SYLLABUS

OCEANOGRAPHY OCE 3014,

Spring 2012 (01/10/2012 – 04/21/2012)

Time: Tu/Th 9:30AM-10:45AM;

Location: Paul Cejas Architecture Building, Room # 180

Course Description – This is an introductory course on oceanography that explores the oceans of the world, the living organisms of the oceans, and the vast mineral wealth of the ocean floor. The course explores 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. Topics include the origin of oceans; the composition and history of seawater; oceanic currents, tides, waves and beaches; the sea floor; plant and animal life in the sea; oceanic resources and food; and marine pollution.

Course Objectives – This course is an interdisciplinary science course that helps students to develop awareness about the marine environment. The purpose is to provide students with background information on geological, chemical, physical and biological foundations of oceanography. After having finished this course, a student should be able to understand an interdisciplinary nature of ocean sciences.

Textbook – Trujillo, A.P. & H.V. Thurman (2010). Essentials of Oceanography. 10^th Edition. Prentice Hall, USA

Contact:          Dr. Anna Wachnicka, Department of Earth and Environment

                          E-mail (preferred): wachnick@fiu.edu

                          Phone: 305-348-1876

                          Office Hours: Friday 4:30PM – 5PM, OE 235

If you need help but a course or work conflict prevents this during the regular office hours, please email (preferable) or call to make an appointment.

Course Policies – The course is based mainly on the lectures. The topics of the lectures follow the same order of topics covered in the textbook, although lectures include material not covered in the textbook, and the textbook includes material not covered in the lectures. If you rely on the textbook without attending lectures, you will not receive all of the information that is covered on the exams. You are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty. Any student found in violation of these standards will earn an automatic F and be reported to the Dean’s Office, no exceptions made. In accordance with FIU's policy on academic honesty, as set forth in Section 2.44 of the Academic Affairs Policies and Procedures Manual (http://academic.fiu.edu/polman/sec2web.htm#two-forty-four), it is expected that students in OCE 3014 will neither submit the academic work of another as their own, nor provide work they have done for another student to be submitted as that other student's work.

Attendance – Your attendance at lectures is highly recommended

Exams - There will be 4 exams during the semester: 3 in semester exams and a cumulative final exam. Each exam contributes 100 points, for a total of 300 points for the term (the lowest exam score will be dropped). Exam times do not change unless university classes are cancelled. The format of the exams could be an essay, a short answer, a multiple choice test, fill in the blank, true or false, or combination of these choices. Points for each exam will be shown in the Grades Table available on line (www.fiu.edu/~wachnick), listed by the last 4 digits of your Panther ID#.

Makeup Exams - Makeup exams will be given only in extreme circumstances and if you have valid, documentable proof justifying your absence e.g., a doctor’s note verifying an illness or a police report for a car accident. University-sponsored events away from campus and trips out of town do not qualify for makeup exams. You must contact the professor (me) as soon as possible after missing the exam to be able to take a makeup exam.

Extra Credit Points – A total of 40 extra points can be earned during the term by taking pop quizzes and participating in review sessions. There will be a total of 6 quizzes (2 quizzes between each exam) and 3 review sessions prior to the final examination. Each quiz will be worth 3 points (3 points *6 quizzes = 18 extra points) and each review will be worth either 7 or 8 points (2 reviews * 7 points = 14 and 1 final review * 8 points = 8points; a total number of extra points from the reviews = 22 points).  Quizzes can be given at any time during a lecture and will cover past lectures. Points earned for each pop quiz and review session will be shown in the Grades Table available on www.fiu.edu/~wachnick , listed by the last 4 digits of your Panther ID#. There will be no makeup quizzes.

Grades – The final grade will be based on a total of 400 points:

A total of 300 points for 3 in-semester exams and a final comprehensive exam (100 point on each exam). The lowest exam score will be dropped, but no make-up tests will be allowed.

A total of 100 points for in class, group, oral presentation (~15 min.) on a topic related to oceans (e.g., impact of climate change on ocean currents, underwater volcanic eruption, tsunamis etc.) given during the final week of the semester (April 12^th)

Final grades – Grades are based on standard percentages of correct answers on exams and total points for the term: