Graduate Courses

The faculty has approval to offer the following courses in the academic years 2019–2020 and 2020–2021; however, not all courses are taught each semester or summer session. Students should consult the Course Schedule to determine which courses and topics will be offered during a particular semester or summer session. The Course Schedule may also reflect changes made to the course inventory after the publication of this catalog.

Marine Science: MNS

MNS 180, 380, 680. Research in Marine Science.

Restricted to students in marine science. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one class hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

MNS 481C. Marine Ecosystem Dynamics.

Interactions between organisms and the physical processes that regulate productivity and distribution of marine life in oceanic and coastal ecosystems. Four lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and either consent of instructor or the following: six semester hours of coursework in biological sciences chosen from Biology 311C, 311D, and the equivalent; and Chemistry 301 and 302, or the equivalent.

MNS 382. Principles of Marine Science.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Topic 6: Marine Ichthyology. Systematics of fishes, including major classifications, comparative anatomy, embryology, and general distribution. Additional prerequisite: Comparative vertebrate anatomy or consent of instructor.
Topic 9: Endocrinology. Endocrinology, with special reference to lower vertebrates and the evolution of control systems. Marine Science 352 (Topic 9) and 382 (Topic 9) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Courses in physiology and consent of instructor.
Topic 14: Biology of Seagrasses. Analyses of plant and animal characteristics of seagrass ecosystems, including biomass, reciprocal salinity transplants, productivity.

MNS 482C. Marine Biogeochemistry.

Study of chemical, biological, geological, and physical processes that influence cycling of bioactive elements in marine waters and sediments. Four lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and either consent of instructor or the following: Physical Science 303 and 304, or the equivalent; Chemistry 301, and 302 or the equivalent; and six semester hours of coursework in biological sciences chosen from Biology 311C, 311D, and the equivalent.

MNS 483C. Adaptations to the Marine Environment.

The physiological basis for organismal and population-level responses to marine environments. Four lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and either consent of instructor or the following: six semester hours of coursework in biological sciences chosen from Biology 311C, 311D, and the equivalent; and Chemistry 301 and 302, or the equivalent.

MNS 384C. Benthic Ecology.

Interactions among organisms, sediments, and physical processes of estuarine and oceanic bottoms. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, Marine Sciences 354 or the equivalent, and consent of instructor.

MNS 384E. Marine Microbial Ecology.

Metabolism of photosynthetic and chemosynthetic microorganisms in the sea. Three lecture hours and eight laboratory hours a week for one semester. Marine Sciences 354E and 384E may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; six semester hours of coursework in biological science chosen from Biology 311C, 311D, or the equivalent; Chemistry 301 and 302, or the equivalent; and consent of instructor.

MNS 384F. Marine Geology.

Development of ocean basins; marine and coastal depositional environments, processes, and sedimentary parameters; marine field techniques. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Marine Sciences 354F and 384F may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; six semester hours of coursework in general chemistry or mineralogy; six semester hours of coursework in biology or paleontology; and six semester hours of upper-division coursework in geological sciences or consent of instructor.

MNS 384J. Marine Ecology.

Principles of competition and of predator-prey, herbivore-plant, and reproductive interactions within diverse marine phyla. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, a basic course in biological science, and consent of instructor.

MNS 384K. Ecology of Fishes.

Organismal, population, and community ecology of marine and freshwater fishes. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in marine science or biological sciences; and consent of instructor.

MNS 384L. Marine Chemistry.

Chemical processes in the sea. Three lecture hours and eight laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, general physics, and six semester hours of upper-division coursework in chemistry.

MNS 384T. Biological Oceanographic Processes.

An advanced course in biological processes in oceanic and coastal waters, with emphasis on empirical and theoretical concepts of marine ecosystem dynamics, primary and secondary production, and detrital cycling. Three lecture hours and eight laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and either consent of instructor or the following: six semester hours of coursework in biological sciences chosen from Biology 311C, 311D, and the equivalent; and Chemistry 301 and 302, or the equivalent.

MNS 384U. Reproductive Physiology of Fishes.

Endocrine and environmental control of reproductive cycles in teleost fishes. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, a beginning course in physiology, and consent of instructor.

MNS 385E. Marine Macrophytes.

A lecture, laboratory, and field course that examines the systematics, ecology, and productivity of marine macroalgae and seagrasses, strategies and seasonal patterns of growth, photosynthesis, and carbon metabolism in relation to in situ light environments. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with forty hours of laboratory and fieldwork. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, six semester hours of upper-division coursework in biology, and consent of instructor.

MNS 385F. Environmental Modeling.

Introductory course in modeling, with emphasis on the models used in ecology, oceanography, and earth sciences. Two lecture hours and one and one-half laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in marine science and consent of instructor.

MNS 386. Phytoplankton Ecology.

The interactions of physiology, morphology, and behavior of microalgae with physical, chemical, and biological features of the environment as related to the distribution of marine phytoplankton. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Biology 478L; 448L or 455L; and 456L or 373.

MNS 387. Pelagic Ecosystems.

Advanced study of processes affecting the distribution and abundance of marine planktonic and nektonic organisms, primary and secondary production in marine pelagic environments, and food web interactions in the pelagia. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

MNS 188, 388. Marine Research Training Cruise.

Shipboard training in marine research through participation in research projects and completion of report. One five- to seven-day cruise; additional laboratory work is required for 388. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

MNS 191. Seminar in Marine Science.

Recent advances in the marine sciences, discussed by students, faculty and staff members, and guest lecturers. Topics to be announced. One lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

MNS 193, 293, 393. Topics in Marine Science.

Lecture, laboratory, and fieldwork. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester, with additional hours to be arranged. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Topic 1: Biogeochemistry of Carbon. Production, distribution, composition, and preservation of organic matter in the sea. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 1) and Marine Science 193, 293, 393 (Topic 1) may not both be counted.
Topic 2: Isotope Ecology. Consideration of the stable hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotope ratio variations in ecological settings, including chemical fundamentals; current literature on food-webs and source studies. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 7) and Marine Science 193, 293, 393 (Topic 2) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Graduate standing in one of the natural sciences.
Topic 3: Benthic Plants and Animals. Interactions among organisms, sediments, and physical processes of estuarine systems, including the factors that regulate primary and secondary productivity. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 8) and Marine Science 193, 293, 393 (Topic 3) may not both be counted.
Topic 4: Methods in Marine Science. Introduction through laboratory and field work to the methods of marine science and oceanographic research. Topics include small boat handling and safety; field collection of physical, chemical, and biological data; and laboratory analysis of seawater chemistry and marine organisms. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 10) and Marine Science 193, 293, 393 (Topic 4) may not both be counted.
Topic 5: Global Change. Study of natural and anthropogenically mediated changes in the earth's climate and biogeochemical cycles. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 11) and Marine Science 193, 293, 393 (Topic 5) may not both be counted.
Topic 6: Larval Fish Ecology. The ecology of marine fish larvae in relation to fisheries oceanography and aquaculture. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 12) and 193, 293, 393 (Topic 6) may not both be counted.
Topic 7: Marine Botany. Introduction through lectures and field work to the diversity and importance of marine vegetation of the South Texas coast. Includes the evolution, taxonomy, ecology, physiology, and trophic importance of marine vegetation. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 13) and 193, 293, 393 (Topic 7) may not both be counted.
Topic 8: Marine Isotope Geochemistry. The use of isotopes (stable, radiogenic, uranium series, and anthropogenic) in the study of marine science. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 14) and 193, 293, 393 (Topic 8) may not both be counted.
Topic 9: Molecular Methods in Marine Science. Introduction to the principles and methods of molecular biology and the application of molecular techniques to research in marine science. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 15) and 193, 293, 393 (Topic 9) may not both be counted.
Topic 10: Zooplankton Ecology. Advanced study of the morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations of zooplankton to their environment. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 16) and 193, 293, 393 (Topic 10) may not both be counted.
Topic 11: Coastal Watersheds. Covers water use, land use and land cover change, and climate change as they relate to biological, physical, and geochemical processes in watersheds. Includes the impact of changing watershed export on coastal ocean ecosystems. Emphasizes case studies on different regions of the United States. Marine Science 183, 283, 383 (Topic 17) and 193, 293, 393 (Topic 11) may not both be counted.

MNS 698. Thesis.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for two semesters. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: For 698A, graduate standing in marine science and consent of the graduate adviser; for 698B, Marine Sciences 698A.

MNS 398T. Supervised Teaching in Marine Science.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

MNS 399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation.

May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree.