Marine Science (MSCI)
MSCI 101 - The Ocean Environment (4 Credits)
Origin and evolution of the oceans, plate tectonics, ocean circulation, waves and tides, seawater and sediment composition, and influences on biology. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips required.
Carolina Core: SCI
MSCI 102 - The Living Ocean (4 Credits)
Origin, evolution, and diversity of marine life, biological production, trophic dynamics, nutrient cycles, marine resources, and environmental concerns. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips required.
Carolina Core: SCI
MSCI 210 - Oceans and Society (3 Credits)
A nontechnical introduction to human interactions with the marine environment: marine organisms, marine systems, and the physical and chemical characteristics of oceans and estuaries. Not available for marine science major credit.
Carolina Core: SCI
MSCI 210L - Oceans and Society Laboratory (1 Credit)
Experiments and exercises which illustrate how specific components of marine environments are structured, function, and can be measured. Two laboratory hours per week. Not available for marine science major credit. Attendance on designated field trips may be required.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: MSCI 210.
Carolina Core: SCI
MSCI 215 - Coastal Environments of the Southeastern U.S. (3 Credits)
Coastal zones of South Carolina and neighboring states, including geologic history, geomorphology, stratigraphy, hydrogeology, shoreline processes, environmental issues, and effects of man. Not available for geological science or marine science major credit. Three lecture hours each week plus optional field trips.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 215
Carolina Core: SCI
MSCI 215L - Coastal Environments of the Southeastern U.S. (Laboratory) (1 Credit)
Exercises examining coastal ecology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, shoreline processes, environmental issues, and human impact. Not available for marine science major credit. Two laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips required.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 215L
Carolina Core: SCI
MSCI 305 - Ocean Data Analysis (3 Credits)
MSCI 311 - Biology of Marine Organisms (4 Credits)
MSCI 313 - The Chemistry of the Sea (4 Credits)
Biogeochemical cycling, carbonate chemistry, climate change, hydrothermal vents, stable isotopes, trace metals, radioactive tracers, mass balance, and properties of sea water. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.
MSCI 314 - Physical Oceanography (4 Credits)
MSCI 335 - Processes of Global Environmental Change (4 Credits)
The science of global change, its relation to the hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. Global system science, biogeochemical cycles, paleoclimatology, glaciation, and eustacy.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 335
MSCI 365 - Data Science in Earth, Ocean and Environmental Science (3 Credits)
MSCI 375 - The Deep Sea (3 Credits)
The Deep Sea is an interdisciplinary, scientific survey of the geology, biology, chemistry, and physical setting of the deep-sea (more than 1000 m depth).
MSCI 390 - Policy and Marine Science (3 Credits)
Analysis of past and current issues in global and national marine policy. Relationship between science and policymakers.
MSCI 399 - Independent Study (1-6 Credits)
Contract approved by instructor, advisor, and department chair is required for undergraduate students.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
MSCI 450 - Principles of Biological Oceanography (3 Credits)
MSCI 460 - Field and Laboratory Investigations in Marine Science (1-4 Credits)
Intensive inquiry-based investigations combining oceanographic field sampling with laboratory measurements of collected samples using modern analytical instrumentation, and with analysis and integration of data into a final research report. Most of the course is conducted in residence at a marine field site.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Professional and Civic Engagement Internships, GLD: Research
MSCI 495 - Internship in Marine Science (0-6 Credits)
Internship experience that offers practical field or laboratory experience in oceanography and/or related marine sciences. Course content varies and will be announced by title in schedule of courses. Usually conducted off campus and student must be able to access internship on their own.
MSCI 496 - Undergraduate Research (3 Credits)
Student research on problems of fundamental significance in collaboration with faculty mentors. Emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, proposal development, scientific writing, and professional presentation. Nine hours of laboratory, field, or library work per week.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
MSCI 497 - Undergraduate Research (3 Credits)
Student research on problems of fundamental significance in collaboration with faculty mentors. Emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, proposal development, scientific writing, and professional presentation. Nine hours of laboratory, field, or library work per week.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
MSCI 498 - Undergraduate Research (3 Credits)
Student research on problems of fundamental significance in collaboration with faculty mentors. Emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, proposal development, scientific writing, and professional presentation. Nine hours of laboratory, field, or library work per week.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
MSCI 499 - Undergraduate Research (3 Credits)
Student research on problems of fundamental significance in collaboration with faculty mentors. Emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, proposal development, scientific writing, and professional presentation. Nine hours of laboratory, field, or library work per week.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
MSCI 501 - Principles of Geomorphology (3 Credits)
MSCI 502 - Principles of Coastal Geomorphology (4 Credits)
MSCI 503 - Environmental Microbiology (3 Credits)
An overview of the microbial world including a survey of the distribution, functioning, and diversity of microorganisms in natural systems. Discusses the crucial roles that microorganisms play in ecosystem function, biogeochemical cycles, and environmental quality.
Cross-listed course: BIOL 502
MSCI 504 - Climate Geoengineering (3 Credits)
This course will discuss the urgent need for deploying solar radiation and carbon dioxide removal approaches at scale, including potential benefits and risks of these options. It will also discuss regulatory and governance considerations at both the national and international level and strategizes to incentivize large-scale adoption of these approaches.
MSCI 505 - Senior Seminar (1 Credit)
MSCI 509 - MATLAB-Based Data Analysis in Ocean Sciences (3 Credits)
MATLAB-based course in processing, analysis, and visualization of large oceanographic data sets. Includes scalar and vector time series measured at fixed locations as well as shipboard surveys of oceanographic characteristics varying both in 3-D and in time. Methods and techniques are relevant to other geoscience disciplines.
Prerequisites: MATH 141.
MSCI 510 - Invertebrate Zoology (4 Credits)
Phylogenetic and comparative aspects of anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and embryology of the invertebrates. Three lecture and one three-hour laboratory period per week.
Cross-listed course: BIOL 510
Graduation with Leadership Distinction: GLD: Research
MSCI 511 - Advanced Paleontology (3 Credits)
MSCI 515 - Marine Micropaleontology (4 Credits)
Marine microfossils; distribution, ecology, paleoecology, and biostratigraphy; use of microfossils in marine sediments to study oceanographic history.
Three lectures and two laboratory hours per week.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 515
MSCI 521 - Introduction to Geochemistry (3 Credits)
Investigation of low temperature chemical reactions controlling the geochemistry of the earth’s surface. Emphasis on CO2, carbonates, oxidation-reduction, thermodynamics, isotopes, biogeochemistry.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 521
MSCI 524 - Environmental Radioisotope Geochemistry (3 Credits)
MSCI 525 - Marine Plants (4 Credits)
MSCI 535 - Fishery Management (3 Credits)
Management and conservation of aquatic and marine resources, with emphasis on fisheries. Data procurement and analysis; commercial and recreational fisheries; sociological, political, legal, and environmental factors that affect fishery management; and fish biodiversity.
Prerequisites: BIOL 301.
Cross-listed course: BIOL 535
MSCI 536 - Ichthyology (4 Credits)
MSCI 537 - Aquaculture (3 Credits)
MSCI 538 - Behavior of Marine Organisms (4 Credits)
MSCI 545 - Geological Oceanography (3 Credits)
A comprehensive study of the origin and development of the major structural features of the ocean basins and the continental margins. Discussion of the techniques used in obtaining geologic data and the interpretation of sedimentary processes, vulcanism, and the stratigraphy of the ocean basins.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 545
MSCI 550 - Sedimentary Simulations and Sequence Stratigraphy (4 Credits)
Problems of sequence stratigraphy resolved with graphic computer simulations. Sedimentary fill of basins by carbonates and/or clastics tracked as a function of rate of sediment accumulation, tectonic behavior, and sea level. Includes laboratory.
Prerequisites: C or better in GEOL 325.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 550
MSCI 552 - Population Genetics (3 Credits)
MSCI 553 - Marine Sediments (3 Credits)
MSCI 555 - Conservation and Health in Marine Systems (3 Credits)
Introduces the field of conservation and explores the intersection between conservation and environmental health with a particular focus on coastal and marine case studies.
MSCI 557 - Coastal Processes (3 Credits)
Physical and geological processes controlling the formation and evolution of beach, barrier, and nearshore environments, including discussion of coastal management issues.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 557
MSCI 566 - Ecosystem Analysis (3 Credits)
The formulation and simulation of compartment models of marine and terrestrial ecosystems with complex nutrient cycling, food chains, and energy flow. Analog and digital simulation techniques. Ecosystem stability and sensitivity. Organization, structure, and diversity of an ecosystem.
MSCI 568 - Introduction to Micrometeorology (3 Credits)
Small-scale processes in the atmospheric boundary layers, including energy budget, radiation, soil heat transfer, humidity, viscous flows, turbulence, momentum and heat exchanges, evaporation, and marine atmospheric boundary layer.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 568
MSCI 574 - Marine Conservation Biology (3 Credits)
Exploration of how human activities affect marine natural populations, species, communities and ecosystems, including threats to biodiversity; approaches to marine conservation; and ecological and evolutionary responses to anthropogenic disturbance.
Prerequisites: BIOL 301.
Cross-listed course: BIOL 574
MSCI 575 - Marine Ecology (3 Credits)
MSCI 575L - Marine Ecology Laboratory (1 Credit)
MSCI 576 - Marine Fisheries Ecology (3 Credits)
MSCI 577 - Ecology of Coral Reefs (4 Credits)
MSCI 578 - Physiological and Pollution Ecology of Marine Organisms (3 Credits)
Functional adaptation of marine plants and animals to ecological stresses including pollution. Three lecture hours per week.
Prerequisites: MSCI 311 or equivalent.
MSCI 579 - Air-Sea Interaction (3 Credits)
The physical mechanism responsible for interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere and the influence of air-sea interaction on atmospheric and oceanic dynamics and thermodynamics on a wide variety of spatial/temporal scales.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 579
MSCI 580 - Satellite Oceanography (3 Credits)
This course provides knowledge of various techniques used in satellite remote sensing of the oceans. Key skills will be developed in satellite data processing, image analysis, and hands-on research.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 580
MSCI 581 - Estuarine Oceanography (3 Credits)
MSCI 582 - Marine Hydrodynamics (3 Credits)
Basic principles of fluid statics and dynamics. Conservation of mass, momentum, and energy; viscosity, vorticity, and boundary layers with examples from the marine environment. Applications to and analysis of ocean currents and waves.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 582
MSCI 583 - Geology and Geochemistry of Salt Marshes (3 Credits)
Geological and geochemical processes in salt marshes. Methods of geological research in marshes including instrumental techniques, sampling design, and data analysis. Two lectures per week plus four weekends of project oriented fieldwork and/or equivalent lab work. Scheduled field trips are required.
Cross-listed course: GEOL 583
MSCI 585 - Coastal Tropical Oceanography (4 Credits)
Descriptive oceanography of mangrove and coral reef coasts with emphasis on physical processes. Taught as an extended field experience with daily lectures and guided research activities.
Prerequisites: MSCI 312.
MSCI 590 - Beach-Dune Interactions (3 Credits)
Influence of wind on coastal systems, with emphasis on nearshore currents, sediment transport and bedforms, aeolian transport, and dunes.
Minimum Junior standing required.
Cross-listed course: GEOG 590
MSCI 599 - Topics in Marine Science (1-3 Credits)
Current developments in marine science selected to meet faculty and student interests. Course content varies and will be announced by title in schedule of courses.
MSCI 624 - Aquatic Chemistry (3 Credits)
MSCI 627 - Marine Phytoplankton (3 Credits)
Examines the physiology and ecology of phytoplankton, including environmental controls on community composition, primary productivity, and detection and characterization of water quality (eutrophication) and harmful algal blooms.
Cross-listed course: BIOL 627