SYLLABUS
Introduction to Oceanography  OCE 1001  Virtual College

A syllabus is:

·       A contract between students and instructors
·         Written communication on what the course is about, its purpose and content, and requirements for success
·         Written documentation of course policies

Course Information

Course ID:

OCE-1001

Reference Number:

528572

Credits:

3

Term:

Fall 2009 (2009/1 Term)

Instructor Information

Name:

 Dr. Tony Barros

Email:

·         ANGEL's internal email required

•     tbarros@mdc.edu if you are experiencing technical difficulties and cannot access the course

Phone:

 (305) 237 3754

Office:

1522

Campus Office Hours:

 See http://faculty.mdc.edu/jbarros

Virtual Office hours:

Check your course calendar. VC students are welcome to visit my office (help) or call me during my office and VC hours. My schedule.

Response Policy:

24 hours when the College is in session (Except during weekends)

Course Description

The oceans, their nature and extent. The causes and effects of waves and current; biology of sealife; geology of the sea floor, erosion and bottom deposits and related meteorological and economic effects.

Prerequisites

Must have passed all remedial Math.

Required Textbook and Materials

Tom Garrison, "Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science," 6th edition, Brooks/Cole Publishing (Case-bound with Oceanography Now and Info-Trac), Pacific Grove, CA. Copyright 2005.

ISBN 0-495-11286-0

Access Code: When purchased new, this textbook includes an access code that is required to access the web page of the book. If you purchase a used textbook, it will not have the access code and you will need to purchase one online at (enter link to the purchaser's website). You will need a credit card to purchase the access code online. According to students feedback access to this web page has proven very useful, resulting on better grades. Of course grades are direct proportional to amount of time spent on preparation.

Technology Requirements

Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint are standard for Virtual College courses. Internet Explorer is the recommended browser. You may use AOL or other Internet Service Provider specific browsers to access the internet, then minimize the window and open Internet Explorer to access your courses.

Due to the necessity of technology in Virtual College Courses, you must have a backup plan for using an alternative computer with Internet access in case of problems with your personal computer. If you live in the South Florida area, you may use the computer labs located on MDC campuses. If you have a major technology problem, please notify your instructor immediately to let him/her know you are trying to resolve it. After contacting your instructor and if you cannot resolve the problem, you need to report this to the Virtual College by contacting the Help Desk at 305.237.3800.

f you have no internet access at all, it is not a Virtual College / online course issue. Please be aware that the Virtual College's Help Desk does not cover problems that you may be experiencing with your computer hardware, installation of software, internet connection, or other technical problems that may require a technician or intervention from your Internet Service Provider.

Course Content

Chapter 1: Knowing the Ocean World

Chapter 2: Origins

Chapter 3: Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

Chapter 4:Continental Margins and Ocean Basins

Chapter 5: Sediments

Chapter 6: Water and Ocean Structure

Chapter 7: Ocean Chemistry

Chapter 8: Circulation of the Atmosphere

Chapter 9: Circulation of the Ocean

Chapter 10: Waves

Chapter 11: Tides

Chapter 13: Life in the Ocean

Chapter 16: Marine Communities 

Course Competencies

At the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the scope and history of marine science by describing the various categories of marine science and their development.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of the general physical nature of the earth by describing the structural & surface features of earth & their significance to the total earth environment.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of the physiography of the ocean floors by describing features, such as continental shelves, seamounts, trenches, and their significance to the total environment.

4. Demonstrate knowledge of the concept of global tectonics by describing the ideas associated with this concept & their significance to earth features such as mid-ocean ridges & continental plates.

5. Demonstrate knowledge of the behavior of heat, light, & sound in the sea by describing the properties of sea water associated with temperature, density, & light & relating them to the ocean environment.

6. Demonstrate knowledge of the surface circulation patterns of the ocean by describing the effects of physical factors such as insulation, ocean basin configuration, & vorticity on the water of the ocean.

7. Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge of the Coriolis Effect by describing this phenomenon & its observable behavior in the atmospheric & ocean circulation.

8. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the dynamics of wind-driven ocean circulation by describing such theories as the Ekman Spiral & the Ekman Upwelling.

9. Demonstrate knowledge of the concept of geostrophic current by describing this concept & relating it to contemporary ideas about ocean circulation.

10. Demonstrate knowledge of deep ocean circulation by describing thermohaline circulation & its relationship to causative factors.

11. Demonstrate knowledge of the complexity of the sea surface by describing various types of ocean waves, their behavior, & their causative factors.

12. Demonstrate knowledge of ocean tides & tidal currents by relating the tide-rising forces & environmental factors to observable tidal characteristics.

13. Demonstrate knowledge of the salinity in the sea by describing the saline properties of sea water & their effects on the ocean environment.
 

14. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of water chemistry by describing phenomena such as chemical bonding & dissociation in water, pH, ionization, & showing their effects on the ocean environment.

15. Demonstrate knowledge of chemical sedimentation in the sea by describing chemical processes & principles such as saturation, solubility, & precipitation, and showing their effects on the materials of the sea floor.

16. Demonstrate a comprehension of the nutrient cycle in the sea by describing the occurrence & behavior of nutrients in the sea & their effects of the marine environment.

17. Demonstrate a comprehension of biological production in the sea by describing factors such as gas content, temperature, & dissolved solids, and their effect on biological production.

As applied to this Course:

1. Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data.

2. Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.

3. Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.

4. Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.

5. Use computer and emerging technologies effectively.

6. Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the environment.

Course Work Requirements

To successfully complete this course, you need to spend at least an average of 8 -10 hours per week on the course, which includes readings, postings, quizzes, exams, etc. Set up a weekly time schedule that allows you sufficient time to complete the assigned course work by the required due dates. Plan to check-in and complete assignments at least three times a week. Don't procrastinate! Turn your work in early or by the due date.

Homework:

All homework has a due date associated with them. If you turn it in before this due date, I will give you 2 points. Late homework will be only accepted if submitted within a week of the due date. Some of these homework are a bit challenging. So start to work on them early. Therefore if you need help you can contact me well before the date line. The two lowest scores will be automatically dropped.

Chapter Quizzes:

Quizzes are non-proctored and are due before 11:55 PM on Wednesdays. They cover the appropriate chapter or chapters for that week. You are allowed 2 tries on each quiz. Very important do not open a quiz unless you are ready to start working on it. It would count as an attempt. The quizzes will be available for review 24 hour after the closing date for a 24 hour period (Fridays). After the due date they will be closed no matter what reason you might have had. The three lowest scores will be automatically dropped.

Exams:

There are 2 exams:

• Both are proctored. Both exams must be taken at one of MDC testing centers or at an approved alternate location. Check the Virtual College web-page for more information or if you live out of town you need to contact VC coordinator Mr. Lloyd Hollingsworth (305) 237 3873
• They are worth 50% of your final grade. Each is worth 25%.
• Exam 1 covers chapters: 1-6 and Exam 2 will cover chapters: 7, 8 , 9 10, 11, 13 and 16.
• The questions are multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank and short answer and diagrams similar to those on the Quizzes and Homework.
• Examination period for Exam I : Oct. 16 - 22
• Examination period for Exam II : Dec.11 - 17

Late and Make-up Policy:

• Homework turned in late will be deducted 2 points per week.
• You will not be allowed to take quizzes past the initial due date. Missed quizzes becomes a dropped grade
• There are no make-ups for the midterm or final exam.

Grading

Miami Dade College and Virtual College Policies

• Students' Rights and Responsibility Handbook

This handbook provides you with basic information you need to know as a student at Miami Dade Colllege . Please review the Student's Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. The purpose of this handbook is to describe the essential provisions for how students may participate responsibly in the college community.

• Academic Dishonesty

Please carefully review the Academic Dishonesty policies in the Student's Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

The Handbook identifies "cheating on an examination" as one of the actions included under academic dishonesty. In this course, you are expected to complete quizzes and exams independently and without access to the course's online content or your own study notes. Having multiple browser windows open, accessing previous quizzes or course readings, and using your course notes while taking a quiz or exam constitute cheating. All your course activity is recorded by the ANGEL system; activity logs during the times when you are taking quizzes / exams that demonstrate access to other course components constitute evidence of cheating, and may result in a failing grade for the corresponding quiz or exam.

Plagiarism is another action identified as academic dishonesty in the Handbook. Presenting the work or ideas of someone else as one's own constitutes plagiarism, which is why students are always expected to cite their sources. Through the use of Turnitin, unoriginal work can be easily identified; if not sourced, this constitutes evidence of plagiarism, and may result in a failing grade for the corresponding assignment.

• Course Withdrawal

After registering, students may change their schedules during the drop / add period. The dates for this period are listed on the Academic Calendar that may be found as a link on the Miami Dade College homepage.

If you decide to drop this course and you desire a full refund, you must do so before the last day to withdraw with a full refund (see College Academic Calendar for date). If you stop logging on to class without officially withdrawing through the Registrar's Office, the instructor may withdraw you for nonattendance. If you continue to log on but do not participate in the class and complete assignments, the instructor may withdraw you for inactivity.

All your log on and course activity are recorded by the ANGEL system. The instructor notifies absent / inactive students of his / her intent to withdraw them via e-mail and / or phone; if the student does not respond in the amount of time allotted, the instructor may withdraw the student. Once a student is withdrawn, course access will be denied.

The instructor of a class may withdraw a student who is not active in the class. Before withdrawing an inactive student,        the instructor checks on the student who have become inactive by asking for a response via email. If the student does not respond within a week, the instructor may drop the student. Once a student is withdrawn, course access will be denied. The following are reasons for being withdrawn from a class:

• Failure to enter the course
• Failure to maintain required participation and complete assignments once in the course without a documented legitimate reason

• Incomplete Grades

An Incomplete is given only where extenuating circumstances exist, such as documented medical problems or a death in the family, and is issued solely at the discretion of the instructor. If the instructor agrees to grant an Incomplete, a written agreement must be completed between the instructor and the student, specifying the coursework to be completed, in what manner, and by when. Failure to fulfill the terms of the contract by the end of the next major term will result in an "F" for the course. A student may not remove an Incomplete by registering in a subsequent term to re-take the course.

For more information on Incomplete grades, please refer to the Student's Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

• Hurricanes and Other Natural Disasters

In the event of a hurricane or other disaster, the Virtual College follows the schedule established by the College for  campus-based courses.  Please visit the MDC website (http://www.mdc.edu) or call  the MDC hotline (305.237.7500) for situation updates. Assignments and due dates will be adjusted based upon the impact of the storm on our community. However, if the College reopens and you are still without power or internet access, it is up to you to have a backup plan (MDC computer courtyards, labs and libraries; Miami-Dade County public libraries; or similar facilities). Please keep in touch with your instructor if at all possible.

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