OCN 100 Oceanography Lecture

OCN 100L Oceanography Lab

OCN 195 Regional Field Studies in Oceanography

OCN 197 Oceanography Topics

OCN 295 Directed Study in Oceanography

Palomar College Catalog

 OCN 100 Oceanography Lecture (3 units)

3 hours lecture

Transfer acceptability: CSU; UC – OCN 100/100L and 101 combined: maximum credit, 4 units.

An introductory course designed to acquaint the student with general oceanography. Oceanography 100 lecture emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of ocean processes and focuses on global oceanographic phenomena as well as issues that affect our lives as citizens of San Diego County. Topics treated include the history and scope of oceanography, global tectonics, tsunami, ocean-atmosphere dynamics, coastal processes, waves, tides, and marine ecosystems, and the significance of the oceans to man.  Note: Selected sections of Oceanography 100 Lecture are taught in an on-line format.

Some topics include:

·         Plate Tectonics and the Ocean Floor…Will California fall into the ocean?

·         Marine Sediments… Can “mud” tell us about when the dinosaurs died?

·         Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions…  Why do hurricanes strike the east coast, but not San Diego?

·         Ocean Circulation… Why is there a north Pacific garbage patch?

·         Waves and Tides… What is the potential for energy sources from the ocean?

·         Beaches and Shoreline Processes… What happened to all our sand?

·         Marine Life and the Marine Environment… Why does Hawaii have coral reefs and we have kelp forests?

OCN 100L Oceanography Lab (1 unit)

3 hours laboratory

Prerequisite: A minimum grade of ‘C’ in OCN 100, or concurrent enrollment in OCN 100

Transfer acceptability: CSU; UC – OCN 100/100L and 101 combined: maximum credit, 4 units

Laboratory and field investigations of marine environments including geologic, physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the ocean and coastal area. Oceanography 100 Lab complements the lecture course with classroom and field activities designed to review and more fully explore lecture topics. Proximity to the coast allows us to offer numerous field trips to observe ocean processes in action. Labs include field trips to local beaches and lagoons and the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. The laboratory experience also includes an oceanographic cruise and land-based lab at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.

Some laboratory exercises include:

·         Introduction to Marine Charts

·         Properties of Sea Water

·         El Niño-Southern Oscillation

·         Global Winds and Ocean Currents

·         Tides and Tidal Charts

Some field exercises include:

·         Coastal Cliff Erosion, Del Mar and Solana Beach

·         Case Study: Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad

·         Marine Fish Hatchery, Carlsbad

·         Ocean Institute Advanced Living Systems Program (labs and boat trip combo)

·         Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla

OCN 195 Regional Field Studies in Oceanography (1, 2, 3)

2, 4, or 6 hours lecture/laboratory

Note: May be taken 4 times

Transfer acceptability: CSU

Extended field studies that examine the oceanography of selected regions. Emphasis is upon field observation, interpretation, and analysis of varying oceanographic phenomena including coastal processes and landforms, natural resources, marine ecosystems, coastal currents and weather patterns, tectonics and sea level history, and human impacts in the coastal environment. The most recent course was a 4-day exploration the coast from La Jolla to Point Conception north of Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands.  This course is offered as budgets permit.  

http://daphne.palomar.edu/pdeen/SoCalBight/SoCalBight.htm

OCN 197 Oceanography Topics (.5 - 4)

Note: May be taken 4 times

Transfer acceptability: CSU; UC – Credit determined by UC upon review of course syllabus.

A course designed to investigate current topics within oceanography. Units awarded in topics courses are dependent upon the number of hours required of the student. Any combination of lecture, laboratory, or lecture/laboratory may be scheduled by the department.

OCN 295 Directed Study in Oceanography (1, 2, 3)

Arrange 3, 6, or 9 hours laboratory with department chairperson

Prerequisite: A minimum grade of ‘C’ in OCN 100 or 101

Note: May be taken 4 times for a maximum of 6 units

Transfer acceptability: CSU; UC – Credit determined by UC upon review of course syllabus.

Provides individual study in field, library, or laboratory for interested students. Past directed studies have included harbor seals in La Jolla, grunion on Oceanside beaches, technician at the marine fish hatchery in Carlsbad, and an assistantship at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.