GEOLOGY 220 - Oceanography Fall 2010 TR 3:30-4:45 pm, 111 Sims

GEOL 220-001, 3 credit hours, section 10123 last updated 06 August 2010

Instructor: Dr. Marsha Bollinger, 313B Sims, 323-4944, bollingerm@winthrop.edu

Office hours: TR 2-3:15pm, but I am available many other times. Feel free to drop by or to set up another time to meet.

Text: Trujillo and Thurman, Essentials of Oceanography, 10^th edition

Goals: Oceanography is interdisciplinary; therefore, you will be looking at the ocean from geological, physical, chemical, and biological perspectives. When you complete the course you should be able to discuss the history of oceanography, to describe the topographic features and sediments of the sea floor from a geological perspective, to describe the nature of seawater itself as well as the movements of the water (waves, tides, currents), to discuss the forces which create and impact coastal environments, and to discuss basic characteristics of ecosystems within the ocean. In addition, you should be able to discuss interactions between chemical, physical, geological, and biological components of the ocean system.

General Education/Touchstone Program Goal: This course addresses Winthrop University General Education Goal 5: “To understand scientific knowledge in terms of its methods or its specific quantitative nature, and its dynamic and contingent character.” This is a natural science course which falls within the earth science category. It does not have a laboratory component.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete this course will (1) be conversant in a few fundamental concepts in the earth sciences, (2) be able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of science in such areas as the importance of the ocean in understanding global warming or the impact of ocean complexity on our understanding of how the ocean works, (3) understand the history of oceanography from simply using the oceans for transportation and food to our ability to scan large areas of the oceans using satellites, (4) be able to discuss the social and ethical contexts of science in areas such as flood insurance for coastal resort communities or the impact of transporting oil in tankers over the oceans, (5) be able to discuss the importance of oceanographic studies in our everyday lives.

A tentative class schedule includes readings from the text. You should try to read material in the text before we cover it in class. You are responsible for all material covered in class and for all of the chapters assigned. Although much of the material will be covered in lecture, some assignments will be left for you to do on your own. If you have questions, please ask.

Syllabus change policy: The instructor reserves the right to change and/or modify the syllabus, course requirements, and schedule due to unforeseen circumstances. Changes will be announced in class as soon as possible and will be followed by an email notification and an update reflected on the appropriate class web page.

Attendance will not be taken, but you really need to be in class as much as possible. Homework assignments are due by 5:30 pm on the assigned day. If for some reason you cannot attend class on that day, please email your assignment to the instructor.

Outlines of material and class power point presentations will be posted to this site as we reach each topic. These materials should help you organize and study each topic.

GRADING: Grades will be determined by scores you receive on tests (4 @ 100 pt. each), a comprehensive final exam given during the assigned exam time (100 pts.), and on homework assignments (4 x 25 pt. = 100 pts.). No extra credit assignments will be available. No make-up tests will be given. However, if you score higher on your final exam that you do on one of your in-class tests, the in-class test score will be dropped and the final exam score will be substituted. Therefore, it is possible (if it helps your grade) for your final exam to count twice. The total number of points you earn will be divided by the total possible points (600). Letter grades will be assigned approximately on the following scale: A=90%, A-= 88%, B+=84%, B=80%, B-= 78%, C+=74, C=70%, C-=68%, D+=64%, D=60%, F = <60%.

TESTS: Tests will consist of short answer (a few sentences, a diagram, for instance) and objective (multiple choice, matching, identification) questions. Tests will be returned to you as soon as possible. We will go over the test in class, but you will not be allowed to keep the tests. However, close to the final exam, your tests will be available for you to use for review purposes. A schedule of review times will be available as the final exam approaches.

Homework Assignments: These assignments are meant to augment what we cover in class and in the text and should allow you to THINK and WRITE about oceanographic concepts and about how oceanography impacts humans. Each of the assignments will be worth 25 pts. You must complete 4 of the 5 available assignments. Instructions (and a grading rubric) will be discussed in class (and will be available on this web page) as the assignment is given. No late assignments will be accepted, so plan ahead. All assignments should be word-processed, use 12-pt. font, be double-spaced, and represent your own thoughts.

Students with Disabilities: Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact Gena Smith, Program Director, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290.  Once you have your official notice of accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities, please inform me as early as possible in the semester.

Use of hand-held and wireless technology in class: Please see the Arts and Sciences policy on this topic.

Student Code of Conduct: As noted in the Student Conduct Code: “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.” The policy on student academic misconduct is outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the online Student Handbook (http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf)