Overview of the depth and breadth of marine and freshwater science. Introduction to research opportunities at the university.

Introduction to the sciences of oceanography: geological, physical, and biological.

The consequences of human-induced alteration of the marine environment including the impact on fisheries, marine mammals, food-web changes, and changes in species composition and ecological function will be explored. Designed for non-science majors.

Selected topics in marine science, including marine biology, marine chemistry, and physical oceanography.

Designed for students pursuing a degree option in Marine and Freshwater Science. In-depth introduction to physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes in marine systems.

This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Department of Marine Science. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program.

Study of ecological processes at different levels of integration in marine ecosystems.

A laboratory course with two weekend field trips to the Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas to perform ecological studies in the Texas coastal zone.

This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Department of Marine Science. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program.

An introduction to the study of the interactions between aquatic organisms and their environments.

Overview of seafloor mineral deposits, their exploration, and mining.

One or more cruises of one to several days each to collect physical, chemical, oceanographic, and biological data relevant to biological processes in the sea. Preparatory instruction and post-cruise sample processing and analysis.

Hands-on, team-based instruction in the collection and processing of marine geological and geophysical data along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

Lectures, laboratory, and fieldwork.

Selected topics in the comparative physiology of marine organisms and their environmental adaptations.

Physical and thermal characteristics of the atmospheric surface layer, with particular reference to coastal environments.

Description of ocean waves and tides, methods of wave forecasting, classroom and field exercises.

Atmospheric particle chemistry; sea-surface films, atmospheric organic matter; air-sea chemical fractionation; carbon, nitrogen, sulfur cycles.

Survey of benthic algae and phytoplankton of the Texas coast; systematics, morphology, life history and culturing techniques.

Biology of the fungi with emphasis on ecological, morphological, and developmental aspects and culturing techniques.

Consideration of current understanding of the chemistry and biology of the oceans.

Endocrinology, with special reference to lower vertebrates and evolution of control systems.

Explores general ecological principles of estuarine environments in Texas including physiography, hydrography, and plant and animal community structure and productivity.

Exploration of the marine algae and seagrasses of the south Texas coast, with emphasis on their taxonomy, physiology, and ecology; may include field trips to representative coastal habitats.

Explores how human activities influence the natural functioning and diversity of marine ecosystems and examines conservation efforts aimed to promote the sustainability of coastal habitats; may include several field excursions to local/regional marine ecosystems including sensitive coastal marshes and seagrass communities. Encourages the development of creative and critical thinking skills through numerous classroom activities focused on developing holistic understandings of marine ecosystems and the complexities of conservation science.

A laboratory course with one-day field trips (which may include weekends) to local estuarine and coastal habitats. Includes pre- and post-field trip laboratory hours.

Explore the assembly and functioning of marine communities. Examine both traditional and newly-emerging techniques to study marine communities, from visual censuses to molecular approaches.

Reviews the planning, conduct, and communication of marine science research, including hypothesis generation, experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing and presentation.

Guest lectures by local and visiting research scientists on a variety of topics in marine and environmental science. Each seminar is followed by a separate one-hour discussion to give students an opportunity to meet directly with the scientist.

Advanced research topics in marine science relevant to critical habitats, organisms, or processes.

The use of isotopes (stable, radiogenic, uranium series, and anthropogenic) in the study of marine science.

Uses the interdisciplinary nature of marine science to focus on inquiry-based instruction, constructivist-oriented teaching strategies, and field explorations.

Physiology of major organ systems of marine fishes, with emphasis on adaptations to marine environments. Includes osmoregulation, nutrition, circulation, excretion, reproduction, sensory physiology, and endocrine control.

Quantitative ecological comparisons of zoogeographical abundance and distribution with population, metabolic, and growth parameters.

Research instruction/participation in marine science. Laboratory and field activity with emphasis on faculty contact.

Study of seafloor mineral resources, including problems and policies related to exploration, mining, environmental concerns, assessment, and industrial development.

Independent study in marine ecology, literature research, and comprehensive writing. Report required.

Selected topics and problems concerning the depositional processes, controls, and distribution of marine sediments.

Study of the processes controlling the chemistry of natural waters, the oceans as a chemical system, and the impact of human activities on these systems.

Study of invertebrate taxonomy, structure, behavior, and ecology; may include field sampling and laboratory studies of invertebrate habitats of the Texas coast.

Anatomy, physiology, behavior, life history, taxonomy, and distribution of fishes; may include field sampling and laboratory studies of the coastal biota.

Ecology, physiology, distribution, and growth of heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria and fungi in waters and sediments.

Survey of the origin, structure, stratigraphy, and sedimentology of marine basins and continental margins.

Introduction to marine and environmental chemistry, including the distribution of elements in seawater, the geochemical and oceanographic processes controlling and affected by these distributions, and the effects of human activities on marine chemical processes.

Application of the principles of marine science to the study of environmental issues: toxicology, biogeochemical cycles, and the biological and ecological impacts of zenobiotic materials in the coastal zone.

Introduction to the organisms in the sea, their adaptations to the environment, and the factors that control their distribution and abundance; may include laboratory and field work with organisms found in the coastal waters of Texas.

Ecology, anatomy, and physiology of elasmobranch fishes.

Examine microplastics in coastal environments. Discuss plastics, including composition and production of plastic polymers and additives, as well as environmental processes that affect the fate of plastics in waters, such as biodegradation and photooxidation.

Physiology of major organ systems of both marine and freshwater fishes.

Explore a broad understanding of fish and fisheries science. Examine fundamental information on fish biology and ecology pertaining to diet, growth, and reproduction with fisheries' specific information that includes historical perspectives, methodology, and overall management strategies.

An exploration of interconnections within and among marine ecosystems, as well as their linkages to climate, human activity, and adjacent freshwater and terrestrial environments. Emphasis will be placed on Gulf of Mexico ecosystems; may include hands-on field and laboratory activities.

The taxonomy of the major phytoplankton groups, their physiology, and their role in marine ecosystem; may include field and/or laboratory hours.

Discuss how life has become a primary driver of conditions in the Earth's geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere, and explore the biological inventions with the most revolutionary impact on the planet as we know it today. Examine concepts from the fields of geology, chemistry, microbiology, and macroecology.

Review of the history of ocean exploration including major oceanographic expeditions. Discussion of current topics in ocean exploration and exploitation of marine resources, the impact of resource exploitation on biological systems, and the development of marine policy. An oral presentation is required.

Supervised individual instruction and research in marine science field and laboratory techniques.

Interactions between organisms and the physical processes that regulate productivity and distribution of marine life in oceanic and coastal ecosystems.

Analyses of plant and animal characteristics of seagrass ecosystems, including biomass, reciprocal salinity transplants, productivity.

Systematics of fishes, including major classifications, comparative anatomy, embryology, and general distribution.

Endocrinology, with special reference to lower vertebrates and the evolution of control systems.

Study of chemical, biological, geological, and physical processes that influence cycling of bioactive elements in marine waters and sediments.

The physiological basis for organismal and population-level responses to marine environments.

Interactions among organisms, sediments, and physical processes of estuarine and oceanic bottoms.

Metabolism of photosynthetic and chemosynthetic microorganisms in the sea.

Development of ocean basins; marine and coastal depositional environments, processes, and sedimentary parameters; marine field techniques.

Organismal, population, and community ecology of marine and freshwater fishes.

Chemical processes in the sea.

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.

Endocrine and environmental control of reproductive cycles in teleost fishes.

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.

Introductory course in modeling, with emphasis on the models used in ecology, oceanography, and earth sciences.

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.

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.

Shipboard training in marine research through participation in research projects and completion of report.

Recent advances in the marine sciences, discussed by students, faculty and staff members, and guest lecturers. Topics to be announced.

Lecture, laboratory, and fieldwork.

Production, distribution, composition, and preservation of organic matter in the sea.

Advanced study of the morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations of zooplankton to their environment.

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.

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.

Interactions among organisms, sediments, and physical processes of estuarine systems, including the factors that regulate primary and secondary productivity.

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.

Study of natural and anthropogenically mediated changes in the earth's climate and biogeochemical cycles.

The ecology of marine fish larvae in relation to fisheries oceanography and aquaculture.

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.

The use of isotopes (stable, radiogenic, uranium series, and anthropogenic) in the study of marine science.

Introduction to the principles and methods of molecular biology and the application of molecular techniques to research in marine science.