CPHYS-2106-01: Oceanography

Course Syllabus
Fall 2020
Online
Instructor
Julie Shoemaker, PhD.
Asst Professor – Lesley University
Office Hours: T/Th/Fr 11AM-12 PM (or by
appointment)
Email: jshoemak@lesley.edu

Course Requirements: Earth Science (CPHYS-1104) or equivalent is strongly

recommended although many students have succeeded without it given interest in the
topic matter. If you have not taken Earth Science, please let the professor know.

Course Summary: Oceans cover over 2/3 of the surface of our planet with profound
influences on our climate and weather systems, food access, culture, recreation, and
biodiversity. This course serves as an in-depth introduction to the science of
oceanography, including the ocean’s chemical, physical, geological and biological
nature. We will examine how humans depend on and alter the ocean systems and
explore the complex consequences of these interactions. Students will dive into a
research topic of their choice to synthesize their knowledge. They will co-construct
their research papers with their peers and present their findings to the class.

Online Course Structure:

 To start the semester, synchronous class meetings will occur during the two
listed course periods each week and attendance is required. However, students
who have demonstrated reasons for being unable to attend (lack of access to
technology, work schedules, family responsibilities, etc) and have discussed
them in advance with the professor, will be able to view the recorded session
and submit a response in lieu of attending with no loss of credit. All students will
have access to the recorded sessions for review purposes.
 Course structure (balance of synchronous/asynchronous will be re-evaluated
after the first few weeks of class based on student feedback.
 Out-of-class work will include some readings and reading quizzes, assignments,
and occasional collaborative work.
Course Goals:
 Demonstrate understanding of all four branches of oceanography through
analyzing current issues concerning the oceans.
 Synthesize and articulate complex problems facing the oceans and their
interrelationship with human and non-human populations.
 Utilize the scientific method and specific scientific approaches to construct
knowledge about the oceans through in-class activities and assignments,
including the final research project.
 Strengthen logic analysis and quantitative reasoning skills through
oceanography-related course work and projects.
 Develop oral and written communication skills within the language of the natural
sciences through coursework, in-class participation and the final research project
and presentations.

Textbook/Workbook (both are required):

1. Investigating the Ocean: Illustrated concepts and classroom inquiry by Yuretich
and Leckie. The Lesley Bookstore will have some copies of this book in stock.
However, it is also available for between $8 and $50 as an ebook from Amazon
or other discount book-sellers. Be aware that the book has many tear-out
worksheets that we will be using through the semester, so you want to purchase
a copy that has not been written in. If you rent and plan to return the book, you
will need to photograph or scan the worksheets in order to complete them
digitally. Adobe scanner is a very useful free app that converts photos to
editable pdf files.
2. Introduction to Oceanography by Paul Webb. This is an open-source textbook
available to read or download (free of cost) on-line.
https://rwu.pressbooks.pub/webboceanography/
This serves as an important supplement to the brevity of Investigating the
Ocean, which is an active-learning focused text. This resource is available to
read in your browser, or to download in various formats.

Grading
Midterm Exam 15%
Final Exam 15%
Reading Quizzes 5%
Term Project 30% (5% question proposal & 3refs, 5% Peer Review, 5%
Sources, 15% final paper content and style)
“In the News” 7.5%
In-Class Activities/HW 25%
Attendance 2.5%
Attendance: As mentioned above, students are expected to attend synchronous class
sessions where we will work together or in breakout groups on particular topics.
However, personal circumstances will be taken into account. Students will not lose
attendance credit or credit towards the in-class activities if they have pre-approval for
their absence, and they watch the recorded class and submit a response and activity. All
students will have access to the recorded class sessions.

Exams
Exams will be take-home and open book. Questions will be a combination of short- and
long-answer formats.

“In the News”

Every Monday morning, 2-3 students will take turns presenting current news articles
relating to the health and state of our oceans, which will be followed by a short class
discussion. A sign-up will be circulated in the 2nd week of the semester.

In-class activities/HW
During almost every class, we will begin some activities or worksheets. These activities
much be completed along with any additional assigned questions or responses and
uploaded to the course website by Sunday of each week.

Schedule/Topic Guide: This may change somewhat over the semester so check back
online and use the assignment and calendar dates on the course website.

 Week 1
o 9/9 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Introductions, course overview, and course website exploration
 Readings due: none
 Week 2
o 9/14 11:10AM-12:25PM
 History of Oceanography
 Law of the sea activity
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 1.1-1.2, 1.7-1.11;
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 1.1
o 9/16 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Navigating the Oceans
 Navigation and Sexton activity
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 1.3-1.6
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 2
o 9/20 Homework/Activities, reading quiz, and In the News signup due (2 slots
per person)

 Week 3
o 9/21 11:10AM-12:25PM
  In the News
 Geology Review: Earth structure & Time
 Activity: L&Y 2.1, 2.1, and parts of 2.7-2.10
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 2.1-2.4, 2.7-2.13
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 3
o 9/22 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Ocean Basins
 Activities L&Y 2.3, 2.4
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 2.5-2.6, 2.14-2.15
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 1.2-1.4
o 9/27 Homework/activities and reading quiz due

 Week 4
o 9/28 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Plate Tectonics
 Activities: L&Y 2.7-2.10 (sections)
 Reading due: L&Y ch. 2.7-2.13
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 4
o 9/30 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Ocean sediments
 Activities; L&Y 2.5, 2.6 and 2.11 (selections)
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 2.14-2.15
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 12
o 10/4 Homework/activities and reading quiz due

 Week 5
o 10/5 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Ocean Resources
 Activity: Fisheries Management
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 2.16-2.17
o 10/7 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Ocean Chemistry
 Activity: TBA
 Readings due: L&Y 3.1-3.2
 Optional reading: Webb ch.5
o 10/11 Homework/activities and reading quiz due

 Week 6
o 10/12 11:10AM-12:25PM
 No classes- Fall weekend holiday
o 10/14 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Ocean density
  Activity: Melting ice lab & report
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 3.4-3.9
 Optional reading: Webb Ch. 6.1-6.3
o 10/18 Homework/activities and reading quiz due

 Week 7
o 10/19 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Ocean and Climate
 Activity: L&Y 3.10, 3.11
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 3.10-3.15
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 8
o 10/21 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Ocean currents
 Activity: ocean currents
 Readings: L&Y ch. 3.16-3.20
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 9
o 10/25 Homework/activities and reading quiz due

 Week 8
o 10/26 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Ocean currents 2
 Activity: TBA
 Readings: L&Y ch. 3.16-3.2
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 9
o 10/28 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Living in the ocean
 Activity: L&Y
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 4.1-4.3
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 6.5-6.7 and ch. 7
o 11/1 Midterm exam due

 Week 9
o 11/2 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Primary productivity
 Activity L&Y
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 4.4-4.7
 Optional readings: Webb ch. 7
o 11/4 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Coastal ecosystems
 Activity: TBA
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 4.8-4.9
  Optional readings: TBA
o 11/8 Homework/activities, reading quiz and research question due
 Week 10
o 11/9 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Shelf ecosystems
 Activity: TBA
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 4.9-4.11
o 11/11 11:10AM-12:25PM
 No class – Veterans day
o 11/15 Homework/activities, reading quiz and revised research question due

 Week 11
o 11/16 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Open ocean ecosystems & ocean plastic
 Activity: TBA
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 4.12-4.13
o 11/18 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Fishing and Fisheries
 Activity: fisheries management (cont.)
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 4.14-4.15
o 11/22 Homework/activities, reading quiz and 3 annotated references due

 Week 12
o 11/23 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Waves and Tides
 Activity: wave simulation
 Readings due: L&Y ch. 5.1-5.5
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 10, 11
 Due: Activity
o 11/25 11:10AM-12:25PM
 No classes- Happy Thanksgiving
o 11/29 Reading quiz due

 Week 13
o 11/30 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Dynamic Coastline
 Activity: TBA
 Reading due: L&Y 5.6-5.10
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 13
o 12/2 11:10AM-12:25PM
  Coastline 2
 Activity: TBA
 Reading due: L&Y 5.6-5.10
 Optional reading: Webb ch. 13
o 12/6 Homework/activities and reading quiz due – finish paper drafts!

 Week 14
o 12/7 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Storms and coastal hazards
 Activity: peer review prep
 Reading due: L&Y 5.11
 Optional reading: Webb 8.3-8.4
o 12/9 11:10AM-12:25PM
 Peer review of research paper drafts
o 12/13 Response to peer review and reading quiz due

 Week 15
o 12/14 11:10AM-12:25PM
 In the News
 Human alterations
 Activity: TBA
 Reading due: L&Y 5.12-5.15
 Optional reading: Webb 8.5, 13.7, 14.3
o 12/16 Research paper and final annotated references due

Final exam due date set by arrangement with professor