MPC Oceanography

Course Information

This course is really a combination of two courses. They are corequisites and must be taken at the same time.

OCEN 2, the "lecture" course, is completely online and does not have any set meeting times; each week, students work through the assigned module and learn at their own pace. All modules culminate with a quiz, which is (almost) always due on Tuesdays. 

OCEN 2L, the lab course, meets in person, on Wednesdays, in room 106 in the Physical Sciences building. The labs provide a more in-depth experiences of each module's topic through hands-on activities. Most labs are completed in the lab classroom; during some lab periods, we'll take field trips to our local beaches. 

Course Description

This course introduces the geologic and physical processes that have influenced the oceans through time. It emphasizes processes that shape the seafloor and control the currents, tides, waves, and chemistry of the oceans. The course uses the scientific method to investigate ocean processes. 

Course Goals

This transfer class is designed for those seeking to satisfy their general education science requirements, as well as for those embarking on a major in the natural sciences. The course emphasizes the geologic and physical processes that operate in the ocean and begins to explain how they influence marine ecosystems. This is a physical sciences lab course that transfers to universities and satisfies general education physical science requirements.

GE Areas

• MPC Area B

• CSU Area B1 and B3 (Physical Sciences Lab class)

• IGETC Area 5A and 5C (Physical Sciences Lab class)

Course Requirements

• Internet connection capable of supporting participation in the class through Canvas or Zoom (if we have to change the format of the class)

• Access to Lobo Apps and Canvas

• A computer with a screen bigger than a Smartphone or iPad

This is an image-rich course. We will interpret many photographs, satellite images, and diagrams related to the science of Oceanography. Students will need to look at these images on a screen bigger than a Smartphone or iPad. In addition, we will use many data-rich websites that are designed to be used with a laptop or desktop computer. Some of these websites don't function as well with smartphones or iPads.

What to Do Next

• Register for this course through WebReg.

• Navigate to the Canvas page when it becomes available a few days before the start of the semester.

• Follow the directions in the Course Welcome and Information Module.

• Take and submit the quiz by the first Tuesday of the semester. 

• Attend the face-to-face lab class on the first Wednesday of the semester.