This lecture/activity course meets Scientific Boating Safety Association (SBSA) and Motorboat Operator Training Course (MOTC) guidelines. Students are trained in the safe use of CSUMB's small, trailerable research vessels. Lessons include trailering, launching, outboard motor operation, basic navigation, Coast Guard regulations, and emergency procedures. This course is required as part of the certification for boat use by CSUMB students. A course fee may be required. Credit/ No Credit Available. (Prereq or Coreq: MSCI 270)
Units: 1 to 4
Introduction to the major physical, chemical, biological, and geological features and processes of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere. Special emphasis is placed on developing an integrated understanding of physical and biological processes and the interactions of people with the marine environment. (Offered fall and spring semesters.) (Prereq: MATH 99 or ELMT Score of 50 or Higher)
Units: 3
Studies a particular topic in Marine Science. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/No Credit Available)
Units: 1 to 6
Culminates in a summatively-assessed research poster presentation session. Advances college-level reading, writing, speaking, listening, evaluating, and decision-making skills while refining writing and speaking skills with a focus on purpose and clarity to meet the needs of diverse audiences. Emphasizes the writing process to develop clear and appropriate texts, visuals, presentations, and a research paper for a poster session. Advances critical listening skills. [Prereq: (Junior or Senior Standing) and GE Area A3 and (BIO 211 or BIO 240) and GE Area D2]
Units: 4
Students use CSUMB's small trailerable research vessels as platforms for off-shore environmental sampling, ROV operations, scuba diving, and other boat-based marine and fresh water research techniques. Prior small boat certification required. A course fee may be required. Credit/ No Credit Available. [Prereq: (MSCI 270 or MSCI 271) and (PHYS 150 or PHYS 220)]
Units: 4
An in-depth examination of the major physiological adaptations of marine organisms, including thermoregulation, respiration, circulation, water balance, acid-base balance, metabolism and energetics. Emphasis will be placed on how organisms are adapted to optimize physiological function under a variety of environmental conditions. We will also focus on the effects of environmental change on marine organismal physiology in the context of climate change (global warming, acidification, hypoxia). [Prereq: (BIO 210 and BIO 211) and (PHYS 150 or PHYS 220 or PHYS 221) and MSCI 270]
Units: 4
This course will provide an overview of key concepts in marine ecology and familiarize students with local marine ecosystems (rocky shores, kelp beds, estuarine wetlands, and mud flats). (Prereq: BIO 210 and BIO 211)
Units: 4
This course will examine mechanisms and models of population genetics and evolutionary biology. Specific attention will be paid to how these fields can inform and expand our understanding of marine ecosystems. (Prereq: BIO 211 and MATH 150)
Units: 3
The course provides an introduction to the design and analysis of studies conducted in marine systems. Students will acquire training in the use of multiple statistical techniques and appropriate statistical packages that can be used to analyze data from the marine environment. (Prereq: STAT 250 and BIO 340)
Units: 4
Marine Science in the Community, a service learning course, introduces students to human and community social justice (and injustice) issues related to local and global ocean interfaces. Thirty hours of direct service with organizations involved in protecting marine environments will be the basis for class discussions on how class, ethnicity, language, economic and educational status relate to ocean health. Besides service, this class will require journaling, readings, and panel discussion. [Prereq: (Junior or Senior Standing) and GE Area D3 and (BIO 210 or BIO 211 or BIO 230)]
Units: 5
Advanced biological and physical oceanographic topics from phytoplankton to fisheries across estuaries and the open ocean. Students will learn principles of biological and physical oceanography, with an emphasis on physical processes and their ecological implications. [Prereq: BIO 211 and MSCI 270 and (BIO 345 or Coreq: BIO 345)]
Units: 3
This course will provide an introduction to the techniques for conducting scientific research underwater using SCUBA, including transects, quadrats, behavioral observations, videography and photography, and many others. In addition to lectures and pool training sessions, there will be a significant number of open water dives. The course will provide the 100 hours of required training for scientific divers as prescribed by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). (Prereq: KIN 280 and KIN 280L and KIN 282 and KIN 282L)
Units: 4
Studies a particular topic in Marine Science. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/No Credit Available)
Units: 1 to 4
Assists students enrolled in a capstone project course in preparing their final written report, poster, and/or oral presentation for their Senior Capstone Project. Students must enroll concurrently in an approved Capstone Project Course. [Prereq: (MSCI 300 or ENVS 300 or ENSTU 300 or BIO 300) and (Coreq: MSCI 430 or MSCI 433 or MSCI 437 or MSCI 445 or MSCI 455 or MSCI 470)]
Units: 1
This course uses a group project approach to address a real-world marine environmental physiology problem. This course will increase knowledge retention and integration of concepts in marine science, physiology and biology, and teach students what it is like to work in a research laboratory setting. Includes group capstone project option. [Prereq: STAT 250 and (MSCI 331 or BIO 330) and (BIO 300 or MSCI 300 or ENVS 300)]
Units: 4
Project-based course applies advanced technologies for data acquisition, analysis, and display to current marine research initiatives and environmental issues. Hands-on application of sidescan and multibeam sonar, geographic information systems (GIS), quantitative video habitat mapping, computer modeling, remote sensing, image processing, hydrographic mapping, and Global Positioning System (GPS). (There may be a course fee associated with this course) [Prereq: ENVS 332 and (PHYS 121 or PHYS 150 or PHYS 220)]
Units: 4
This is a project-based course requiring previous experience with electronics and microcontroller programming. Students work in groups to evaluate and improve the performance of subsea sensors, ROVs, or other instrumentation used to collect data for applied marine science research. Grading is based primarily on written reports. Course project may be used as a course-based capstone project. (Prereq: PHYS 330 or Instructor Consent)
Units: 4
Marine Ecology 445 is a lecture and field-based exploration of marine ecological concepts and theory using the diverse ecosystems of Monterey Bay as a living laboratory. Students witness and learn how organisms interact with one another and their environments, and see how these factors govern the distribution and abundance of species within marine systems. This group project-based course can fulfill the Marine Science major capstone requirement with co-enrollment in MSCI 410. (Prereq: BIO 340 and STAT 250)
Units: 4
Course explores the ecology of marine fishes and associated conservation and management efforts. Focuses upon fish distribution and the environmental drivers underlying that distribution in California and other locales. Students complete a semester-long project involving field sampling along the central coast using a suite of tools, including remotely operated vehicles, towed camera sleds, and SCUBA. Course project may be used as a course-based capstone project. (Cross listed with MSCI 555) [Prereq: BIO 345 or [BIO 340 and (BIO 211 or BIO 242)]
Units: 4
This course draws from multiple disciplines to address first hand issues of science and science policy management integration in the marine environment. (Prereq: BIO 340 and BIO 345 and MSCI 300)
Units: 4
This course covers the science and issues surrounding the loss of marine species and habitats resulting from overexploitation, habitat loss, species introductions, climate change, and other threats. Students will examine the science behind management decisions, especially place-based management, and will develop a group capstone project addressing marine conservation within the Monterey Bay area. [Prereq: MSCI 300 and (BIO 340 or BIO 345) and MSCI 341]
Units: 4
This course examines how the biosphere (plants, animals and ecosystems) is responding to unprecedented rates of anthropogenic climate change. Lectures cover physical drivers and biological consequences of climate change in Earths' biomes from pole to pole, marine, aquatic and terrestrial. Emphasis is placed on reading and synthesizing scientific journal articles and interpretation of climate change data. [Prereq: (BIO 345 or MSCI 331) and MSCI 370]
Units: 3
Focuses on local kelp forest ecosystems of Monterey Bay through lectures that are supplemented with SCUBA dives at local dive sites. Fieldwork will allow the class to qualitatively and quantitatively examine local kelp forest ecology through a group capstone project or individually directed research projects. [Prereq: (MSCI 300 and MSCI 380) and (BIO 345 or BIO 340)]
Units: 4
SCUBA-based group capstone course involves the collection and analysis of data on fishes and invertebrates from across CA. Focuses on biogeographical patterns of the subtidal zone. This course requires field trips on weekends and dates when classes are not normally in session. Dive sites may be located inside many of CA's marine protected areas. A final project combines data collected by each student into a single, comprehensive analysis. Course fee may be required. [Prereq: (MSCI 300 or BIO 300 or ENVS 300) and MSCI 380 and (BIO 345 or BIO 340)]
Units: 5
Student works with advisor(s) to complete a Marine Science Honors Capstone project, including a written product and some form of presentation (including an oral presentation and/or a poster presentation). The precise structure of the course will vary among advisors. Students must have an approved research project prior to enrolling in this course. (Credit/ No Credit Available.)
Units: 2 to 4
Studies a particular topic in Marine Science. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. (Offered only as interest warrants.) (Credit/No Credit Available)
Units: 1 to 6
Students read and dissect contemporary papers from the primary marine science literature.
Units: 1 to 4
(Formerly titled Applied Remote Sensing for Coastal & Marine Systems) Seafloor Mapping: Applies current hydrographic survey techniques to marine habitat mapping. Utilizes the CSUMB Seafloor Mapping Lab seafloor mapping system and vessel for survey design, data acquisition, analysis, and display. Technologies include sidescan sonar, multibeam bathymetry, hydrographic survey design, ROV, acoustic tracking, motion correction, GIS, GPS and vessel navigation.
Units: 4
Examines the fundamentals of marine ecology, emphasizing experimental design and use of technologies that are appropriately scaled to answer management questions. Lectures emphasize the processes contributing to the structure and organization of marine communities, the role of humans as a major source of disturbance, and the efficacy of current management paradigms. Laboratories emphasize current technologies and analytical approaches used in the study of sub-tidal marine communities. (Credit/No Credit Available)
Units: 4
Explores the ecology of marine fishes and associated conservation and management. Focuses upon fish distribution and the environmental drivers underlying that distribution in California and other locales. Students will complete a semester-long project involving field sampling along the central coast using a suite of tools, including remotely operated vehicles, towed camera sleds, and SCUBA. Students must have completed coursework in marine biology and ecology. (Cross-listed with MSCI 455).
Units: 4
Course covers the theory and application of landscape ecology to studies of the marine environment. Students will be introduced to the use of mapping and statistical tools that can be used in studies focused on understanding how marine landscapes drive patterns of species distribution and abundance.
Units: 4
This course covers the science and issues surrounding the loss of marine species and habitats resulting from overexploitation, habitat loss, species introductions, climate change, and other threats. Students will examine the science behind management decisions, especially place-based management, and will develop a group capstone project addressing marine conservation within the Monterey Bay area.
Units: 4
Collection and analysis of data on fishes and invertebrates from across CA. Focuses on biogeographical patterns of the subtidal zone. This course requires field trips on weekends and dates when classes are not normally in session. Dive sites may be located inside many of CA's marine protected areas. A final project combines data collected by each student into a single, comprehensive analysis. Course fee may be required.
Units: 5
Student and faculty member select topic of study and number of credits. (Offered only as interest warrants.)
Units: 1 to 6
Draws on the tenets of marine conservation biology, and related disciplines, to prepare scientists for engagement in policy formulation and management at a variety of levels. Provides a detailed assessment of the field of marine conservation biology, link ecological processes to threats and solutions, and define the human and legal dimensions of marine conservation. Explores specific conservation scenarios with case studies from the Monterey Bay region and beyond.
Units: 4