MINOR IN OCEANOGRAPHY

Juniors and seniors with declared majors in biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, engineering, mathematics or physics are eligible to enter the Minor in Oceanography Program at Old Dominion University. Students with majors in other disciplines should consult the Oceanography Minor Advisor before applying to the program. While the program can prepare students for graduate studies in oceanography, the Oceanography Minor enhances a student's undergraduate education regardless of his or her long-term educational goals.

Field trips, oceanographic research cruises, seminars and interaction with graduate students and faculty researchers are all available to the student in the Oceanography Minor Program. Students may choose, above and beyond program requirements, the depth of oceanographic activity in which to become involved. An exciting and increasingly important field of study, oceanography is limitless in its exploratory activity and scientific applications. Career opportunities are numerous, and meaningful national/international associations are forged through the study of the oceans.

REQUIREMENTS

Twelve hours of oceanography courses at the junior/senior level are required to complete the minor. All oceanography minor students must have already declared their major and have a minimum GPA of 2.0. Approval by the student's major advisor and oceanography minor advisor is needed prior to starting the minor program.

The minor curriculum consists of OEAS 306 and a choice of three additional courses that can be selected in consultation with, and approval by, the minor advisor. The following are selected courses approved for the minor program (additional courses can be found in the University Catalog).

• 306 Oceanography
  Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: Junior standing and permission of the instructor. General survey of physical, geological, chemical and biological oceanography. The application of skills from mathematics, geology, physics, biology and chemistry for the solution of oceanographic problems. This course serves as a foundation for the other courses in the Oceanography Minor Program and must be the first course taken.
  
• 403 Aquatic Pollution
  Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: At least two semesters of one of the following: BIO 115N-116N,CHEM 115N-116N, GEO 111N-112N or PHYS 111N-112N. This course will present basic ecological principles relevant to water pollution and to toxicology. Topics will cover runoff, eutrophication, sewage treatment, industrial waste, oil pollution, pesticides, metals and plastics in the sea. Case studies provide focal points for consideration of issues in making decisions and setting policy.
  
• 404 Environmental Physiology of Marine Animals
  Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: junior standing; upper level biology courses. Functional morphology and physiological aspects of growth and ecological energetics of marine animals. Basic concepts and habitat comparisons.
  
• 405 Physical Oceanography
  Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: 1 semester of calculus and 2 of either physics or hydraulics. Physics of the ocean: properties of seawater and their distribution; water mass formation; mass and energy flows; waves; tides; models; estuarine and coastal processes. An elective for science and engineering majors.
  
• 412 Global Biogeochemical Cycles
  Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: Junior standing and at least one course in either biology, chemistry, geology or oceanography. An examination of the development of the earth as a habitable planet, from its origin to human impacts on global biogeochemical cycles on land, in the oceans and atmosphere.
  
• 414 Coastal Landscape and Ecology
  Lecture 1 hour; Lab 2 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: OEAS 111-112 and BIO 205 or permission of the instructor. Principles of coastal landscape formation and resultant successions of plant and animal life. Emphasis on gradients in time and space.
  
• 415 Waves and Tides
  Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: MATH 208 and PHYS 111N-112N or 231N-232N or permission of the instructor. Causes, nature, measurement and analysis of water, waves and tides. Computer application to wave and tide problems. Field trip.
  
• 419 Spatial Analysis of Coastal Environments
  Lecture 1.5 hours; laboratory 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: Ocen 414. The course integrates remotely sensed and field techniques for scientific investigation and practical management of coastal environmental systems. Spatial modeling of coastal processess and management tools using Geographic Information System (GIS).
  
• 436 Barrier Islands and Coastal Lagoons
  Lecture 1.5 hours; laboratory 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: OEAS 106N-107N or 126N-127N or 306. Elementary principles of landscape, hydrography and ecology at coastal lagoons and barrier islands. Field trips to wave and tide dominated systems.