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). 1 Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011 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. 2 Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011 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 3 Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011 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 4 Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011 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 5 Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011