Course Catalog Information (24-25)
GEOL 20
General Oceanography
Course Description
An introduction to the physical environment of the ocean. Origin and evolution of ocean basins; sea-floor morphology; origin, distribution, historical record, and economic significance of marine sediments; ocean currents, climate and the ocean system, waves, tides, and changing sea level; beaches, shorelines, and coastal processes; marine resources, pollution, and human impacts on the oceans. (One Saturday field trip is required.)
Student Learning Outcomes
- Apply the principles of scientific methodology to test hypotheses as to how the Earth's oceans work as an integrated system.
- Use observations and data to characterize the dynamic Earth processes that act to shape the ocean floor and analyze the record of these processes within marine sediments and oceanic crust.
- Analyze the dynamic movement of the water column of the oceans, through an application of the physical principles of ocean currents, waves, and tides and their effect on coastal systems and processes.
- Apply scientific methodology and the principles of oceanography to analyze the impact of the ocean system on humanity, from specific natural hazards and the availability, use, and distribution of ocean resources.
Course Details
- Units
- 4 Units
- Hours
- Weekly Lecture Hours: 4
- Weekly Lab Hours: 0
- Gen Ed
- General Education Class
- Program Status
- Program Applicable
- Credit
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Transferability
- Transferable to both UC and CSU
- Grading Method
- Letter Grading
Requisite and Advisory
- Prerequisite(s)
- Corequisite(s)
- Advisory(ies)
Limitations on Enrollment and Entrance Skills
- Limitation(s) on Enrollment
- .