OCNG - Oceanography (OCNG)

OCNG 203 Communicating Oceanography Laboratory

Credit 1. 2 Lab Hours.

Learn and practice basic writing skills for ocean science; basic background on the research being conducted in the Department of Oceanography through seminars given by Oceanography graduate students.
Prerequisites: OCNG 251 or concurrent enrollment.

OCNG 251 Oceanography

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.

(GEOL 1345, GEOL 1445*) Oceanography. Overview of the ocean environment; interrelation of the subdisciplines of ocean sciences; importance of the oceans to human beings; human impact on the oceans; also taught at Galveston campus.

OCNG 252 Oceanography Laboratory

Credit 1. 2 Lab Hours.

(GEOL 1145, GEOL 1445*) Oceanography Laboratory. Hands-on laboratory experiments and exercises demonstrating principles of ocean sciences; emphasis on the unique interdisciplinary nature of the ocean and current ocean issues relevant to today's society. Honors sections and contracts are also available; also taught at Galveston campus.

OCNG 281 Seminar

Credit 1. 1 Other Hour.

Basic background on the research being conducted in the Department of Oceanography through seminars given by Oceanography graduate student; basic writing skills for ocean science through instruction and assignments during the semester.
Prerequisites: OCNG 251; OCNG 252; or approval of instructor.

OCNG 291 Research

Credits 0 to 4. 0 to 4 Other Hours.

Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in oceanography. May be repeated 2 times for credit. Registration in multiple sections of this course is possible within a given semester provided that the per semester credit hour limit is not exceeded.
Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification and approval of instructor.

OCNG 303 Professional Communication in Oceanography

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.

Exploration of the fundamental skills required for effective communication of various forms of writing and for oral presentations of various lengths and purposes; addresses preparation for various ocean science-related careers.
Prerequisite: OCNG 203; COMM 203 or COMM 205, junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

OCNG 350 Marine Pollution

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.

Sources and fates of marine pollutants; types of pollutants including plastics, oil and sound; impact of pollution on society.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

OCNG 404 Ocean Observing Systems

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.

Investigate the rationale behind ocean observing systems; familiarize with the relevant social, scientific design, technology and policy issues associated with observing systems.
Prerequisite: OCNG 251 or approval of instructor.

OCNG 410 Physical Oceanography

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.

Elements of the physics of the sea; descriptive aspects as well as cause and effect relations in respect to currents, thermal structure and waves. Intended for majors in the physical sciences or engineering.
Prerequisites: MATH 152; junior or senior classification.

OCNG 420 Biological Oceanography

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

Biological aspects of the marine environment; marine organisms; productivity of the sea; marine pollution and fouling; use of the sea.
Prerequisites: BIOL 112 or OCNG 251; junior or senior classification; also taught at Galveston campus.

OCNG 425 Microbial Oceanography

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.

Diversity and ecology of microorganisms in the ocean; role in the Earth system both in the contemporary ocean and the geological past.
Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, OCNG 251, or approval of instructor.

OCNG 430 Geological Oceanography

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.

History of Oceanography; physiographic provinces of the oceans, their origins and sediments; geological sampling techniques and geophysical methods; coasts and beaches, paleoceanography; global tectonics.
Prerequisites: OCNG 251 or GEOL 101 or GEOL 104 or GEOG 203; junior or senior classification.

OCNG 440 Chemical Oceanography

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

Chemical aspects of the marine environment; biogeochemical cycles of organic and inorganic constituents; primary productivity, the carbon dioxide system, nutrient cycles, stable and radioactive isotopes in the sea.
Prerequisites: CHEM 102 or CHEM 104; junior or senior classification; sophomore with approval of instructor.

OCNG 443 Oceanographic Field and Laboratory Methods

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

Development of skills needed to collect, prepare and analyze oceanographic samples; perform data analysis, interpretation and reporting for common oceanographic analyses.
Prerequisite: STAT 211, CHEM 120, junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

OCNG 451 Mathematical Modeling of Ocean Climate

Credits 4. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

Problem-based course in theoretical and computer techniques applied to mathematical solutions of ocean climate, including ocean circulation, climate variability, El Niño.
Prerequisite: MATH 308.

OCNG 453 Hydrothermal Vents and Mid-Ocean Ridges

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.

Exploration of the creation of various types of hydrothermal fluids, the associated chemical behavior of vent and plume fluids, and the ecology of hydrothermal vent systems; emphasis on the interdependence of the geological, chemical, and biological aspects of hydrothermal systems.
Prerequisite: OCNG 251; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

OCNG 456 MATLAB Programming for Ocean Sciences

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

Computation techniques for oceanographic data processing using MATLAB; focus on the analysis of oceanographic-related data sets and real-world oceanographic applications; analyze individual data sets.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of the instructor.

OCNG 461 Advanced Oceanographic Data Analysis and Communication

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.

Project design and planning for oceanographers; oceanographic data organization and analysis; synthesis and interpretation of data analysis; technical report writing and presentation.
Prerequisites: OCNG 203, OCNG 410, and GEOS 470, or approval of the instructor.

OCNG 469 Python for Geosciences

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. 1 Lab Hour.

Core language Python programming, scientific programming analysis methods, analysis of large geophysical data sets, plotting geophysical data, interpolation.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.

OCNG 481 Seminar

Credit 1. 1 Lecture Hour.

Analysis, review and critique of current research themes in oceanography based on reading assignments and seminar presentations. May be taken four times for credit.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.

OCNG 485 Directed Studies

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Other Hours.

Special reading assignments, problems and discussion on oceanographic topics of mutual interest to student and instructor.
Prerequisites: OCNG 251 or approval of instructor. An honors section is also available.

OCNG 489 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Lecture Hours. 0 to 4 Lab Hours.

Selected topics in an identified area of oceanography. May be taken two times for credit.
Prerequisite: OCNG 251 or approval of instructor. An honors section is also available.

OCNG 491 Research

Credits 0 to 9. 0 to 9 Other Hours.

Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in oceanography. Registration in multiple sections of this course is possible within a given semester provided that the per semester credit hour limit is not exceeded. Honors section also available.
Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification and approval of instructor.