COURSE DESCRIPTION:

An advanced undergraduate – graduate level course dealing with the geology of the ocean basins and their margins. It is expected that all students are science majors and/or have a science degree. A prior course in geology is not a prerequisite. The course will have four themes: (1) the structure of the ocean basins, (2) ocean margins, (3) ocean sediments and (4) ocean history. A tentative outline is as follows:

Structure of ocean basins

    Geophysics and ocean morphology

    Marine stratigraphy, correlation and chronology

    Plate tectonics and history of the ocean basins

    The oceanic crust

    Ocean circulation and its effect on sediments

Ocean margins

    Types of continental margins

    Nearshore geological processes and the continental shelf

    Sea level history

Oceanic sediments

    Deep-sea sediments

    Geological effects of bottom currents

Ocean history

    Approaches to paleoceanography and sediment history of the ocean basins

    Evolution of the global ocean and climate change

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION:

Attendance is mandatory for all exams. Except in the case of personal illness or an unanticipated family crisis, both of which must be substantiated, the student must seek prior approval from the instructor for an exam absence. Any unexcused absence will result in a grade of zero being recorded for the missed exam. Ski trips, hunting trips, extended weekends, two exams on the same day, etc. are NOT legitimate excuses. Any special pleadings must be done before the day of the exam, not after.

TEXT:

Kennett (1982) Marine Geology. Prentice-Hall.

GRADING POLICY:

Your grade will be determined as follows:

        1 Mid-term Exam = 40%

      Homework = 10%

        Final Exam = 50%

There is no opportunity to do work for extra credit. Your course grade is solely determined by your performance on the exams and the homework. The mid-term exam will occur roughly at the mid-point of the semester. The exact date will be announced in class one week before the exam.

CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR:

The instructor's Office Hours are M-W-F 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The instructor's office is Room 302b in the Olney building. Additional hours are available by appointment. If you have problems, or want to make an appointment, you can reach me either by telephone, 978-934-3907 (I have voice mail) or better yet by e-mail, Nelson_Eby@uml.edu. I log on to my e-mail account when I come in each day and thus will get your message first thing in the morning.