the major types of crustaceans
The Echinoderms
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Explain the general characteristics of echinoderms
-Identify characteristics unique to this group
-Identify members of this group
The Vertebrates
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the major characteristics of a vertebrate

-List the eight major vertebrate groups
The Jawless Fishes
Student Learning Outcomes:
-List some general characteristics of the jawless fishes
-List some economic uses of these fish
-Explain the reproductive tactics of this group
The Elasmobranchs
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify general characteristics of the elasmobranchs
-List 5 possible reasons for shark attacks
The Bony Fishes
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the general characteristics of the Bony fishes
-Explain the general morphology of bony fishes
-Explain the economic importance of bony fishes

Marine Amphibians and Reptiles
Student Learning Outcomes:
-List the three types of marine frog
-List the adaptations of marine reptiles
Marine Birds
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the major characteristics of all marine birds
-Identify the general characteristics of shore birds
-List several characteristics of gulls and their relatives
-List several characteristics of pelicans and their relatives
-List several characteristics of tube-nosed birds
Otters and Polar Bears
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the general characteristics of mammals
-List the defining characteristics of sea otters
-Identify how polar bears remain warm

Seals and Walrus
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the distribution and characteristics of the pinnipeds
-List characteristics of the otarid and phocid seals
-List characteristics of the Walrus
-List characteristics of the Sirens
Baleen Whales
Student Learning Outcomes:
-List the major trends in cetacean development
-Explain the adaptations for diving in this group
-Explain how this group feeds
-Distinguish between the two types of Baleen whale
Toothed Whales
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Identify the major toothed whale characteristics
-Explain echolocation
-List the major characteristics of the Dolphin families

-List the major characteristics of the Porpoise family
-List the major characteristics of the Sperm whale
-List the major characteristics of the Narwhal family
Near-shore Habitats
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Describe the characteristics and organisms found in the Intertidal
Environment
-Describe the characteristics and organisms found in the Estuarine
Environment
Off-shore Habitats
Student Learning Outcomes:
-Describe the characteristics and organisms found in the Coral Reef
Environment
-Describe the characteristics and organisms found in the Continental Shelf
Environment
-Describe the characteristics and organisms found in the Open Ocean
Environment
-Describe the characteristics and organisms found in the Deep Sea
Environment
Introduction to Marine Biology and Oceanography, A Custom Edition for the
University of West Florida by Garrison, Karleskint, Turner and Small.

If you have questions about the textbook, contact:
Pensacola Campus Bookstore
850.474.2150
Toll-free 1.800.605.2259
Internet Access
E-mail Account
Grading / Evaluation: Testing, weekly assignments, weekly chapter quizzes, three group power point presentations and weekly participation activities demonstrate student proficiency and expertise in the topics listed above. Students will complete activities related to the student learning outcomes.
Midterm and Final Exam:
The times and location for taking the proctored exam will be announced during the first two weeks of class.
Students within driving range of the University will be provided with locations and times they may take the proctored exam without additional costs. Students who cannot meet during the times or at the locations given will need to secure their own proctor. Please see the "Proctored Exam
Requirement" document under the "Important Course Information" section.
Please note that learning materials and exercises become accessible on
Wednesday of each week, and that all materials due for that section must be received no later than midnight on the following Tuesday.
Your course grade will be determined as follows:
Weekly Module Reviews: 30%
Weekly Quizzes (given at the end of each section): 30%
Midterm and Final Exams (together): 30%
Three group power-point presentations (together): 10%

Special Technology Utilized by Students: This course is totally online. All instructional content and interaction takes place over the WWW. See Topic and Student Learning Outcomes above for additional requirements.
EXPECTATIONS FOR ACADEMIC CONDUCT/PLAGIARISM POLICY:
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Academic Conduct Policy [ Web ]
Plagiarism Policy [ PDF ]
Student Handbook [ PDF ]
It is the philosophy of The University of West Florida that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the
University. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.
In addition, any behavior that interferes with the conduct of a class is classified as disruptive behavior and will not be tolerated. Although not exhaustive, examples of disruptive behavior would include: inappropriate or threatening online postings or e-mails, etc.
QUALITY ASSURANCE:
This course is reviewed during the semester and in an ongoing basis for quality by assessment personnel within the School of Allied Health and Life
Sciences (SAHLS) to meet national standards established by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools, the Council on Education for Public
Health, and/or to address quality enhancement initiatives of SAHLS . Student feedback is also vital to this process. When reviewing our programs, our accrediting partners expect to see 100% participation in the State-of-Florida mandated SUSSAI (State University System Student Assessment of
Instruction) evaluations. Thus, at the end of the semester, we need to hear from the folks that enjoyed the class and from the folks that have suggestions for improvement (ok, and from the folks that want to fill out the survey as quickly as possible with no comments to share!). BUT, we do need to hear from each and every student in this class, and we value your input.

When SUSSAI evaluations are ready for you to complete, you will see a
News posting in the course. Please take a few minutes to complete this anonymous, brief web-based evaluation on this course, using these directions:
Step 1: Log in to Argus ( http://argus.uwf.edu
).
Step 2: Click on the "My Info" tab.
Step 3: Click the link under the category "Personal Student Record Access" that says "Instruction Assessment (Distance Learning).
Need help? Contact Connie Works at (850) 474-3080 or cworks@uwf.edu
for assistance!
Please be assured that all evaluations that are completed online are of a confidential matter. Your name, social security number, and e-mail address will not be revealed to your instructor, department, or college. Only one evaluation per course per student can be submitted. Please do not delay completing the evaluation when the time approaches. Due to the significance of this information, I will not be able to pre-release grades in eLearning if we are not close to the 100% participation goal before finals week. Thank you!
ONLINE TEST TAKING GUIDELINES:
Please do not begin any timed, online exam in the course that may overlap with the eLearning maintenance window. The eLearning maintenance window runs 3:00-6:00 am CST (Central Standard Time) each day. If you initiate an exam that overlaps with this time and experience any technical errors, your recorded score is likely to be close to 0 for such an attempt. There are no exceptions to this policy.
If you experience any other technical problems or errors during any timed exam that does not overlap with the eLearning maintenance window, you are required to notify the Helpdesk immediately at helpdesk@uwf.edu
or
(850) 474-2075. Failure to contact the HelpDesk to report the problem will result in a grade of 0 automatically being assigned. If you are unable to get immediate assistance from the HelpDesk during the exam, but have documented the problem in an email or voice mail, you may attempt to restart the exam using the same browser, or attempt to re-enter the exam with another browser. If you are still unable to restart the exam and continue with saving, please note that for your final submitted score to be recorded, you MUST still prove that you documented the original technical problem with the HelpDesk via helpdesk@uwf.edu
or (850) 474-2075.
Failure to do so will result in an automatic grade of 0 being assigned.

Compliance with UWF Policies on Satisfactory Progress
If you have a question regarding the UWF policies for assignment of grades of 'W' or 'I', please visit:
UWF Withdrawal Policy: http://uwf.edu/registrar/withdrawal.cfm
UWF Incomplete Grade Policy: http://uwf.edu/registrar/Incomplete%20Grade%20--
%20Assignment%20Report.pdf
ASSISTANCE:
Students with special needs who require specific examination-related or other course-related accommodations should contact Disabled
Student Services (DSS), dss@uwf.edu, (850) 474-2387. DSS will provide the student with a letter for the instructor that will specify any recommended accommodations.
Every effort will be made to accommodate the special needs of disabled students. Please inform the instructor privately during the first week of class to indicate your particular needs. All such accommodations are officially arranged through the Office for Disabled
Student Services and a letter from this office must accompany your request.