2012 Summer Session III - July 2 - July 20 Course Descriptions and Information

Course Title: Coastal Environmental Oceanography

Course Number: GEOS 451: 3 semester hours
 Course Description:
Advanced topics in coastal geomorphology and environmental issues pertinent to coastal settings, including human impacts on coastal landforms, shoreline erosion, wetland loss, sea-level fluctuations, nutrients in estuaries, metals in bays, and climate change. Lecture, field trips, and laboratory exercises are designed to provide students with hands-on experience with field and laboratory equipment used to solve real-world problems in diverse coastal settings.

 More Course Details:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to do the following:
 
1. Comprehend natural and human-induced processes that interact with sediments to create various coastal landforms.
2. Identify sediment types, organisms and fossils, and dimensions of different coastal depositional environments observed in modern coastal settings, as well as in geologic rock records.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of integration of data acquisition, processing, analyzing, and interpreting result of geological, chemical, and biological parameters used to solving real-world problems in coastal settings.
4. Formulate plans for solving environmental problems observed in coastal areas in the context of changing natural and anthropogenic variables.

 Activities, Requirement, and Assessment:
1. Study various natural and human-induced processes that are active in coastal settings as assessed by field and lab assignments.
2. Collect, process, and analyze sediments and organisms collected from various coastal depositional environments as assessed by field and lab assignments, quizzes, and tests.
3. Complete assignments on analyzing soil and water samples to document variations in chemical and biological parameters as assessed by lab reports and examinations.
4. Demonstrate subject mastery by preparation of an individual project that incorporates a plan for solving a real-world problem in coastal settings as assessed by a project paper and presentation of the project.
 
 Prerequisites: One semester of college level Oceanography and completion of 60 credit hours or Junior standing or permission of instructor.
 
Notes: This is open to all majors, and would be especially applicable to Geology, Earth Science, Geography, Ecology and Environmental Biology and Earth-Space Science Education Majors. The course involves several field trips and boat trips in and around Delmarva Peninsula. Students will spend a great deal of time on and in the waters of the coastal zone, so all students need to be able to swim .
 
Instructor: Dr. Md. Khalequzzaman, Lock Haven University

Course Title: Coastal Field Studies for Teachers
Course Number: 60.460/60.560 Credits: 3 semester hours
Course Description:
This is an introductory course in coastal field studies for both elementary and secondary future and practicing teachers offered at the Marine Science Consortium in Wallops Island, Virginia. The purpose of the course is for teachers to investigate how to integrate marine science into the classroom to help students become aware of the environmental issues facing our vanishing wetlands. Teachers will also be introduced to the Marine Science Consortium’s programs for elementary and secondary students.

Prerequisites: Must have 60291: Principles of Teaching, or at least one teaching methodology course, or permission of instructor.

Notes: Field studies will July 9 - 13 at the Marine Science Center, with online instruction the week before and after the field experience. Fees for stay at MSC will apply.

Faculty Contact: Dr. Raymond S. Pastore, Bloomsburg University

Course Title: Wetlands Ecology
Course Number: Geosci 250 Credits: 3 semester hours

Course Description:
Biological, chemical and geological characteristics of coastal wetlands. Considers the structure and function of wetlands, human impacts on wetlands and approaches for wetland management and restoration. Laboratory consists of field exercises in the study of wetlands. Three hours of lecture per week.

Prerequisites: 50.110(Animal Biology), 50.120 (Plant Biology) or permission of instructor

Faculty Contact: Dr. Cindy Venn, Bloomsburg University

Course Title: Introduction to Molecular Biotechnology
Course Number: BIOL 411/516 Credits: 3 semester hours

Course Description:
Molecular techniques are now standard tools for many marine research and wildlife management laboratories and agencies. Therefore, it is imperative that marine science students know these techniques in order to be competitive around the globe. This course will provide marine science students with an overview of the exciting and growing field of Marine Molecular Biotechnology, and some of the major techniques and instrumentation widely used in today’s marine labs. These techniques include gel electrophoresis, PCR and gel blotting. Only a basic knowledge of DNA from introductory biology classes is needed to be successful in this course.

Prerequisites: 2 semesters college biology

Professor: Maria Kitchens-Kintz, East Stroudsburg University

Class Full