The Oceans

Stephen Hurst

https://www.geology.illinois.edu/people/shurst/

University of Illinois

Summary

Introductory general science and general education survey course on oceanography. Includes treatment of geologic, chemical, physical and biological oceanography in 3 lectures per week.

Course URL: ijolite.geology.illinois.edu/02SprgClass/geo117/
Course Type: Intro Level Oceanography
Course Size:

greater than 150

Institution Type:

University with graduate programs, including doctoral programs

Course Context:

This is an introductory course with no pre-requisites and does not serve as a pre-requisite for other courses. Generally freshmen and sophomores who are non-science majors but need a science general ed. credit take the course. There are no labs and typically 4 multiple choice exams. Does not normally count towards a geology major.

Course Content:

Survey course of geological, chemical, physical and biological oceanography using an introductory text and 3 lectures/week. Emphasis on intertwining cycles and feedbacks of water with rocks and living things.

Course Goals:

The general goals are as follows:

To understand the relationships between the oceans and the earth's history, climate and life evolution, especially as it applies to students living in Illinois.
To give a sense of the depth of geologic time and the large scale processes that the earth uses to transfer heat, renew the oceans and reprocess pollution.