Instructor:
Prof. Nancy Marcus, Rm 517 OSB, 644-5498,email: marcus@ocean.fsu.edu
Office Hours: 10:00 - 11:00 am T,Th; or anytime by appointment
Text: Paul Pinet, Invitation to Oceanography. You will need to bring the text to class each day.
Objective: My goal is to introduce you to the ocean, so that you will understand how it works and influences your lives. In addition, I want to provide you with an understanding of the scientific process and the role of technology in supporting scientific study.
Topics to be covered: I will use a matrix approach that will involve the intersection of readings in the text with several broad themes of topical interest. Thus each chapter will be read and discussed in the context of these themes. The approximate schedule for the text readings is shown below. It may be adjusted as the semester progresses. Each step of the way we will ask how the information provided in the text applies to the cross-cutting topical themes.
| Topics | Chapter | Week |
| History | Chapter 1 | 1 |
| Ocean Basins | Chapter 2 | 2,3 |
| Marine Sedimentation | Chapter 3 | 4 |
| Seawater | Chapter 4 | 5,6 |
| Ocean Circulation | Chapter 5 | 7 |
| Waves | Chapter 6 | 8 |
| Tides | Chapter 7 | 9 |
| The Shoreline | Chapter 8 | 10 |
| Marine Ecology | Chapter 9 | 11,12 |
| Productivity | Chapter 10 | 13 |
| Habitats | Chapter 11 | 14 |
| Humans and the Ocean | Chapter 12 | 15 |
Potential Cross-cutting themes:
Global warming, climate change, weather
Coastal development and sea level rise
Biodiversity
Natural disasters
Pollution
Food from the sea
Fisheries
Evaluation: I will use a variety of methods to evaluate your understanding of the material. Quizzes and exams will be a mixture of multiple choice, short answer, and essay style questions.
Quizzes and homework: 35 % of grade
There will be quizzes and homework assignments. The specific dates are not known at this time since it will depend on progress with the lectures and discussions in class. You are expected to stay current with the material being covered in class and in the book. If you miss a class you are expected to find out before the next class if any assignments were given.
Exams: 25% mid-term, 35% cumulative final
Attendance, class preparation and participation: 5% of grade
Attendance is required and you are expected to read the assigned text material prior to class. Attendance, preparation, and participation in class discussion provide an indication to the instructor as to effort and motivation. There will be no "grading curve". In addition, 2 pts will be deducted from your final grade for each class missed for which you have no valid excuse (see below). 5 pts will be deducted for each day that a homework assignment is late.
Grade structure:
A: 90 or better
B: 80 - 89
C: 70 - 79
D: 65 - 69
F: less than 65
Make-up Policy:
Make-ups for quizzes, exams, and the final as well as allowance for missed classes and late homework will only be possible with a reasonable excuse e.g. illness, doctor's note required; death in one's immediate family, an obituary notice is required; other problems that might arise, note from the Dean of Students is required; athletic event or other scheduled field trip, appropriate note from athletic office or faculty member required. Students must notify the instructor in advance regarding any absence for religious reasons.
Academic Honor Code:
The Academic Honor Code will be strictly enforced. "The Academic Honor System of the Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility: 1) to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student’s own work; 2) to refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the University community; and 3) to foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the University community."
Violations of the Academic Honor Code are listed in the FSU General Bulletin and in the FSU Student Handbook. You are responsible for reading this information and for conforming to it. Please ask the instructor to clarify any items that you do not understand.
Problems:
I encourage you to come see me if you do not understand the material or if you are having problems that are affecting your work. DO NOT WAIT until the week of an exam or the final to seek help. It will be too late by then!!!
ADA Compliance:
Students with disabilities needing academic accomodations should: 1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center, and 2) bring a letter to the instructor from the Resource Center indicating you need academic accommodations. This should be done in the first week of class. This and other class materials will be made available in alternative format upon request.
Website and email:
I have asked the Academic Computing Center to set up an email address list for the class. This list will be used to facilitate communication between the students and instructor, and among the students. In addition there is a website (http://ocean.ocean.fsu.edu/oce/nancy/1001/)for the course.