Oceanography

About Oceanography

OCEANOGRAPHY is the study of the ocean. It covers a wide range of topics, including marine organisms and ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamics; plate tectonics; geology of the sea floor; and fluxes of various chemical substances and physical properties within the ocean and across its boundaries. These diverse topics reflect multiple disciplines that oceanographers blend to further knowledge of the world ocean and understanding of processes within it: biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, and physics as well as geography.

In the current semester, the program is offering the course "Introduction to Oceanography" (Oceanography 1). Oceanography 1 fulfills a non-laboratory physical science requirement.

A brief description of the course is given below.

Programs Offered

Class Description

Oceanography (Oceanography 1)

Oceanography 1 is a 3-unit course intended to provide students with a comprehensive picture of the world ocean with a multi-disciplinary approach that involves the ocean’s chemistry, physics, geology, meteorology, and biology. The course also has the objective to expand students’ knowledge of the ocean and its interactions with the other major components of the global Earth system, i.e. the atmosphere, biosphere, and solid earth.

Textbook: Essentials of Oceanography, 6th ed., Garrison, Tom S., 2012; Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.; ISBN 978-0840061560

Transfer: CSU, UC
Prerequisite:None

Student Learning Outcomes:

Tutor Teaching His Student

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

  1. Explain the origins and history of oceanography and current developments and trends in the discipline
  2. Discuss how plate tectonics shapes the continental margin, the oceanic basin and its sediments; explain the distribution of pelagic and benthic communities in the oceanic environment
  3. Explain the directions and causes of atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns and assess their impact on marine life and productivity; relate these to waves, tides and coastal characteristics
  4. Discuss various types of marine resources and assess the various environmental concerns related to the use and abuse of marine resources