BIOLOGY 239 - Biology of Marine Invertebrates
(5 credits)
Reinsel, Kathleen and
Welch, Jim
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180
Over 90% of the world’s animals are invertebrates, and virtually all invertebrate groups have marine representatives. This course will focus on the major invertebrate taxa, examining their distinguishing characteristics in addition to their physiology, ecology, and natural history. In lab, we will observe living specimens of many invertebrates, examine and describe the internal and external anatomy of some of them, and experiment with a few. Live specimens will be used whenever possible--we will collect many of these during an optional field trip associated with this course (Biology 258: Extended Field Studies - Marine Invertebrates).
BIOLOGY 258 - Extended Field Studies - Marine Invertebrates
( 1 credit)
Reinsel, Kathleen and
Welch, Jim
Prerequisite: Must take concurrently with Biology 239
A 5-day field trip (Friday, April 13th – Wednesday, April 18th) to the Duke Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, N.C. Students will participate in field trips to marine habitats to observe and collect invertebrates for study and experimentation at Wittenberg.
Geology 160B – Environmental Geology
(5 credits)
Ritter, John
Open to all students, except those who have previously taken Geology 110B-115B, or 150B.
A Math placement score of 22 or above is recommended.
Environmental Geology is intended as an introduction to applied geology for both science and non-science students. The primary objective of the course is to understand human interaction with the physical environment. We will study natural hazards, such as flooding, mass wasting, and coastal erosion, and natural resources, such as groundwater and wetlands. Labs will focus on techniques used by geologists to study natural hazards and problems associated with natural resources and to develop mitigation strategies. Geology 160 counts as an introductory course for the geology major and minor, the environmental studies minor, and the marine science minor.
Geology 260 - Sedimentology
(5 credits)
Zaleha, Michael
Prerequisite: Geology 150B
This course is a process-based approach to the study of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The first part of the course will investigate the physical processes of sediment erosion, transport, and deposition. These principles will then be applied to the study of modern depositional environments and processes as they relate to the interpretation of ancient deposits. Emphasis will be on siliciclastic and carbonate depositional environments and rocks. The course will conclude with brief treatments of stratigraphy, basin analysis, and sedimentological/tectonic/eustatic/ climatic interactions. Labs include flume work, identification of important sedimentary structures, lab and field methods, and field trips.
Marine Science 200 – Oceanography
(4 credits)
Welch, Jim
Oceanography is one of the most integrative of all the sciences, and this fact will be reflected in this course. The course is an introduction to the major systems of the marine environment; physical, chemical, biological, and geological, with an emphasis on the interactions and interconnections of these four traditional disciplines of oceanography. Topics include origin of the oceans, plate tectonics, major ocean currents, the role of the ocean in atmospheric dynamics, life in the oceans, and cycling of energy, heat, and inorganic nutrients. We will also focus on human impacts on ocean systems and the impacts that the oceans do now and can in the future have on human societies.
