SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
South Portland, Maine 04106
Title: Elements of Oceanography Catalog Number:OCEA-105-11
Credit Hours: 4
Contact Hours: 75 (45 lecture + 30 lab)
Expected Study Time: 8/10 hrs/week
Instructor: Peter C. Naiden. Office: Adjunct Space MSC.
COURSE SYLLABUS – Fall 2015
Special Information: Tel: 846-5047 Cell: Special request.
E-mails:
pnaiden@gmail.com
peter.naiden@maine.edu
pnaiden@smccme.edu
Special Note: Elements of Oceanography follows the special
directions, special notations, & prerequisites set forth
by Dr. Charles J. Gregory Ph.D and any special
directives of the Biological Sciences Department at
Southern Maine Community College.
Course Description
This introductory science course is designed to give
students an over view of the world oceans and the processes
active there. The main thrust of this course will be
conducted by studying four distinct areas: GEOLOGICAL,
CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL-ENVIRONMENTAL.
GEOLOGICAL: The study of the ocean bottom @ processes
active there.
CHEMICAL: The study of ocean water and the multitude of
active organic @ inorganic reactions.
PHYSICAL: The study of ocean water in motion at the
surface and subsurface levels.
BIO-ENVIRONMENTAL: Life in the ocean & its relationship
To environmental interfaces.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course students will
be able to:
1.Describe a brief history of human interactions between
the ocean and marine science;
2.Apply scientific method as a problem-solving tool;
3.Explain the scientific origins of the Universe,Earth, and
life on Earth;
4.Describe the tectonic processes that have created the
ocean basins, plus the physical and chemical processes of
the water filling these basins;
5.Explain the basic physical oceanography associated with
currents, waves and tides, plus their combined effect on
the shore and coastal waters;
6.Characterize the diversity of life forms inhabiting ocean
waters and the ocean floor;
7.Explain the ecological interrelationships between abiotic
and biotic factors;
8.Demonstrate an understanding of the effect human activity
has rendered on oceans.
9.That Science is fun and relevant to life.
Lecture Text
Garrison,T 2012-15 7e Essentials of Oceanography. Cengage
Learning, 436+ pp.
Laboratory materials written by and provided by, in
handout form, by instructor P.C.Naiden.
___________________________________________________________
Topical Outline of Instruction
1. Introduction to Planet “Earth” and the Scientific
Method
2. Marine Provinces
3. Plate Tectonics and the Ocean Floor
4. Marine Sediments
5. Water and Seawater
6. Air-Sea Interactions
7. Ocean Circulation
8. Waves and Water Dynamics
9. Tides
10.The Coast and Coastal Processes
11.Marine Biology
Student Evaluation and Grading
Your OCEA-105 grade will be based on the following:
A. 3 equally weighted (Prelims): exams 75%
B. 1 laboratory portfolio of all laboratories
studied /term:
25%
PLEASE SEE CALENDAR FOR PRELIM DATES AND SEE
SPECIAL HANDOUTS DISCUSSING PORTFOLIO PARTICULARS
End-of-course evaluation (online)
In order to gain access to final course grades, students
MUST complete evaluations for each course attended at SMCC.
Evaluations are submitted online and can be accessed
through the student portal site. Students can access the
course evaluation report beginning two weeks before the end
of classes. The deadline for submission of evaluations
occurs
24 hours after the last day of classes each semester.
Instructors will announce when the online course evaluation
is available.
SMCC pay-for-print policy:
Students can print 150 pages per semester free of charge.
If you print over 150 pages, you will be charged 10 cents
per page to your student billing account for tuition and
fees. Leftover pages from each semester will not be rolled
over to the following semester. The College’s pay-for-print
system monitors printing on all public printers(i.e., those
in general access labs, library printers, the Academic
Achievement Center, Noisy Lounge, and technology labs).
Each time you log into the system, the print station
displays the remaining print quota. Once the printing quota
has been exceeded, users will be charged 10 cents per page
or 5 cents per side if the printer prints on both sides on
their student accounts on a monthly basis. Color printouts
will be charged at 11 page units. This means each color
printout will count as 11 pages toward the quota and will
cost $1.10. Be sure to log OUT of the system when you have
finished your printing, to prevent unauthorized access to
your account.
Add-drop policy:
Students who drop a course during the one-week “add/drop”
period in the fall and spring semesters, and the first
three days of summer sessions, receive a 100% refund of the
tuition and associated fees for that course. Please note
any course that meets for less than the traditional
semester length,i.e.,15 weeks, has a prorated add/drop
period. There is no refund for non-attendance.
REMAINING ENROLLED AFTER DROP/ADD WEEK MEANS YOU
UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE REQUIREMENTS, POLICIES
AND INSTRUCTIONS SPELLED OUT IN THIS SYLLABUS.
Withdrawal policy:
A student may withdraw from a course only during the
semester in which s/he is registered for that course. The
withdrawal period is the 2nd through 12th-week of the fall
and spring semesters and the 2nd through 9th week of a 12week summer course. This period is prorated for shorterlength courses. To withdraw from a course, a student must
complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal form,
available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls,
please). The designation “W” will appear on the transcript
after a student has officially withdrawn. A course
withdrawal is an uncompleted course and may adversely
affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or
ceasing to attend class does not constitute withdrawal from
the course. There is no refund associated with a
withdrawal.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act):
Southern Maine Community College is an equal
opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer.
For more information, please call 207-741-5798. If you have
a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in
order to have access to the programs and services offered
by SMCC, you must register with the Disability Services
Coordinator, Sandra Lynham, who can be reached at 207-7415923. Further information about services for students with
disabilities and the accommodation process is available
upon request at this number.
Plagiarism Policy:
Adherence to ethical standards is required. Cheating is a
serious offence, whether it consists of taking credit for
work done by another person or doing work for which another
person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or
writings of another person without clearly and fully
crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the
academic code as well as the Student Code of Conduct. If it
is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is
enrolled has knowingly committed such a violation, the
faculty member should refer the matter to the College’s
Disciplinary Officer and appropriate action will be taken
under the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions may include
suspension from the course and a failing grade in the
course. Students have the right to appeal these actions to
the Disciplinary Committee under the terms outlined in the
Student Code of Conduct.
Academic failure (grade of “AF”):
1. “Academic failure” is the consequence of three
consecutive absences, without notifying the
the instructor ahead of time as to the reason.
2. A grade of AF is submitted to the registrar
immediately after the third consecutive absence.
Basically, an AF grade drops the student from
the course. The student may then contact the
instructor to request reinstatement in the course.
Reinstatement is at the instructor’s discretion
and is generally not granted because too much work
has been missed by that time.
Early Alert and Academic Alert:
1. The first four weeks of the semester is the “Early
Alert” period. Student progress is monitored closely
during this time. The 5th through the 9th week is the
“Academic Alert” period. Student progress continues to
be monitored during this time, essentially halfway
through the semester. These alerts raise students’
awareness about their performance.
2. If your overall course grade is below a C at the end
of either the Early Alert or Academic Alert period,
you will be assigned a grade of “U”(unsatisfactory)
and your advisor will be notified. Your advisor will
notify you about scheduling a meeting to discuss
strategies for improvement. Think about specific ways
you can improve your performance and take these ideas
with you to the meeting.
3. If your overall course grade is C or above, no grade
will be assigned and your advisor will not notify
you.
4.These alert grades do not change.(These do not become
part of your permanent record and no other schools have
access to them). They only reflect your performance for
those time frames. However, these grades DO eventually
affect your final grade, of course, because your course
grade continues to change as the semester progresses
and you complete more work. Your final grade may be
different from your Early Alert and Academic Alert
grades,i.e., higher, lower, or the same, depending on
your performance. You should calculate your grade often
and know where you stand.
PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR !
READ THE SYLLABUS COMPLETELY FOR DISCUSSION THE FIRST
NIGHT !
Special Note:
(LAST DAY GRADING POLICY)
If classes are called off the last exam night, the
third prelim will not be made-up! In addition, the
laboratory portfolio must be passed-in within 1 day, and
the course grade will be based on the first two prelims and
the portfolio.
(Policy to be discussed the first class meeting!)