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  • Home  › 
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Academics | Course Catalog

Click on the links below to view course offerings by department or program:

  • Geological Sciences
  • Marine Biosciences
  • Marine Policy
  • Oceanography
  • Physical Ocean Science & Engineering
  • Special Problems
  • Research/Thesis/Dissertation
  • Professional Teacher Development

Geological Sciences Courses

GEOL 105 Geologic Hazards and Their Human Impact 3
Geologic processes and events that adversely affect humans and civilization. Methods for predicting and dealing with geological hazards. May be taken with a 1 credit lab, GEOL115.

GEOL 107 General Geology 4
Principles of physical and historical geology and their application in interpreting earth processes and the history of the earth. Laboratory covers identification of earth materials including fossils and the interpretation of topographic and geologic maps.

GEOL 108 Volcanoes and Earthquakes   3
Violent geologic activity, as illustrated by volcanoes and earthquakes. The nature, causes and origins of volcanic and earthquake activity, their interactions with humans, and their potential control.

GEOL 109 Planets, Asteroids, and Impacts   3
Composition, structure, surface features, origin, and evolution of the planets, satellites, asteroids, and comets. Also explores the possible connection between meteorite impacts and mass extinctions. Did an asteroid kill off the dinosaurs?

GEOL 110 Earth History - Evolution, Extinction, and the Geologic Record   3
History of the Earth and its biota. Origins, evolution, and mass extinctions of major groups of organisms as demonstrated by the Earth's fossil record. History of the Pleistocene Ice Age and the evolution of humans.

GEOL 111 The Geology of Delaware and Its Neighbors   3
Introduction to the geologic setting of Delaware and neighboring states. Rocks and fossils of the region. Emphasis on formation and evolution of the region through geologic time. Studies Delaware's coastal zone, and the effect of coastal processes on recent geologic history of Delaware.

GEOL 112 Earth Resources and Public Policy   3
Introduction to the geologic occurrence of Earth resources including water, fuels, metals, and industrial minerals. Discussion of the geology, politics, and economics of resource extraction and utilization. Environmental implications of resource use; methods of estimation of resource availability.

GEOL 113 Earth Science 4
Earth materials, structure and the geologic phenomena that produce them. Physical and temporal aspects of earth history. Laboratory examination of rocks, minerals and fossils. Experiments in geological processes and interpretation of geologic maps.

GEOL 115 Geologic Hazards Laboratory 1
Laboratory investigation of environmental processes and their impact on society: earthquakes, volcanoes, coastal hazards, rivers and streams, groundwater. Identification of earth materials and study of earth processes using topographical, geologic and tectonic maps. Corequisite - GEOL 105.

GEOL 166 Special Problem 1-3

GEOL 266 Special Problem 1-3

GEOL 300 Earth's Materials I - Minerals   4
Systematics, identification, properties, and associations of minerals and other raw materials of the earth. Economically significant minerals, and their uses. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113.

GEOL 302 Earth's Materials II - Rocks   4
Identification, description, occurrences, origins, and uses of rocks and ores. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113; GEOL 300.

GEOL 303 Earth's Surface I - Surficial Processes   4
Uplift, weathering, sediment transport, depositional processes and selected depositional environments. Quaternary history and geochronology. Subsurface fluid flow in surficial environments. Environmental and applied aspects of surficial processes. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113.

GEOL 304 Earth's Surface II - Stratigraphy   4
Description and correlation of stratigraphic units; concepts of time and methods of absolute dating; environments of deposition and modern/ancient analogs and facies analysis. Basin analysis. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113; GEOL 303.

GEOL 305 Earth's Lithosphere I - Structural Geology and Plate Tectonics   4
The study of geologic structures, geologic stress and the responses of rocks to stress. Examines plate tectonics and the major structural and tectonic relations generated at plate boundaries. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113.

GEOL 306 Earth's Lithosphere II - Field Geology   4
Training and experience in geologic mapping and field methods. Geologic map construction and interpretation. Course will include rock descriptions, stratigraphic analysis and correlation, and structural methods. Emphasis on regional Piedmont and coastal plain geologic settings. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113; GEOL 305.

GEOL 307 Earth's History I - Paleobiology   4
Recognition, biology, and paleobiology of major groups of invertebrates. Use of the fossil record in solving environmental and paleoenvironmental problems. Principles of stratigraphy and correlation, and origin and development of the geologic time scale. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113.

GEOL 308 Earth's History II - Earth System Science   4
Interaction and evolution of the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Examination of the geologic record as a test for hypotheses about earth system processes including climate change, paleoceanography, and tectonics. Integrative study of the history of the earth and its inhabitants. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113; GEOL 307

GEOL 366 Independent Study 1-3

GEOL 385 Geomorphology   4
Survey of landforms and processes that shape them. Description and classification of landforms, relation to geological and climatic procesess, rates of landform development and change. Laboratory involves map/airphoto interpretation and analysis of digital elevation models. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113, or GEOG 106. May be cross-listed with GEOG 385.

GEOL 405 Introduction to Research 1-3
Undergraduate research carried out under the supervision of the staff. Written report required.
RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated once if project warrants it.

GEOL 407 Petrology   3
Petrography, chemistry, origin and tectonic significance of the major classes of igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks. Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core course sequence (e.g., GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308).

GEOL 411 Fluvial Geomorphology   3
Hydrologic and sediment transport processes in rivers and watersheds. Morphology and evolution of rivers and watersheds. Depositional processes and evolution of floodplains. Structure and interpretation of fluvial deposits in the geologic record. Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core course sequence (e.g., GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308). May be cross-listed with GEOG 411.

GEOL 412 Geological Approaches to Archaeology and History 3
Geological techniques in interpretation of archaeological sites and their surrounding geographic terrain; paleogeographies of archaeological settings; and use of geology for interpretations of history. Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core course sequence (e.g., GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308).

GEOL 414 Quaternary Geology and Geochronology 3
Survey of the stratigraphy and chronology of marine and terrestrial records and theories of climatic change. Studies of the stratigraphy of significant Quaternary successions throughout the world and their correlation and absolute dating.
Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core course sequence (e.g., GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308).

GEOL 416 Paleoecology   3
Paleoenvironmental and stratigraphic interpretation of sediments and fossils. Basic statistics, bioturbation models, well-logging, and sequence stratigraphy. Application to geology problems. Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core course sequence (e.g., GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308).

GEOL 421 Environmental and Applied Geology 3
The application of geologic principle to matters of environmental concern. Discussion, examples, techniques and case histories in water supply, waste disposal, zoning and land use, mining, legislation, regulation and professionalism emphasizing the role of geologist and the educated citizen.
Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core sequence (e.g., GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308).

GEOL 422 OSHA Safety Training   3
OSHA 40-Hour Safety Training Certification Hazardous Waste Operations Health and Safety Training Program. Includes material from environmental regulations, hazard recognition, toxicology, environmental monitoring, personal protective equipment, site characterization and analysis, site zone and control, health and safety plans, decontamination, and spill response recovery. Restrictions: GEOL 422 cannot be applied toward the 9 credits of 400-level Geology electives required of B.S. Geology majors.

GEOL 428 Hydrogeology 3
Principles of groundwater flow and water chemistry in varied geologic media. Evaluation of groundwater resources and assessment of environmental problems associated with groundwater use.
Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core course sequences (GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308).

GEOL 431 Marine Geology 3
Geology of the ocean basins and their continental margins; sedimentation within the marine environment and its uses in interpreting geologic history and paleoecology.
Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core course sequence (e.g., GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308).

GEOL 434 The Geology of Coasts 3
Erosional, depositional and tectonic processes; morphology and classification, and geologic history of the coastal areas of the world.
Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core course sequence (e.g., GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308).

GEOL 446 General Geochemistry 3
Chemical principles applied to geologic processes and environments. Thermochemistry of mineral equilibria; mineral stabilities at high temperature and pressure. Radioisotopes and methods of geochronology. The geochemical history of the earth.
Prerequisite: GEOL 107 and CHEM 103.

GEOL 453 Elementary Geophysics I   3
Fundamental theory of seismology, ray theory, refraction and reflection of seismic waves. Seismic exploration techniques and interpretations. Heat flow measurements and data, and interpretations of the thermal history of the earth.
Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113; MATH242, PHYS 201 and PHYS 202.

GEOL 454 Elementary Geophysics II  3
Gravity and the shape of the earth, and theories of isostasy. Geomagnetism, magnetization of rocks and paleomagnetism. Gravity, magnetic, electrical and electromagnetic methods and interpretations. Prerequisite: GEOL 105 and GEOL 115, or GEOL 107, or GEOL 113; MATH 242, PHYS 201 and PHYS 202.

GEOL 466 Independent Study 1-3

GEOL 482 Physical Geography of Cold Environments
Survey and analysis of land surface processes in polar and mountain environments. Emphasis on the ground thermal regime, permafrost, periglacial (cold climate, nonglacial) landforms, and environmental problems in cold regions. Prerequisite: Completion of any one-year core course sequence (e.g., GEOL 300-302, 303-304, 305-306, 307-308). May be cross-listed with GEOG 482.

GEOL 601 Geosciences at Delaware 1
Overview of the graduate program in geology at the University of Delaware. Research opportunities and current activities. Orientation in department practices and procedures. Guidelines for preparation of research proposals. Professional activities and career options.

GEOL 602 Case Studies of Near Surface Geologic Systems 3
A broad overview of the history and processes of selected near surface geologic systems. Environmental and applied aspects of near surface geologic systems. Restrictions: Graduate students only.

GEOL 603 Numerical Modeling of Near Geologic Systems   3
Computer simulation of selected geologic processes. Numerical solution of partial differential equations with applications in geomorphology, hydrogeology, stratigraphy, and geophysics. Signals and time series. (Prerequisite: Geography 250 or equivalent, or permission of instructor). Restrictions: Graduate students only.

GEOL 604 Field Methods - Near Surface Geologic Systems  
Training and experience in obtaining and interpreting surface and shallow subsurface data. Emphasis on the correlation and interpretation of morphostratigraphic relationships and history. Field methods to be employed include: augering and coring, shallow geophysical methods, and modern surveying techniques. Restrictions: Graduate students only.

GEOL 605 Stratigraphy   3
The principles of stratigraphy and application of stratigraphic methods (e.g., lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, and magnetic stratigraphy) for basin analysis. Interpretation of sedimentary facies. Application of sequence stratigraphy to the Quaternary Period. Restrictions: Graduate students only.

GEOL 607 Petrology   3
Petrography, chemistry, origin and tectonic significance of the major classes of igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks.

GEOL 611 Fluvial Geomorphology   3
Hydrologic and sediment transport processes in rivers and watersheds. Morphology and evolution of rivers and watersheds. Depositional processes and evolution of floodplains. Structure and interpretation of fluvial deposits in the geologic record. May be cross-listed with GEOG 611

GEOL 612 Geological Approaches to Archaeology & History   3
Geological techniques in interpretation of archaeological sites and their surrounding geographic terrain; paleogeographies of archaeological settings; and use of geology for interpretations of history.

GEOL 614 Quaternary Geology and Geochronology   3
Survey of the stratigraphy and chronology of marine and terrestrial records and theories of climatic change. Studies of the stratigraphy of significant Quaternary successions throughout the world and their correlation and absolute dating.

GEOL 616 Paleoecology   3
Paleoenvironmental and stratigraphic interpretation of sediments and fossils. Basic statistics, bioturbation models, well-logging, and sequence stratigraphy. Application to geological problems.

GEOL 621 Environmental and Applied Geology   3
The application of geologic principle to matters of environmental concern. Discussion, examples, techniques and case histories in water supply, waste disposal, zoning and land use, mining legislation, regulation and professionalism emphasizing the role of geologist and the educated citizen.

GEOL 622 OSHA Safety Training   3
OSHA 40-Hour Safety Training Certification hazardous waste Operations Health and Safety Training Program. Includes material from Environmental Regulations, hazard recognition, toxicology, environmental monitoring, personal protective equipment, site characterization and analysis, site zone and control, health and safety plans, decontamination, and spill response recovery

GEOL 628 Hydrogeology   3
Principles of groundwater flow and water chemistry in varied geologic media. Evaluation of groundwater resources and assessment of environmental problems associated with groundwater use.

GEOL 631 Marine Geology   3
The geology of the ocean basins and their continental margins; sedimentation within the marine environment and its uses in interpreting geologic history and paleoecology. May be cross-listed with MAST 631.

GEOL 634 The Geology of Coasts   3
Erosional, depositional and tectonic processes; morphology and classification, and geologic history of the coastal areas of the world.

GEOL 646 General Geochemistry   3
Chemical principles applied to geologic processes and environments. Thermochemistry of mineral equilibria; mineral stabilities at high temperature and pressure. Radioisotopes and methods of geochronology. The geochemical history of the earth.

GEOL 653 Elementary Geophysics I   3
Fundamental theory of seismology, ray theory, refraction and reflection of seismic waves. Seismic exploration techniques and interpretations. Heat flow measurements and data, and interpretations of the thermal history of the earth.

GEOL 654 Elementary Geophysics II   3
Gravity and the shape of the earth, theories of isostasy. Geomagnetism, magnetization of rocks and paleomagnetism. Gravity and magnetic surveys and interpretations. Electrical and radioactive surveying and well logging.

GEOL 666 Special Problem 1-3

GEOL 682 Physical Geography of Cold Environments 3
Survey and analysis of land surface processes in polar and mountain environments. Emphasis on the ground thermal regime, permafrost, periglacial (cold climate, nonglacial) landforms, and environmental problems in cold regions. May be cross-listed with GEOG 682.

GEOL 801 Topics in Planetology   1
Selected topics in Planetology. Topics vary according to instructor preference. May be taken more than once for graduate credit.

GEOL 802 Topics in Geophysics   2
Selected topics in Geophysics. Topics vary according to instructor preference. May be taken more than once for graduate credit.

GEOL 803 Topics in Geomorphology   3
Selected topics in Geomorphology. Topics vary according to instructor preference. May be taken more than once for graduate credit. (May be cross listed with Geography 803)

GEOL 804 Topics in Geochemistry   1-3
Selected topics in Geochemistry. Topics vary according to instructor preference. May be taken more than once for graduate credit.

GEOL 807 Topics in Mineralogy and Petrology   1-3
Selected topics in Mineralogy and Petrology. Topics vary according to instructor preference. May be taken more than once for graduate credit.

GEOL 808 Topics in Structural Geology   1-3
Selected topics in Structural Geology. Topics vary according to instructor preference. May be taken more than once for graduate credit.

GEOL 809 Topics in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy   1-3
Selected topics in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Topics vary according to instructor preference. May be taken more than once for graduate credit.

GEOL 818 Topics in Paleobiology   1-3
Selected topics in Paleobiology. Topics vary according to instructor preference. May be taken more than once for graduate credit.

GEOL 866 Special Problem 1-3

GEOL 868 Research 1-9
Enables students to begin planning work and research before admission to dissertation candidacy and GEOL 969

GEOL 869 Master's Thesis 1-3

GEOL 964 Pre-Candidacy Study 3-12 PF
Research and readings in preparation of dissertation topic and/or qualifying examinations for doctoral students before admission to candidacy but after completion of all required course work.
RESTRICTIONS: Not open to students who have been admitted to candidacy.

GEOL 969 Doctoral Dissertation 1-12 PF

 

Marine Biosciences Courses

MAST314 Comparative Terrestrial and Marine Ecology 3 See ENWC314 for course description.

MAST607 Writing Papers in the Marine Sciences 3 The process and mechanics of publishing scientific papers in marine journals. Covers organizing data in tables and figures; mechanics of drawing up effective figures; marshalling of tables, figures and scientific ideas into a coherent story; and strategies and techniques used in effective writing.

MAST616 Methods in Molecular Biology 3 Conceptual experience in molecular biological techniques with an emphasis on their application to marine related problems. Topics include nucleic acid extractions, cloning, gene amplification and characterization, and expression methodologies. PREREQ: MAST634.

MAST617 Methods in Molecular Biology Lab 3 A laboratory course to provide practical experience in molecular biological techniques with emphasis on applications to marine related problems. COREQ: MAST616.

MAST618 Marine Microbial Ecology 3 Examines role of microbes in the oceans and their impact on oceanographic processes and biogeochemical cycles in marine environments. Emphasis is on bacteria and their interactions with other marine organisms. Introduces use of molecular tools to examine uncultivated microbes.

MAST621 Coastal Field Biology 2 Hands-on study of estuarine and coastal communities with emphasis on patchiness in time and space. Instruction in field techniques as well as analysis and presentation of data. Experience in scientific writing. PREREQ: General Biology, Ecology, Genetics, Physiology.

MAST623 Physiology of Marine Organisms 3 Processes and mechanisms of adaptation of organisms to marine environments. Examines how environmental factors affect physiological processes in marine organisms. Lectures address physiological processes at cellular, whole organism and habitat levels.

MAST625 Microbial Physiology and Diversity 3 Emphasis on diversity of physiological strategies developed by prokaryotic microbes and some simple eukaryotes. Approach is to examine and dissect specific metabolic pathways both in isolation and in how they integrate with central metabolism. PREREQ: BISC 207/208, CHEM 321 or CHEM 331, or permission of instructor. RESTRICTIONS: Juniors, seniors, and graduate students.

MAST626 Topics in Halophyte Biology 1 Analysis of current research in the biology of halophytic plants. Emphasis on student seminars and group discussions of the current literature. RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST627 Marine Biology 3 Ecologically oriented study of elementary oceanography, adaptive physiology, aspects of population and community ecology, reproductive and larval biology and marine production systems. Emphasis on coastal and estuarine habitats including soft- and hard-substrate intertidal regions, subtidal regions and coral reefs. PREREQ: General Biology, Ecology, Genetics, and Physiology. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.

MAST629 Topics in Marine Ecology 1-3 Selected topics in marine ecology and physiology. Topics may vary and will be announced in the registration booklets. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST634 Marine Biochemistry 3 Addresses biochemical processes and enzyme, metabolic and structural adaptations of marine plants and animals. Discussions on topics such as enzyme kinetics, enzyme structure and metabolic pathways to organisms in the marine environment. RESTRICTIONS: Requires sufficient background in chemistry and permission of instructor.

MAST821 Marine Biosciences Seminar 1 With each offering, a different specific topic is addressed, e.g., tropical marine biology, larval dispersal, estuarine productivity, etc. RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST827 Current Topics in Marine Biology 1-4 Subject areas change each term and will be announced in the registration booklet. Topics include aspects of plant biology, fish and invertebrate ecology and other aspects of marine ecology. May include lectures, tutorials and demonstration of techniques. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST828 Current Topics in Marine Biochemistry 1-4 Subject areas change each term and will be announced in the registration booklet. Topics include marine chemical ecology, marine natural products chemistry, marine biochemistry of marine plants and animals. May include lectures, tutorials and demonstration of technique. PREREQ: Graduate course in Biochemistry. RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

Marine Policy Courses

MAST620 Energy Policy and Administration 3 See POSC624 for course description.

MAST622 Conservation, Efficiency and Renewable Energy Policy 3 See URAF626 for course description.

MAST628 Comparative Environmental Politics 3 See URAF627 for course description.

MAST663 Decision Tools for Policy Analysis 3 Develops quantitative decision-making skills for science and technology policy decisions. Covers decision-making under uncertainty, axioms of decision analysis, decision trees, influence diagrams, sensitivity analysis, confidence intervals, value of information, probabilistic risk assessment, and multi-attribute decision theory. May be Cross-listed With: UAPP663, POSC663

MAST664 Marine Transportation Policy 3 Overview of marine transportation policy and analysis under local, national, and international contexts. Topics covered include: maritime transportation technology and fleet development; policy frameworks affecting trade, safety, and environment; quantitative analysis of shipping business economics and logistics under policy constraints.

MAST670 U.S. Ocean and Coastal Policy 3 Provides an overview of conceptual approaches and analytical tools used in the field as well as an overview of major substantive areas of marine policy. Covers (mainly in a U.S. context) fisheries management, marine minerals exploitation, coastal management, marine transportation and naval power.

MAST671 Coastal Processes and Management 3 Introduction to key processes operating in the coastal zone and to management techniques appropriate to these processes and environments. Emphasis on policy, regulatory and intergovernmental complexities that characterize coastal zone management in the United States and in other coastal nations.

MAST672 Applied Policy Analysis 3 Empirical analysis of environmental and natural resource policy issues. Topics include valuation of natural resources, decision making under uncertainty, dynamic control and intertemporal issues in resource use and institutional aspects of policy analysis. May be cross-listed with ECON670. PREREQ: ECON401.

MAST673 International Law 3 Origins, sources and applications of law to international relations including the nature of treaties, the legal powers of states and international organizations, jurisdiction and immunities, and the role of international courts. Special attention given to the law of the sea for navigation, fisheries conservation, mineral exploitation and environmental protection. May be cross-listed with POSC604   LEST673. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.

MAST674 Legal Aspects of the Coastal Zone 3 Examines basic legal doctrines and public policy implications relevant to the development and protection of the coastal zone of the United States. Use, ownership and control of water and land beneath and bordering upon water; relationships between the states and the federal government in areas of marine affairs; environmental protection and legal controls of water pollution. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.

MAST675 Economics of Natural Resources 3 Study of the allocation of natural resources, especially marine and coastal zone resources, in modern economics. Application of economic theory to the problems of misallocations and the means of correction, under both free and planned markets. May be cross-listed with ECON675. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.

MAST676 Environmental Economics 3 Study of the choice of policies to protect the environment, including land, air and water resources. Theory of market failure and externalities, use of economic incentives in policy design, valuation of environmental resources and examination of inefficiencies in existing U.S. environmental policies. May be cross-listed with ECON676. PREREQ: ECON300.

MAST677 International Ocean and Environmental Policy 3 Focuses on understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the legal framework which governs ocean resources and ocean space beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. Evaluates international conventions which pertain to the ocean as to impact and effectiveness.

MAST678 Admiralty and Maritime Law 3 An introduction to admiralty and maritime law, including jurisdiction and decisions on carriage of goods by sea, maritime liens, torts against seamen, collisions, salvage, marine pollution, and marine insurance, with study of public policy issues. May be cross-listed with POSC678 and/or UAPP678.

MAST679 Shipping and Port Management 3 A seminar to study the structure and management of the shipping industry and ports, policies for ocean commerce, international trade, and merchant marine. May be cross-listed with POSC679.

MAST692 Environmental Values, Movements & Policy 3 Examines citizens' beliefs and values, voluntary environmental groups and the ways in which individuals and groups affect environmental policy. Shows how research in areas such as environmental sociology and ecological anthropology can inform policy. Cross listed with UAPP692.

MAST814 Political Economy of the Environment 3 See URAF810 for course description.

MAST817 Research Design and Methods 3 Covers the logic, design and practice of public policy research, and should be helpful for planning thesis or dissertation research, regardless of topic or methods used. Methods covered draw from social and political sciences, and process evaluation of policy.

MAST838 Public Policy Analysis 3 See POSC838 for course description.

MAST843 Global Governance: Theory and Cases 3 See POSC843 for course description.

MAST870 Integrated Coastal Management 3 A continuation of MAST670. Explains conceptual approaches and analytical tools in greater detail and applies them to specific marine policy issues in several nations. Compares and contrasts national ocean policies of a selected number of nations. Students evaluate and/or resolve a marine policy issue of their choice at a local, state, national or international level. PREREQ: MAST 670.

MAST871 Environmental Policy and Administration 3 See POSC818 for course description.

MAST873 Seminar: Marine Policy 1 Current topics in marine policy based on recent journal articles and active research and policy relevant activities of students, faculty and visitors from other universities and government agencies. Emphasis on research design and formats for oral and written presentation of results. RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST875 Advanced Fishery Economics 3 Theoretical and applied study of the optimal utilization and management of commercial and recreational fisheries with emphasis on equity issues and the difficulty of deriving regulations which are biologically effective and which provide incentives for economic efficiency at reasonable costs. May be cross-listed with ECON 875. PREREQ: MAST675 or ECON675.

Oceanography Courses

MAST200 The Oceans 3 Geared to the non-science major. Integrates physical, chemical, geological and biological principles into an overview that addresses why and how the oceans work. Draws heavily on current ocean issues to illustrate processes and problems.

MAST200-070 The Oceans 3 Integrates physical, chemical, geological and biological principles into an overview that addresses why and how the oceans work. Draws heavily on current ocean issues to illustrate processes and problems. Satisfies Arts & Science Group D requirement. Open only to non-science majors with permission from instructor.

MAST 267 Special Problem: Exploring New Zealand's Marine Diversity 3 A field-based course covering New Zealand marine habitats, including estuaries and harbors, high energy beaches, mangrove swamps, sand and mudflats, rocky intertidal shorelines, kelp forests, fjords and underwater canyons. At field sites, emphasis will be placed on the identification of unique plants and animals as a basis for discussion of the human uses of and threats to these marine habitats.

MAST482 Introduction to Ocean Sciences 3 A quantitative introduction to the ocean world including geography, geophysics, chemistry of water and sediments, physics of ocean circulation and waves and tides, description of oceanic and nearshore environments, and biology of the seas. PREREQ:  MATH241 or MATH221 ;  CHEM103 or CHEM111 ; PHYS201 or PHYS207.

MAST 601 Introduction to Oceanography 3 Topics include the geology and history of the ocean floor, oceanic sediments, the physics of the marine environment and the oceanic circulation, chemical processes in the ocean, and biological processes and production in the oceans.

MAST602 Physical Oceanography 3 Geographic and hydrodynamic aspects of oceanography. The geography of ocean basins; physical properties of seawater; radiation; and observed distributions of temperature, salinity, oxygen and currents. Scalar and vector fields; hydrostatics; kinematics, momentum dynamics, vorticity dynamics, viscous flow and eddy flux. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.

MAST604 Environmental Data Management 1 Emphasizes the use of remotely sensed data for research and management of coastal resources. Environmental issues and data requirements are discussed. Case studies illustrate the use of Geographic Information Systems for integrating remotely sensed imagery with ancillary data to address coastal environmental problems.

MAST606 Ocean and Atmosphere Remote Sensing 3 Fundamentals of ocean and atmosphere remote sensing including space platforms, their orbits, instruments, data retrieval and image processing methods. Oceanographic and atmospheric applications of remote sensing and new developments in sensors and data analyses.

MAST637 Geological Oceanography 3 Focuses on processes that create the oceanic and continental margin sedimentary record. Topics include marine particle production and composition, transport, seafloor morphology, stratigraphy and paleoceanography. Students will gain a broad understanding of concepts in geological oceanography and marine geology.

MAST646 Chemical Oceanography 3 Composition of seawater; physiochemical properties of seawater; distributions of gases, nutrients and trace metals; and effect of biological processes on seawater composition. PREREQ: CHEM103 and CHEM104.

MAST647 Physical Chemistry of Seawater 3 Introduction to chemical equilibria in seawater. Topics include electrolyte theory, gas solubility, chemical speciation, acid-base equilibria and the carbon dioxide system. Emphasizes use of computer techniques to study oceanic chemical processes. PREREQ: One year of Chemistry. RESTRICTIONS: Computer experience not required.

MAST681 Remote Sensing of Environment 3 Detection and mapping of land and ocean resources with optical, infrared and microwave sensors. Digital analysis of satellite images using multispectral and spatial analysis techniques and correlation with ground/ship data. Application to oceanography, coastal processes, geology, land use, geography, agriculture, climate and pollution studies. May be cross-listed with ELEG681 and/or GEOG681. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.

MAST686 Remote Sensing Seminar 1 Basic and applied research topics in remote sensing of earth resources, coastal processes, estuarine productivity, ocean dynamics and climatic effects presented by University students, faculty and guest speakers. Stresses advanced data acquisition and spectral and spatial image analysis techniques. RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST809 The Ocean and Climate Variation 3 Study of the ocean-atmosphere system; the fluxes of heat, water and energy in the ocean and interchanges with the atmosphere; budgets and mechanisms of exchange; and interannual and long-term climate variations as related to the ocean. PREREQ: MAST602.

MAST816 Biological Oceanographic Process 1-4 Multidisciplinary approach to the abundance and distribution of organisms in the oceans, the physiological and behavioral responses of organisms to the abiotic and biotic environment and the role of organisms in modifying the environment. Taught as six modules: algae, bacteria, protozoa, zooplankton, benthos, fish and fisheries. PREREQ: General Biology, Ecology, Microbiology, and Invertebrate Biology. RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST820 Experimental Design Seminar 1 Forum for presentation of research plans or results with emphasis on experimental design and data analysis. Ensuing discussion aids preparation of research proposals and sharpens critical assessment of own and colleagues' work.

MAST831 Coastal and Estuarine Geology 3 Sedimentation processes and products in coastal, estuarine, and shelf environments. Topics include sediment production, transport and physical/chemical properties; shoreline and seafloor morphodynamics; strata formation and sea level variability. Emphasis is on the character and distribution of sedimentary deposits in relation to coastal ocean processes. PREREQ: MAST631 and GEOL631 or permission of instructor.

MAST847 Current Topics in Chemical Methods in Oceanography 1-3 Principles, capabilities and limitations of analytical methods to the chemistry of marine waters and sediments. Analytical methods include electrochemical, spectroscopic, chromatographic, electron microscopy and surface techniques. Emphasis on the analysis of trace components (biochemical, inorganic and organic) in the marine environment. Laboratory experiments. Topics vary and will be announced in the registration booklet. PREREQ: MAST646 or Analytical Chemistry. RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST850 Marine Inorganic Chemistry 3 Principles of inorganic chemistry are used to explain and to understand the speciation and reactivity of the elements in the marine environment. Emphasis on the mechanistic aspects of important marine processes including mineral dissolution and formation, electron transfer reactions and the role of metals in biogeochemical reactions. May be cross-listed with CHEM855. PREREQ: MAST646, Aquatic Chemistry or Physical Chemistry.

MAST851 Marine Sedimentary Geochemistry 3 Fluxes of major, minor, trace, and nutrient elements and radionuclides from marine waters to sediments deposits with emphasis on deposition rates, sedimentary reaction and transport regimes, return fluxes to the overlying waters, and models that may be used to quantify these processes.
 PREREQ: MAST646 or CIEG632 or PLSC608 or GEOL646.

MAST 852 Isotope Geochemistry 3 Introduction to the field of isotope geochemistry and the application of isotope systematics to the study of geological, geochemical, hydrological, atmospheric and marine cycles. Light stable isotopes, uranium thorium decay series nuclides, and long-lived heavy isotopes will be considered.
 PREREQ: MAST646

MAST853 Oceanography Seminar 1 A review of current oceanographic literature through student presentations. RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST855 Coastal and Estuarine Chemistry 3 Distributions, behavior, and chemical processes in estuarine and coastal waters are examined in this advanced general chemical oceanography course. Greater heterogeneity of physical controls and anthropogenic influences give a unique nature to this coastal corridor in the global flux from land to sea. PREREQ:  MAST646.

MAST856 Biogeochemical Oceanography 1-4 Modular graduate seminar of individual offerings inspects aspects of marine biogeochemical cycle. Includes such topics as atmospheric and oceanic fluxes, climatic feedback controls involving the ocean, and the role of the marine environment in global change. RESTRICTIONS: May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

MAST857 Paleoceanography 3 Focuses on methods of reconstruction of ocean history and the interpretation of the marine sedimentary record of the past 60 million years. Specific topics include concepts and application of light stable isotope mass spectrometry. May be cross-listed with GEOL857. PREREQ: Algebra, Precalculus, CHEM101 through CHEM112, PHYS201-202,   BISC103, Geological Oceanography (MAST637) and Quaternary Geology and Geochronology. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.

Physical Ocean Science & Engineering Courses

MAST635 Turbulence in the Environment 3 Fundamentals of turbulence including the dynamics of vorticity, the cascade of energy and the theory of Kolmogorov, turbulent diffusion and turbulence in density stratified flows. Applications to many engineering disciplines as well as to meteorology and oceanography.

MAST648 Water Wave Mechanics 4 See CIEG672 for course description. PREREQ: CIEG305

MAST685 Fundamentals of Acoustics 3 Principles of underwater acoustics, including history and basic concepts; the sonar equations; propagation of sound in the sea; reflection and scattering; sonar background noise; detection of signals in noise; sonar systems; system requirements and operations; and signal processing and display.

MAST691 Ocean Fluid Dynamics 4 See CIEG639 for course description. PREREQ: MECH305.

MAST693 Waves in the Marine Environment 3 General principles of wave mechanics, kinematics and dynamics. Applications to surface gravity waves, acoustic waves, electromagnetic waves and large scale geophysical waves. PREREQ: MEEG690.

MAST800 Dynamical Physical Oceanography 3 Topics include basic definitions, conservation of mass, conservation of momentum, conservation of vorticity, horizontal frictionless flow, wind-driven circulation, stability and double diffusion, thermohaline circulation and tides. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.

MAST806 Geophysical Fluid Dynamics I 3 Development of the fundamental fluid dynamics used in analyzing flows in physical oceanography and meteorology. Fundamentals of vorticity dynamics and geostrophy, inviscid theory of Rossby waves, and Ekman boundary layers. PREREQ: MEEG863 and MEEG864.

MAST808 Coastal/Estuarine Physical Dynamics 3 Coastal and estuarine dynamics covering continental shelf wind-forced circulation; continental shelf waves; modes of estuarine circulation; shelf-estuary interaction; shelf break front dynamics; and estuarine and river plume fronts. PREREQ:  MAST602.

MAST811 Oceanographic Time Series Analysis 3 Quantitative techniques for data processing and time series analysis. Topics include basic definitions, linear systems, digital filters, statistical techniques, auto-spectrum estimation, cross-spectrum estimation, Monte Carlo technique, empirical orthogonal function analysis and rotary spectrum estimation. RESTRICTIONS: Requires permission of instructor.

MAST882 Physical Ocean Science & Engineering Seminar

Special Problems

MAST666 Special Problem 1-6

MAST866 Special Problem 1-6

Research/Thesis/Dissertation

MAST868 Research 1-9

MAST869 Master's Thesis 1-6

MAST964 Pre-Candidacy Study 3-12 Research and readings in preparation of dissertation topic and/or qualifying examinations for doctoral students before admission to candidacy but after completion of all required course work. RESTRICTION: Not open to students who have been admitted to candidacy.

MAST969 Doctoral Dissertation (1-12)

Professional Teacher Development

MAST603 Introduction to Marine and Aquatic Education 3 Water environments and associated marine and aquatic curricula are highlighted through inquiry learning, lecture and field trips. Emphasized is the integration of science, math, language arts, history and exploratories in development of thematic curricula. For inservice educators.

MAST605 Marine Science Education 1-4 Stimulates Delaware teachers into incorporating integrated marine sciences into their classroom teaching.

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