BIOL 108 - Introduction to Marine Biology

Number of Credits: 4
Introduction to Marine Biology gives students who are exploring STEM related fields the basic biological principles related to major groups of marine organisms that live in a variety of marine habitats. This course will provide an introduction to characteristics of sea water and the diversity of organisms found in coastal, open, and deep-sea environments. Students practice formulating questions and hypotheses, designing experiments and the collection, reporting, and interpreting of data. Emphasis is placed on discovering the organism’s structural, physiological and behavioral adaptations to various marine habitats through research, experiments and dissections. Marine conservation and human impacts on marine life are also explored. (Fall & Spring Only) Three hours lecture each week. Three hours laboratory each week. Four Credits. Four billable hours.

GENERAL EDUCATION Category: Biological and Physical Sciences

Pre-requisite(s): exemption/completion of MAT 095 with a minimum grade of C or better, plus eligibility for ENGL 101.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Describe the chemical properties and physical characteristics of seawater. (GE1, GE2, GE3, GE6)
Distinguish the structures and functions found in marine organisms between the major marine phyla. (GE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Explain the constraints the aquatic environment imposes on marine organisms. (GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4, GE5, GE6)
Identify adaptations of marine organisms to their environment. (GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4, GE5, GE6)
Describe interactions between organisms in various marine habitats. (GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4, GE5, GE6)
Illustrate themes in community ecology using examples from marine communities (GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4, GE5, GE6)
Describe the importance of the ocean to the evolution of life on our planet. (GE1, GE2, GE3, GE6)
Explain how human activities are impacting marine environments. (GE1, GE2, GE3, GE6)