GEOS 115 Oceanography –REVISED
#1386
Spring 2009
M, W & R 9:00AM-9:50AM
Rossey 605
Instructor: Dr. Deborah Freile
Office: Rossey 613
Tel.: 201.200.3188
E-mail: dfreile@njcu.edu
Office Hours:
Tu/Th 4-5:30PM; W 2-3PM
Course Description
An examination of the physical, chemical, geological, and biological aspects of the oceans and their importance to man is presented in
this course.
Textbooks
Garrison, Tom, 2004, Essentials of Oceanography, Thomson-Brooks/Cole, 4th Ed., 368 pp.
Objectives
To understand Oceanography through the discussion of elementary scientific concepts framed within the context of some different
areas within the sciences of Geology, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The introductory material will acquaint the student with some
basic principles of oceanography, including its history, marine geology, marine biology and the ocean-atmosphere coupling. This
course is geared towards an introductory study of the materials, structure, and features of the ocean basins; the processes responsible
for their development; the physical and chemical processes that operate to modify them; the physical and chemical study of the waters
of the ocean; and the biota which inhabit the ocean.
The different subject areas that we will cover include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Origins and history
Plate tectonics
Structure of the ocean basins
Sediments
Chemical properties of the waters
6.
7.
8.
9.
Ocean-Atmosphere coupling
Waves, tides and coasts
Life of the oceans
Anthropogenic effects
Course Schedule
Chapters
WEEK 1
(Jan. 20-23)
Course Structure/ Why Oceanography/Origins
Ch. 1
WEEK 2
(Jan. 26-30)
Origins & History
Ch. 2
WEEK 3
(Feb. 2-6)
History/Plate Tectonics
Ch. 2 & Ch. 3
WEEK 4
(Feb. 9-13)
Plate Tectonics/ Movie/ Ocean Basins
Ch. 3 & Ch. 4
WEEK 5
(Feb. 16-20)
Ocean Basins/ Sediments
Ch. 4 & Ch. 5
WEEK 6
(Feb. 23-27)
Sediments/ TEST #1
Ch. 5
WEEK 7
(Mar. 2-6)
Water
Ch. 6
WEEK 8
(Mar. 9-13)
Spring Break
WEEK 9
(Mar 16-20)
Atmospheric Circulation
Ch. 6 & Ch. 7
WEEK 10
(Mar. 23-27)
Movie/ Ocean Circulation
Ch. 8
WEEK 11
(Mar. 30-Apr. 03)Ocean Circulation/ Waves
Ch. 9
WEEK 12
(Apr. 6-10)
Waves
WEEK 13
(Apr. 13-17)
Tides
Ch. 10
WEEK 14
(Apr. 20-24)
TEST #2/ Coasts
Ch. 11
WEEK 15
(Apr. 27-30)
Life in the Oceans Selected readings from Ch. 12-13-14
WEEK 16
(May. 4)
Life in the Oceans Selected readings from Ch. 12-13-14
May 11
FINAL EXAM 8:00AM-10:00AM
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance: Attendance is strongly recommended. Attendance will be taken at the start of each class period. Excused absences
from class will be granted only upon a written medical or sponsored university activity notification. If the student comes to class late,
it is his or her responsibility to inform the instructor and sign the attendance sheet. Once the instructor leaves the classroom, any
student not appearing on the attendance sheet will be counted as absent. Attendance counts towards class participation points. From the
NJCU catalogue: “Each student is expected to fulfill the attendance requirements as determined by the faculty member. Failure to
attend classes without a valid excuse as determined by the faculty member may be factored into the evaluation of the student’s
performance and achievement for the course. Each student shall be required to take all examinations on the days scheduled for such,
provided these schedules are announced in advance by the faculty member(s) responsible for the course. To ensure compliance with
Federal and State aid requirements, instructors are required to keep such records as will enable them to complete the Monthly Veterans
Attendance Rosters and the Mid-Semester Audit Report Forms and to certify the last date of attendance of students receiving aid.
Financial aid recipients who never attend one or more of their classes or who stop attending all of their classes will be paid a reduced
amount of aid and are subject to forfeiture of their financial aid”.
Methods of Instruction: This course will employ the following pedagogic techniques;
1. Lecture and discussion of material.
2. Audio visual instruction in the form of PowerPoint presentations and/or specific VHS tapes or DVDs
3. Testing
4. Written assignments
5. The instructor has an oceanography webpage. The GEOS 115 webpage is up. You may find the PowerPoint slides at
http://faculty.njcu.edu/dfreile
Evaluation Components and Grading Scale
Tests (2 @ 20%)
Quizzes
Assignments
Final exam
40%
25%
10%
25%
100%
Tests: There will be 2 tests,.. Make-up tests will not be given under any circumstance. Tests will consist of the following types of
questions- multiple-choice, true or false, fill in the blanks, short answer, and diagrams to label. All tests will contain an extra-credit
question for bonus points. The final, which is mandatory, will be comprehensive and account for 25% of the grade.
Quizzes: There will several quizzes throughout the semester on the individual chapters in the book.
EXTRA Credit: There will be 2 extra credit opportunities. Up to 15 points can be added to the class tests. One of the extra credit
options consists of going to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City and answering a series of questions
and taking a few photographs in the Hall of Ocean Life. The other consists of watching the IMAX film Wild Ocean at the AMNH and
writing a summary. Both are due 3 weeks before the end of the semester. You need to type the answers and attached the entrance slip
to the museum for full credit. The questions to answer for extra credit #1 are up on my website at http://faculty.njcu.edu/dfreile.
Participation: Class participation is an important part of the learning process. Participation in class is highly encouraged and
variations in points of view are welcomed. Attendance to class counts towards class participation.
Homework Assignments (HW): There may be 2 to 4 assignments during the course. These might be short paragraphs on films
watched in class or some other type of homework assignment.
Grading Scale
95-100 A
90-94 A-
87-89
84-86
B+
B
80-83
77-79
BC+
74-76
68-73
C
C-
56-67
D
Expected Outcomes: After completing this course the student is expected to have a solid understanding of the processes that shape the
oceans and coastlines and the life that inhabits them. The student will be able to explain the internal processes that have shaped the
earth and ocean basins and the atmosphere-ocean coupling that exists. The students will have made a useful contribution to the success
of their understanding of science and scientific principles and their application to the world around them.
Academic Dishonesty: Students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity at all times. NJCU condemns cheating and
plagiarism in any form. Plagiarism is defined as intentionally using the ideas, knowledge, words, and/or visual images of another
individual as if those were original to the writer or speaker (INCLUDING THE IMPROPER CITATION OF THOSE WORKS
USED); and any other forms of deceit in relation to the student’s affiliation with and commitment to the university. [According to the
Student Rights and Responsibilities: Code of Conduct- Some specific activities that are not to be tolerated on the campus are: (7).
Fraud in any for, whether it be altering or changing University records, or cheating in any form. Prohibited activities include (12).
Academic dishonesty (a). Plagiarism, cheating (b). Use of term papers or reports not completely prepared by the student. In this
course any student caught cheating on any test or plagiarizing any work will receive an ‘F’ for the entire course.
Withdrawal: Please note that April 15th is the last day to withdraw from a course with a grade of “W”.
Cell Phones and Pagers: Please turn OFF all cell phones and pagers. If a phone rings during class time the student will be asked
to leave and counted as absent for that day.
Use of cell phones, IPods, MP3 players or any other electronic device is PROHIBITED during class or EXAMS. Any student
using the device will be asked to LEAVE immediately and if taking an exam the exam grade will result in a zero (0).