SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Ammerman Campus
Biology Department
http://department.sunysuffolk.edu/Biology_A/index.asp
Course Title:
Instructor:
Introduction to Oceanography
Dr. Jean R. Anastasia
Office: M 211
Phone: 451-4923
Email: anastaj@sunysuffolk.edu
Catalog No: MAR 105 Honors
Semester: Spring 2014
Home page: www2.sunysuffolk.edu/anastaj
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Life in the ocean is studied against a background of its interaction with the physical, chemical and
geological environment. Lectures, laboratory exercises, and field trips explore the fundamental
properties that underlie oceanic phenomenon. This course is designed for non-science students.
OVERALL GOAL
To provide an engaging and stimulating learning environment for students to understand the
ocean’s physical, chemical, biological and ecological dynamics and interrelationships, and to give
students the basis to cultivate a sense of stewardship for marine life and ecosystems.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the course, students will be able to…
1. Apply the Scientific Method in the laboratory/field experiences. Students will employ critical
analysis and synthesis of concepts. Students will conduct research in individual and group
projects.
2. Explain the internal structure of the earth. Integrate the concepts of Sea Floor Spreading and
Continental Drift into a theory of Global Plate Tectonics. Explain the formation of ocean basins,
continents, volcanoes and earthquakes in the context of this theory. Explain the distribution of
oceanic sediments.
3. Explain why the properties of water that make it a universal requirement for life. Define salinity
and the major, minor and trace components in seawater. Analyze graphically, the relationship
between temperature, salinity, density, and pressure with depth in the ocean. Identify toxins in
the water that destroy marine environments.
4. Define and describe, compare and contrast: surface wind driven currents and deep
thermohaline currents. Name the major currents of both types. Define the characteristics of a
wave and how wave dynamics apply to the shore. Show how tides are generated during spring
and neap tide cycles and how they affect the shore.
5. Identify the organisms in the major marine (plant, invertebrate and chordate) phyla. Explain
the strategies that have enabled their adaptations to their specific marine environment. Interpret
the distribution of life in the oceans and other marine environments in the context of their
adaptations.
6. In writing, describe how these organisms interact in marine ecosystems. Provide examples of
environmental problems facing marine environments. Evaluate steps that can be taken to
improve these conditions.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
 Attendance at lecture sessions is expected, and you are responsible for any materials
missed. Attendance will be taken at every meeting as per college protocol. The College
defines excessive absence or lateness as more than the equivalent of one week of class
meetings during the semester.
 Attendance at laboratory meetings is required. Students who miss more than one (1)
lab session may be dropped from the course. If you know in advance that you will


miss a laboratory meeting or have missed one due to illness, emergency, etc., it is your
responsibility to make-up this session. However, this is dependent on permission of the
other instructor and the availability of other laboratory meetings, and you will need
written documentation of your make-up by the instructor. Please see me if you need to
make such arrangements.
The last official date to withdraw from the course is March 25, 2014. Students
wishing to withdraw from class after this date must contact me and complete a withdraw
slip from the registrar’s office, which I must sign. All students who go AWOL without
completing a withdraw form will automatically receive a grade of “F”.
A student may be removed from the class roster by an instructor at any time when, in the
judgment of the instructor, absences have been excessive or when a student is disruptive
or disrespectful. Leaving laboratory class early is not permitted.
REQUIRED BOOKS:
Introduction to Oceanography, MAR 105, Laboratory Manual. Available at the campus
bookstore.
Essentials of Oceanography,11th edition by Alan P. Trujillo and Harold V. Thurman, 2014
ISBN-10: 0321814053
ISBN-13: 9780321814050
Publisher: Prentice Hall
You can also buy an "e-book" - (essentially you rent access to the book online) from
http://www.coursesmart.com/0321697138/?a=1773944
(Other texts or other editions may be acceptable; please see me)
Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Seafood by Paul Greenberg.
Available on Amazon.com for about $11-$16. You may also find it at SCCC library or
your local library.
GRADING
Lecture:
Three lecture exams will be given. The lowest grade will be dropped ONLY if
all 3 exams are taken. No make-up exams will be given. The two highest exam
grades will combine to constitute 35% of your course grade
Honors Projects: Group Project: Four Fish Presentation 5%
Individual Project: Field Trip Paper 5%
Laboratory:
Your laboratory grade will constitute 30% of your course grade. It will be based
on laboratory pop quizzes (5 pts each), collected questions or graphs (5-15 pts
each), field trip attendance or make-up assignment (10 pts each), lab exams (50
pts each).
Final Exam:
A cumulative final exam will constitute 25% of your course grade. It will be
given on the last day of class.
FINAL COURSE GRADE SCALE
In accordance with college policy, the following letter grades will be assigned based
upon your final score: A = 90-100; B+ = 85-89; B = 80-84; C+ = 75-79; C = 70-74; D+ =
65-69; D = 60-64; F = 59 or below
EXTRA CREDIT:
Students may keep a scientific journal for extra credit for the course. The journal
will be a log of newsworthy oceanography events on Long Island or elsewhere.
This will be done by reading local newspapers, clipping out articles and writing
an in depth analysis of the article (~1page per article). Articles must be current;
include only news that happened this semester. In order to receive the 5 points
extra-credit on your lecture grade, the journal must consist of 10 articles on any
topic related to those covered in this course. The journal is due by May 2nd–
NO LATE JOURNALS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
**No other extra credit will be given either during the course or after final grades
have been calculated.**
Other Policies: Just say “no!”
(1) Cell Phones and Texting
(2) Excessive food/drinking in lab
(3) Inappropriate attire
(4) Inappropriate language/attitude
(5) Lateness
(6) Cheating**
(7) Plagiarism**
** Refer to “Academic Dishonesty” section(s) of SCCC Student Handbook. I will follow all
available and necessary school procedures.
If any of the above are done by students, they will be asked to leave the class for that class
period. If the disruptive behavior continues, they may be removed from the course and the
necessary disciplinary action will be pursued through the college. See the student code of
conduct in the student handbook http://www.sunysuffolk.edu/forms/Handbook.pdf
MAR 105 Lecture Schedule: Spring 2014
Approximate
Dates
1/22
1/24
Topic
Introduction
Structure of the Earth,
begin Plate Tectonics
1/29
Plate Tectonics continued
1/31, 2/5
Structure of the Ocean Floor: Continental Margins &
Deep Ocean Basins
Properties of Seawater – Chemistry of Water,
Temperature, Salinity, Density in the Ocean
Coriolis Effect and Winds
2/7, 2/12
2/14
2/19
2/21
Exam # 1
Ocean Circulation
Surface Currents & Deep Circulation
2/26, 2/28
3/28
CLASS CANCELLED- Meet with group for Four Fish
Assignment
Ocean Circulation continued
begin Waves
Waves
Tides
NO CLASS- Spring Break
Paul Greenberg talk- common hour 11:00
Four Fish Presentations
Exam #2
4/2
4/4
Coasts
Marine Biology Intro
4/9
Pelagic Zone: Plankton
3/5
3/7
3/12, 3/14
3/19, 3/21
3/26
4/11, 4/16
4/18
4/23
4/25
4/30
Pelagic Zone: Nekton
Film and Review (if time allows)
Exam # 3
Benthic Zone
Field Trip Papers Due
Marine Environmental Problems
Pollution & Waste Disposal, Global Change
5/2
Marine Environmental Problems
Fishery Management Problems
**Extra Credit Due
5/7
Review
5/9
Final Exam
** These dates are tentative and subject to change**
Readings from text:
Trujillo 10th edition
Introduction : xxi-xxv
Ch1
Ch 2
Ch 2 continued
Ch 3
Ch 3 continued
Ch 5
Ch 6:6.1-6.5 (p161173)
Ch 7
Ch 8
Ch 8
Ch 9
Ch 10
Ch 1: 1.6 (p24-29)
Ch 12
Ch 13
Ch 14 p407-409
Ch 14
Ch 15
Ch 11:11.5-11.6
(p326-342)
Ch 16
Ch 13:13.6 (p394-401)
MAR 105 LAB SCHEDULE: Spring 2014
Friday
1/24
Topic
Introduction
1/31
Scientific Method & Density
2/7
Plate Tectonics & Ocean Profiles I
2/14
Ocean Profiles II
2/21
Salinity, Temp & Density
2/28
3/7
NO LAB (cancelled for time spent
on Aquarium Boat trip)
Ocean Circulation
3/14
Lab Exam 1
3/21
SPRING BREAK
3/28
Waves
4/4
Sediment Analysis
4/11
4/18
Smith Pt beach trip
(low tide at 2:30pm)
Size Matters
4/25
Marine Pollution
5/2
Lab Exam 2
EXTRA CREDIT DUE
5/9
Clean-Up
Weekend Trips
Explorer Tour Boat- Long
Island Aquarium- Sat 5/3
9:30
** These dates are tentative and subject to change**
LAB ACTIVITIES:
 This class includes one weekend field trip: Please make arrangements and every
possible effort to attend.
 All laboratory assignments are due at the end of the lab period during which the lab
activity was performed.
 If you run out of time, you may get permission from the instructor to hand in the lab
assignment during the next lab period. Late laboratory assignments will have points
deducted and will not be accepted after one week of lateness.
 If you miss a lab, you must contact the instructor within one day with a valid excuse and
you may then arrange a make-up. You will only be allowed to make-up two labs and only
if you have a documented, valid excuse for the absences. If no make-up laboratory
activity is done, you will have a zero for that lab assignment.