Physical Oceanography Requirements

This option prepares students for graduate study in physical oceanography, meteorology, fluid dynamics, or a related field, as well as immediate employment in environmental agencies or consulting firms and technical positions in marine sciences. Students in SAS may also wish to consider the major in physics with the Ocean Physics option.

Graduation Requirements for the Major

• Students majoring in Marine Science must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0.
• All students in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences must complete the SEBS Core Requirements, plus the additional Major requirements below.
• All students in the School of Arts and Sciences must complete the SAS Core Requirements, plus the additional Major requirements below.
• Professional Ethics: Ethical issues in marine sciences are addressed throughout the program in both introductory and advanced courses, especially within the framework of the experience-based educational requirement.

SEBS UNDERGRADUATE CORE CURRICULUM (39 credits)

Contemporary Challenges (6 credits) Two courses, one in each of the Contemporary Challenges areas: Diversities and Social Inequalities [CC-D] and Our Common Future [CC-O]

Experience-Based Education (3 credits) Students must participate in a certified experience that meets this goal [EBE]

Natural Sciences (6 credits) Students must take two courses, one each in two of the following areas: physical, biological, or environmental sciences [NS]

Historical Analysis (3 credits) Students must take one course [HST]

Social Analysis (6 credits) SEBS students must complete two courses, one in either social/cultural analysis or economic analysis, and one in governmental and regulatory analysis [SCL]

Arts and Humanities (3 credits) Students must complete one course [AH]

Writing and Communication (6 credits) Students must take 01:355:101 or its equivalent [WC] and one course that fulfills the learning goal, communicate effectively in modes appropriate to a discipline or area of inquiry [WCD].

Quantitative and Formal Reasoning (6 credits) Students must take two courses [QQ; QR]

Major Requirements For All Students Regardless of Matriculation Date

REQUIRED COURSES (12)

Professional Ethics

Ethical issues in marine sciences are addressed throughout the program in both introductory and advanced courses, especially within the framework of the experience-based education requirement.

01:960:401  Basic Statistics for Research (3)

11:628:120  Introduction to Oceanography (3)

11:628:320  Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems (3)

11:628:363  Oceanographic Methods and Data Analysis: Biol/Chem (3) OR 11:628:364  Oceanographic Methods and Data Analysis: Biol/Physical (3)

Physical Oceanography (63-64)

Required Courses (51-52)
01:119:103  Principles of Biology (3)

01:160:161-162  General Chemistry I&II (4+4)

01:160:171  Introduction to Experimentation (1)

01:640:151-152  Calculus for Mathematical and Physical Sciences I&II (4+4)

01:640:251  Multivariable Calculus (4)

01:640:252  Differential Equations (3) OR 01:640:244  Differential Equations/Engineers & Physics (4)

14:440:127  Intro Computers/Engineers (3) OR 11:670:212  Computational Methods Meteorology (3)

01:640:373  Numerical Analysis (3) OR 01:198:323  Numerical Analysis & Computing (3)

01:750:203-204  General Physics I&II (3+3)

01:750:205-206  General Physics Laboratory I&II (1+1)

11:628:451  Physical Oceanography (4)

Experience-Based Education (6)

 Four of the following with at least one from Group A and at least one from Group B:

Group A

01:640:250  Introduction Linear Algebra (3)

01:640:421  Advanced Calculus/Engineers (3)

14:650:312  Fluid Mechanics (3)

Group B

11:628:402  The Role of Polar Regions in the Earth System (3)

11:628:410  Biophysical Interactions: from Barnacles to Jellyfish (3)

11:628:461  Biology of Living in the Ocean: Water Column Ecosystems (3)

11:628:462  Biology of Living in the Ocean: Boundary Ecosystems (3)

11:628:472  Chemical Oceanography (3)

11:628:474  Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World (3)

11:670:324  Atmospheric Thermodynamics (3)

11:670:451  Remote Sensing of the Ocean & Atmosphere (3)