MARINE SCIENCES (MAS)

MAS 511 Marine Analytical Instrumentation 3 cr
An overview of the major analytical tools available to marine scientists in the lab. Focus on an introduction to the theory behind major classes of instruments, an overview of specific applications and a working knowledge of the instrumentation.

MAS 548 Marine Biogeochemical Cycles 3 cr
Detailed examination of elemental cycles in the marine environment (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, lead, thorium) with focus on the biological and geochemical processes that regulate them.

MAS 573 Oceanology of the Gulf of Mexico 3 cr
A descriptive study of the oceanology of the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent waters including coastal zone, continental shelf, and deep ocean.

MAS 575 Marine Ecology 6 cr
The relationship of marine organisms to their environment.

MAS 576 Marine Benthic Ecology 4 cr
A comprehensive examination of Benthic Faunal populations, with respect to major taxa, community composition, diversity and limiting environmental factors, with emphasis on local habitats.

MAS 578 Marsh Ecology 6 cr
A study of floral and faunal elements of various marine marsh communities. Interaction of physical and biological factors will be emphasized. Course is structured to provide actual field experience in addition to lecture material.

MAS 580 Marine Zoogeography 4 cr
A study of physical, chemical, and biological factors influencing the distribution of marine organisms. Emphasis will be on the Western North Atlantic Ocean.

MAS 583 Field Marine Science I 3 cr
The Field Marine Science course will consist of an 8-12 day field exercise in representative coastal sites. The Field exercise is conducted in the quarter break prior to the quarter of registration for the course. Faculty members with diverse interests will accompany the students, participate in pre-trip discussions and evaluate the product developed by each student. The course is designed to familiarize students with habitats and research conditions different from those they experience on the Northern Gulf Coast. Field trip locations are selected on the basis of faculty and student interest, economics, and availability of logistical support. Students pay their room and board costs for the field exercise. The course is primarily for graduate students, but advanced undergraduates may enroll with consent of instructor.

MAS 587 Seagrass Ecosystems Ecology 3 cr
A survey of current literature topics related to the ecology of seagrass ecosystems. Students will read assigned papers to be analyzed in a faculty-led discussion format.

MAS 588 Field Marine Science II 3 cr
The Field Marine Science course will consist of an 8-12 day field exercise in representative coastal sites. The Field exercise is conducted in the quarter break prior to the quarter of registration for the course. Faculty members with diverse interests will accompany the students, participate in pre-trip discussions and evaluate the product developed by each student. The course is designed to familiarize students with habitats and research conditions different from those they experience on the Northern Gulf Coast. Field trip locations are selected on the basis of faculty and student interest, economics, and availability of logistical support. Students pay their room and board costs for the field exercise. The course is primarily for graduate students, but advanced undergraduates may enroll with consent of instructor.

MAS 589 Phytoplankton Ecology and Physiology 3 cr
Course examines the role of phytoplankton in the marine food web with focus on the interaction between physiological processes and observed ecological processes and distributions. The course consists of lecture and discussion periods led both by the instructor and students. Typically, the first part of each class will be a discussion of specific examples of processes that were presented the previous week. The last hour will focus on new material in preparation for the following week's discussion.

MAS 590 Special Topics 1-6 cr
An in-depth tutorial exposure to specific areas in the marine sciences. Credit and title will be arranged to examine the subject matter in an area of current interest to one or a group of students. Specialized topics not currently listed in catalog course offerings. MAS 590 is available to M.S. students - MAS 690 is available to Ph.D. students. Prerequisite: admission to Graduate School.

MAS 592 Seminar 1 cr
Students and faculty meet weekly in an interactive discussion of current literature in marine sciences. The focus will be on "state-of-the art" theories and methodologies as they occur in the primary marine literature. Student presentation is required to receive credit.

MAS 594 Directed Studies 1 to 6 cr
Independent research, not directly related to the thesis, under direction of a member of the graduate faculty. May be used to learn new techniques or explore research questions of special interest. A maximum of 6 hours may be earned for this course toward the master degree.

MAS 599 Thesis 1 to 12 cr
Independent research by the student under the sponsorship of a member of the department. Progress reports of the work accomplished are required every six months.

MAS 601 Physical Oceanography 6 cr
Physical properties and circulation of the world oceans. Topics to be covered include: basic physical laws; properties of heat, water and salt budgets; waves; tides; large and small scale circulations; sea-level fluctuations; interactions of the sea with the atmosphere and land masses; light and acoustics.

MAS 602 Chemical Oceanography 6 cr
An in-depth examination of the chemistry of sea water and its relationship with biological, geological, and physical processes in the oceans. Coverage of sea water composition, buffering capacity, redox potential, and photochemistry will form the basis for an in-depth analysis of dynamic equilibria of gases, organic materials, nutrients, and trace elements in the sea. Critical evaluation of recent primary literature in chemical oceanography will be used to illustrate state-of-the-art research approaches.

MAS 603 Geological Oceanography 6 cr
The historic and current consequences of both geophysical and classic geological processes. Included topics are tectonic theory and its sedimentary development, sedimentary processes in coastal and oceanic provinces, stratigraphy, structural geology, micropaleontology, sedimentology, diagenesis and the formation of hydrocarbons. Includes a weekly reading assignment and discussion session.

MAS 604 Biological Oceanography 6 cr
A comprehensive survey of marine organisms and their interactions including pelagic and benthic communities of the oceans, coastal waters and estuaries. Primary formation of particulate material, feeding processes, kinetics of food webs, biogenochemical processes, patterns of distribution, ecology of biotic systems, human interactions and current concerns are topics to be covered.

MAS 690 Special Topics 1-4 cr
Specialized topics in marine sciences not listed in the graduate offerings of departments participating in the marine sciences program.

MAS 692 Seminar 1 cr
Recent research in marine sciences in areas of special academic interest to students and faculty.

MAS 694 Directed Research 1-6 cr
Independent research, not related to the dissertation, under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty. May be used to learn new techniques or explore research questions of special interest. A maximum of 6 hours of Directed Research may be earned toward the Ph.D. degree.

MAS 799 Dissertation Research 1-9 cr
Independent research by the student under the sponsorship of a member of the department. Progress reports of the work accomplished are required every six months. Prerequisite: approval of research prospectus.

Courses of Instruction

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