Graduate Curriculum Committee Course Proposal Form
for Courses Numbered 6000 and Higher
Note: Before completing this form, please carefully read the accompanying instructions.
Submission guidelines are posted to the GCC Web site: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/gcc/index.cfm
1. Course prefix and number:
BIOL 7005
2. Date:
12/15/2011
3. Requested action:
New Course
X
X
X
Revision of Active Course
Revision & Unbanking of a Banked Course
Renumbering of an Existing Course from
from
to
# 6910
Required
# 7005
Elective
4. Method(s) of delivery (check all boxes that apply for both current/proposed and expected
future delivery methods within the next three years):
Current or
Proposed Delivery
Method(s):
X
On-campus (face to face)
Expected
Future Delivery
Method(s):
X
Distance Course (face to face off campus)
Online (delivery of 50% or more of the instruction is offered online)
5. Justification (must cite accreditation and/or assessment by the graduate faculty) for new course
or course revision or course renumbering:
A comprehensive review of the CRM curriculum by CRM graduate
faculty, and current and former CRM students determined and
approved the need to expand coverage of selected subjects included in
the former BIOL 6910 (Coastal Ecological Processes). The course will
complete the natural science background for CRM students when
combined with Hydrological and Geological Principles of Coastal
Science (GEOL 7002).
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6. Course description exactly as it should appear in the next catalog:
BIOL 7005. Coastal Ecological Processes (4) Formerly BIOL 6910 P: Graduate
standing in CRM program or consent of instructor. For PhD students and natural
science MS students. Presentation and discussion of fundamental concepts of
chemistry and biology within the context of the coastal zone and with emphasis on
local ecosystems.
7. If this is a course revision, briefly describe the requested change:
Includes a greater representation of integrative physical and biological processes
within coastal zone systems. This course will be part of the CRM core curriculum.
8. Course credit:
Lecture Hours
3
3
3
1
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
Studio
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Practicum
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Internship
Weekly
OR
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Lab
Other (e.g., independent study) Please explain.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
4
Total Credit Hours
s.h.
10
9. Anticipated annual student enrollment:
10. Changes in degree hours of your programs:
Degree(s)/Program(s)
Changes in Degree Hours
NA
11. Affected degrees or academic programs, other than your programs:
Degree(s)/Program(s)
Changes in Degree Hours
PhD Coastal Resources
Management
NA
12. Overlapping or duplication with affected units or programs:
X Not applicable
Documentation of notification to the affected academic degree programs is
attached.
13. Council for Teacher Education (CTE) approval (for courses affecting teacher education):
X Not applicable
Applicable and CTE has given their approval.
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14. University Service-Learning Committee (USLC) approval:
X Not applicable
Applicable and USLC has given their approval.
15. Statements of support:
a. Staff
Current staff is adequate
X
Additional staff is needed (describe needs in the box below):
b. Facilities
X Current facilities are adequate
Additional facilities are needed (describe needs in the box below):
c. Library
X
Initial library resources are adequate
Initial resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief explanation and an
estimate for the cost of acquisition of required initial resources):
d. Unit computer resources
X
Unit computer resources are adequate
Additional unit computer resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief
explanation and an estimate for the cost of acquisition):
e. ITCS resources
X
ITCS resources are not needed
The following ITCS resources are needed (put a check beside each need):
Mainframe computer system
Statistical services
Network connections
Computer lab for students
Software
Approval from the Director of ITCS attached
16. Course information (see: Graduate Curriculum and Program Development Manual for
instructions):
a. Textbook(s) and/or readings: author(s), name, publication date, publisher, and
city/state/country. Include ISBN (when applicable).
Expanded Description: This course will provide a survey of the principal
processes affecting ecosystem structure and function in coastal waters. The goal of
the course is to impart a broad, basic knowledge of the interdisciplinary nature of
coastal science. Students will learn a working knowledge of ecology that will be
necessary for successfully pursuing a career in coastal science. The course is not
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meant as an in depth examination of coastal ecology, rather seeks to provide
students with a shared foundation and vocabulary. The course will combine
lecture-based instruction, textbook reading and field-trips. Students will be
introduced to the core concepts in ecology and these concepts will be examined in
the context of coastal research. Class participation will be emphasized with
frequent discussions of the literature to familiarize students with key terms as well
as frequent in class writing assignments to develop each student’s writing skills.
The course will complete the natural science background for CRM students when
combined with Hydrological and Geological Principles of Coastal Science (GEOL
7004).
Alongi, Daniel M. (1998) Coastal Ecosystem Processes. CRC Press, Boca Raton,
Florida. ISBN 0849384265
Mann, KH. (2000) Ecology of Coastal Water with Implications for Management.
Blackwell Science, Inc. ISBN 0865425507
Readings from the primary literature will also be presented.
b. Course objectives for the course (student – centered, behavioral focus)
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:




Describe fundamental ecological concepts
Evaluate key literature in coastal biological and chemical science
Define and use essential vocabulary and ideas for a coastal research,
discussion and management.
Develop foundation for advanced research in this or related field.
c. Course topic outline
1. An introduction to the habitat concept
a. Coastal habitats
2. Field-trip to a coastal barrier island
3. Nutrients and nutrient cycling
a. Nutrient (C, N, P) cycling in coastal systems
b. Benthic-Pelagic Coupling
c. Field-trip to see local sources of nutrients
4. Primary production
a. Phytoplankton, seagrasses, marsh grasses, benthic microalgae
b. Marine Biochemistry
c. Redfield ratio and Organic Matter: Production and Destruction
d. The biological pump
5. Field-trip to see coastal wetland and marsh
6. Secondary production
a. Zooplankton, benthos and microbial ecology
7. Top predators
a.Fish and fisheries, marine mammals
8. Field-trip on R/V Susan Hudson
a.Sampling of coastal waters, including water quality, phytoplankton,
zooplankton and fish
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9. Community ecology and food web dynamics
a. Lab: Sampling identification from
b. Structure of coastal communities and food webs, including
benthic-pelagic coupling
10. Human impacts on coastal systems
a. Eutrophication, overfishing, land-use changes
b. Fate of Pollutants
c. Measuring rates and dates
11. Management of coastal ecosystems
a.Field trip: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries/NC
Estuarium
12. Ecosystem modeling
a. Attempts to model both the physical, chemical and biological
dynamics of coastal systems
13. Molecular ecology
a. Lab: examination of molecular techniques used to address
ecological questions
14. Climate change
a. Coastal ecosystem response to rising temperatures, differential
b. climate forcing and sea level rise
d. List of course assignments, weighting of each assignment, and grading/evaluation system
for determining a grade
30% Mid-term examination
20% Writing assignments and problem sets
20% Final Paper
20% Final presentation
10% Participation
90-100 % = A
80-89 % = B
70-79 % = C
< 70% = F
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