TEXTBOOK:  Essentials of Oceanography, (Penn. State Ed. ISBN: 0495266981, or 3rd, 4th or 5th editions are ok too) by Tom Garrison, Thomson   Many figures used in lectures come from this text.  The text supplements and amplifies lecture topics. Following the reading schedule is immensely helpful in the course! LAB MANUAL:  The Sea Around Us Laboratory Manual, (5th Ed.) Rooney, T. O., Marone, C. J., and Arthur, M. A., 2004, Thomson  REQUIRED FOR LABORATORY. Lab is mandatory.

GRADING:  (Click Here For Full Grading Policies and Information)
Attendance at the lecture is, of course, not mandatory, and roll will not be taken (this is not true of laboratories). However, we will do activities in class. You will receive grades on these activities, but they cannot be made up. If you do not attend class regularly you will miss these opportunities and your grade will then reflect your lack of attendance. Thus, we encourage you to attend all lectures. Prior experience shows that the combination of listening, note taking and reading contributes to higher course grades overall. Because of the highly visual course format, "Nittany Notes" and other conveniences will not be of much utility. In addition, by attending lecture you will benefit from "review sheets" (which contain sample questions) that will be displayed during class. Basic outline lecture notes, graphics, and additional information about Oceanography will appear on the Geosc. 40 web pages. Students are encouraged to visit the web site regularly.

Extra Credit:  You can obtain up to five additional percentage points for your final course grade.
(Click here for details on Extra Credit )

  "MAKEUP" POLICY: Quizzes and Examinations can only be made up by prior arrangement and/or  with proof of an excusable absence (e.g., medical, sanctioned University function).  It is our policy to use a  different set of questions for these makeups.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
1) Please observe common courtesy in the classroom or laboratory; talking and other disruptions will disturb those who wish to hear the lectures and take notes on the material
 2) Cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstances.  Cheating is unfair to your classmates and an insult to curiosity and intellectual inquiry.  Anyone caught talking, looking at, or copying their neighbor's assignments or exams will receive an automatic failing grade on that assignment/exam and will be reported to University officials.  General guidelines can be found in University Policies and Rules, p. 41.  This course follows the guidelines set out for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences for offenses and appropriate punishments --please read these at http://www.ems.psu.edu/students/integrity/index.html. 
Plagiarism is inexcusable--this includes cutting and pasting material directly from sources on the web.  All work and wording of assignments should be your own.  Limited quotation of sources is acceptable (set off with quotations and reference to source and page number).

LABORATORY:
Laboratory work is an essential part of this course and is integrated with the lecture. 
Click here for further lab information We have an excellent group of Geosciences Graduate Teaching Assistants, who are knowledgeable, helpful and accessible should you want to review concepts. 

ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND OTHER REFERENCES
This course makes use of the Internet.  You should consult the Geosc. 40 web page to obtain lecture note and outlines before class and for other available information (diagrams used in class, etc.).  You will be referred to these from time to time in lecture.  A wide variety of books dealing with marine topics are available in the Earth and Mineral Sciences Library, 105 Deike Building.  Your text for the course is a standard reference, and you may be held responsible (on examinations) for material in it as assigned in readings for the course.  The web site for the text contains useful background material, sample questions, and practice exams  see:  http://www.garrisonessentials2.com/