
Coastal & Marine Sciences
Offering an interdisciplinary marine-related curriculum to undergraduate students enrolled in the five campuses.
The Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Program offers an interdisciplinary marine-related curriculum to undergraduate students enrolled in a Five College campus. The Coastal and Marine Sciences Certificate is available to students at all five campuses. Through active affiliations with some of the nation's premier centers for marine study (field trips, internships, and study-away programs), students engage in hands-on research to complement course work. Many students who participate in the program go on to advanced study or professional work in various areas of marine science. Five College faculty from both natural and social sciences teach courses in the program. The disciplines represented include animal behavior, biology, botany, chemistry, ecology, engineering, geology, natural resource management, and zoology in the natural sciences, and government, public policy and economics in the social sciences.
On This Page
The Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Certificate enables students from the five campuses to select from a wide variety of marine-science-related courses, including coastal and marine ecology/geology, resource management and public policy, oceanography and coastal engineering to create a cohesive concentration. The Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Certificate is now available to students on all five campuses.
The FCCMS certificate work includes three components:
1) Course work (6 courses)
2) Field and lab work (80 hour minimum)
3) Independent research project/poster
Under the guidance of faculty advisors on each campus, students choose a progressive series of courses available within the five campuses and in approved academic off-campus programs (Sea Education Association, School for Field Studies, Williams-Mystic, Duke University Marine Lab, Shoals Marine Lab, and others). Students are required to gain proficiency in field/lab work through intensive field courses or internships. Finally, students participate in a “capstone” independent, marine-related research project that will count toward the certificate. Students interested in earning the certificate should begin by setting up an introductory meeting with the Program Coordinator (see People). Once students have begun the introductory course of study, they will be appointed a faculty advisor affiliated with Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences who will assist with course selection, research projects and field/lab requirements to ensure a strong concentration in marine sciences.


People
The program office is located at Five Colleges, Inc., 97 Spring Street in Amherst. Students interested in learning more about the Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Certificate or internship program should schedule a meeting with Program Coordinator Cindy Bright, available by appointment on your home campus (see contact info below). Students affiliated with the program receive information on campus lectures, films and events as well as information on internships and research opportunities in the field.
The FCCMS Program is guided by a steering committee with members from each of the five campuses. Steering committee members also serve as faculty advisors to certificate students.
Steering Committee & Faculty Advisors
Alexandra Purdy, Associate Professor of Biology
David Jones, Associate Professor of Geology
Laela Sayigh, Associate Professor of Animal Behavior
Jason Andras, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Renae Brodie, Professor of Biological Sciences
Al Werner, Professor of Geology
Bosiljka Glumac, Professor of Geosciences
Paulette Peckol, Louise C. Harrington Professor of Biological Sciences
Brian Cheng, Assistant Professor of Environmental Conservation
Andy Danylchuk, Professor of Fish Conservation, Director of Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Program
Adrian Jordaan, Associate Professor of Fish Population Ecology and Conservation
Steve Petsch, Associate Professor of Geosciences
Jonathan Woodruff, Associate Professor of Geosciences
Five Colleges, Incorporated (Steering Committee only)
Cindy Bright, Program Coordinator
Ray Rennard, Director of Academic Programs
Courses
A minimum of six courses in three categories is required for the certificate. Check the complete, categorized course list to see which courses are approved for the certificate. This master list may include courses not currently offered. Some courses may have stipulations (like "with marine project only"), or may require prerequisites.
Note: You do not need to be working towards the certificate to take any of these marine-related courses.
Faculty: Please contact marinesci@fivecolleges.edu if you would like to suggest an addition to the FCCMS list. Include the course number, title, semester(s) offered, and its relevance to marine science.
Other courses in addition to those listed here may be eligible for fulfilling the requirements of the Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Certificate. Students are encouraged to consult a Coastal and Marine Sciences Program campus advisor to identify courses that are appropriate for their interests.
Spring 2022 CMS courses: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, POLICY, and SCIENTIFIC SKILLS
Justin Baumann
TTH 01:45PM-03:00PM
Kendade G06
Justin Baumann
M 01:30PM-04:20PM
Kendade G06
Justin Baumann
W 01:30PM-04:20PM
Kendade G06
Andy Reiter
MW 10:00AM-11:15AM
Porter Hall 108
Robert Darrow
TTH 03:15PM-04:30PM
Shattuck Hall 107
Kye Barker
TU 1:20 PM - 4:00 PM
Hatfield 104
Qian Yu
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Morrill III Room 212
Qian Yu
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Morrill III Room 212
Kristina Stinson
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Holdsworth Hall room 211
Timothy Randhir
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Holdsworth Hall room 308
Bethany Bradley
TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Hasbrouck Lab Add room 124
F 10:10AM 1:10PM
Morrill III Room 212
F 1:25PM 4:25PM
Morrill III Room 212
TH 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 212
John Stranlund
TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
Integ. Learning Center S331
Spring 2022 CMS courses: GEOLOGY and CHEMISTRY
Anna M. Martini
MWF 11:00 AM-11:50 AM
BEBU203
(Offered as GEOL 301 and ENST 301) As the global human population expands in a future marked by climate change, the search for and preservation of our most vital resource, water, will demand thoughtful policy and greater scientific understanding. This course is an introduction to surface and groundwater hydrology, geochemistry, and management for natural systems and human needs. Lectures will focus on understanding the hydrologic cycle, how water flows over and within the earth, and the many ways in which this water is threatened by contamination and overuse. Three hours of lecture and three hours of lab each week. The laboratory will be centered around on-going local issues concerning use and restoration of the Fort River watershed.
Requisite: GEOL 109 or 111 or consent of the instructor. Spring semester. Professor Martini.
Anna M. Martini
TH 01:00 PM-04:00 PM
BEBU203
David S. Jones
MWF 12:00 PM-12:50 PM
BEBU107
The global ocean is one of the defining features of our planet’s surface. It regulates weather patterns, sculpts the coasts of the continents, and contains records of the past 200 million years of earth's climate in sediment on the seafloor. In this course we will develop an understanding of the global marine system through study of its interconnected geological, chemical, physical, and biological processes. These fundamental principles include seafloor spreading, the transport of heat from the equator to the poles, and cycling of nutrients and organic matter by plankton. We will address how the ocean has evolved over the planet’s history, from changes in its circulation brought on by shifting continental configurations and climate fluctuations to its chemical responses to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The course will conclude with scientifically informed considerations of some of the challenges humanity faces in deciding how to use the ocean and its resources. Three class hours per week.
Not open to students who have taken GEOL 112 or 121. Limited to 60 students. Fifteen seats reserved for first-year students. Associate Professor Jones.
Nicholas D. Holschuh, David S. Jones
MWF 10:00 AM-10:50 AM
CHAP201
For at least 3.5 billion years, Earth’s surface environments have supported some form of life. What geologic processes first created and subsequently maintained a habitable environment? How does contemporary global climate change compare to climate variations over Earth’s long history? This course looks at Earth’s climate and its surface environment from a geologist’s perspective. We will develop an understanding of the atmospheric, oceanographic, geological, and biological systems that interact to modulate the climate. Because Earth’s surface environments are products of and participants in these systems, we will also build the skills necessary to observe and interpret the landscape through study of modern coastal and riverine processes in the context of our region’s glacial history. Exploration of the sedimentary rock record, in which evidence of the history of ancient climate and life is preserved, will inform our inquiry into the ongoing climate experiment humanity is running through the rapid release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The scientific tools we develop will allow us to analyze predictions of future climate change and assess possible paths forward.
This is an introductory science course designed for all students of the college. It provides a foundation for further study of Earth’s climate and surface environments. Three hours of class and two hours of lab. Not open to students who have taken GEOL-121.
Limited to 40 students with 20 students per lab. Spring semester. Professor Jones and Assistant Professor Holschuh.
Nicholas D. Holschuh, David S. Jones
TH 02:30 PM-04:30 PM
BEBU211
Anna M. Martini
MWF 11:00 AM-11:50 AM
BEBU203
(Offered as GEOL 301 and ENST 301) As the global human population expands in a future marked by climate change, the search for and preservation of our most vital resource, water, will demand thoughtful policy and greater scientific understanding. This course is an introduction to surface and groundwater hydrology, geochemistry, and management for natural systems and human needs. Lectures will focus on understanding the hydrologic cycle, how water flows over and within the earth, and the many ways in which this water is threatened by contamination and overuse. Three hours of lecture and three hours of lab each week. The laboratory will be centered around on-going local issues concerning use and restoration of the Fort River watershed.
Requisite: GEOL 109 or 111 or consent of the instructor. Spring semester. Professor Martini.
Anna M. Martini
TH 01:00 PM-04:00 PM
BEBU203
Alan Werner
TTH 10:00AM-11:15AM
Cleveland 002L
Michelle Markley
MW 01:45PM-03:00PM
Clapp Laboratory 300
Bosiljka Glumac
M W 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Neilson 102
Luce Ward
M 1:10 PM - 2:35 PM
Burton 110
Luce Ward
W 1:10 PM - 2:35 PM
Burton 110
Greg de Wet
M W 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Sabin-Reed 103
Greg de Wet
M 1:20 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 103
Jonathan Woodruff
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 245
Steven Petsch
TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
Thompson Hall room 102
Steven Petsch
TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
Thompson Hall room 102
William Clement
M W F 9:05AM 9:55AM
Goessmann Lab. Add rm 64
William Clement
M W F 9:05AM 9:55AM
Goessmann Lab. Add rm 64
M 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 108
TU 8:00AM 11:00AM
Morrill III Room 108
TH 8:00AM 11:00AM
Morrill III Room 108
W 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 108
TU 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 108
TH 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 108
Martin Medina Elizalde
TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
Integ. Learning Center N151
R Leckie
M W F 11:15AM 12:05PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 225
R Leckie
W 1:25PM 3:45PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 225
R Leckie
F 1:25PM 3:45PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 225
Steven Petsch
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 129
Spring 2022 CMS courses: ECOLOGY and BIODIVERSITY
Jill S. Miller
TTH 11:30 AM-12:50 PM
SCCEE208
Evolution is a powerful and central theme that unifies the life sciences. In this course, emphasis is placed on microevolutionary mechanisms of change, and their connection to large-scale macroevolutionary patterns and diversity. Through lectures and readings from the primary literature, we will study genetic drift and gene flow, natural selection and adaptation, molecular evolution, speciation, the evolution of sex and sexual selection, life history evolution, and inference and interpretation of evolutionary relationships. Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion each week.
Requisite: BIOL 181; BIOL 191 recommended. Limited to 30 students. Not open to first-year students. Spring semester. Professor Miller
Jill S. Miller
T 12:51 PM-01:40 PM
SCCEE208
Steve Roof
09:00AM-10:20AM TU;09:00AM-10:20AM TH
Cole Science Center 333;Cole Science Center 333
Jason Andras
MW 10:00AM-11:15AM
Kendade 305
Molly McCutcheon
T 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 213
Molly McCutcheon,Jason Andras
TH 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 213
Molly McCutcheon,Jason Andras
F 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 213
Justin Baumann
TTH 10:00AM-11:15AM
Clapp Laboratory 126
Kate Ballantine
T 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 306
Paulette M. Peckol
M W F 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
McConnell 103
Marney C. Pratt
M 1:10 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 223
Marney C. Pratt
TU 1:10 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 223
Marney C. Pratt
W 1:10 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 223
Marney C. Pratt
TH 1:10 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 223
L. David Smith
M W F 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Burton 219
L. David Smith
TH 1:10 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 201
Laura Aline Katz
TU TH 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
Burton 209
Laura Aline Katz
TU 1:20 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 314
Paulette M. Peckol
M 1:20 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 224
Adam Porter
M W F 12:20PM 1:10PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 131
Norman Johnson
M W F 10:10AM 11:00AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 131
Akiko Okusu
M W F 11:15AM 12:05PM
Morrill 2 Room 319
TH 1:00PM 4:00PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 343
TH 8:15AM 11:15AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 343
Bruce Byers
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 203
W 9:05AM 12:05PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 206
TU 8:00AM 11:00AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 206
Rosa Moscarella
TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
Integ. Learning Center S211
Katherine Doyle
W 1:25PM 4:25PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 204
TH 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 204
TH 8:30AM 11:30AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 204
W 9:05AM 12:05PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 204
TU 1:00PM 4:00PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 339
M 1:25PM 4:25PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 339
James Holden
M W F 10:10AM 11:00AM
Morrill 2 Room 319
Kelly Klingler
M W F 9:05AM 9:55AM
Holdsworth Hall room 105
Spring 2022 CMS courses: BOLD (high marine concentration)
David S. Jones
MWF 12:00 PM-12:50 PM
BEBU107
The global ocean is one of the defining features of our planet’s surface. It regulates weather patterns, sculpts the coasts of the continents, and contains records of the past 200 million years of earth's climate in sediment on the seafloor. In this course we will develop an understanding of the global marine system through study of its interconnected geological, chemical, physical, and biological processes. These fundamental principles include seafloor spreading, the transport of heat from the equator to the poles, and cycling of nutrients and organic matter by plankton. We will address how the ocean has evolved over the planet’s history, from changes in its circulation brought on by shifting continental configurations and climate fluctuations to its chemical responses to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The course will conclude with scientifically informed considerations of some of the challenges humanity faces in deciding how to use the ocean and its resources. Three class hours per week.
Not open to students who have taken GEOL 112 or 121. Limited to 60 students. Fifteen seats reserved for first-year students. Associate Professor Jones.
Justin Baumann
TTH 10:00AM-11:15AM
Clapp Laboratory 126
Alan Werner
TTH 10:00AM-11:15AM
Cleveland 002L
L. David Smith
M W F 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Burton 219
L. David Smith
TH 1:10 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 201
Paulette M. Peckol
M 1:20 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 224
Bosiljka Glumac
M W 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Neilson 102
Luce Ward
M 1:10 PM - 2:35 PM
Burton 110
Luce Ward
W 1:10 PM - 2:35 PM
Burton 110
Akiko Okusu
M W F 11:15AM 12:05PM
Morrill 2 Room 319
TH 1:00PM 4:00PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 343
TH 8:15AM 11:15AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 343
Jonathan Woodruff
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 245
Martin Medina Elizalde
TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
Integ. Learning Center N151
James Holden
M W F 10:10AM 11:00AM
Morrill 2 Room 319
Fall 2022 CMS Courses: BOLD (high marine concentration)
Justin Baumann
MWF 10:00AM-10:50AM
Instructor To Be Announced,Justin Baumann
T 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 109
Instructor To Be Announced,Justin Baumann
TH 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 109
Justin Baumann
W 01:30PM-04:20PM
Bosiljka Glumac
TU TH 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Sabin-Reed 101
Bosiljka Glumac
TH 1:10 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 101
Akiko Okusu
TU TH 8:30AM 9:45AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 203
F 9:05AM 12:05PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 301
F 9:05AM 12:05PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 302
Andrew Danylchuk
W 9:05AM 12:05PM
Holdsworth 301
Robert Deconto
M W F 10:10AM 11:00AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 245
R Leckie
TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
Integ. Learning Center N151
R Leckie
TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
Integ. Learning Center N151
Isla Castaneda
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 225
Andrew Danylchuk
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Morrill Sci Ctr (1) Room N375
Lisa Komoroske
M W 11:15AM 12:30PM
Holdsworth Hall room 105
Brian Cheng
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Holdsworth Hall room 105
TU 1:00PM 4:00PM
Holdsworth Hall room 211
Fall 2022 CMS Courses: ECOLOGY and BIODIVERSITY
Michael E. Hood, Ethan J. Temeles
MWF 10:00 AM-10:50 AM
An introduction to the evolution, ecology, and behavior of organisms and how these relate to the diversity of life. Following a discussion of the core components of evolutionary theory, we'll examine how evolutionary processes have shaped morphological, anatomical, physiological, and behavioral adaptations in organisms that solve many of life's problems, ranging from how to find or acquire food and avoid being eaten, to how to attract and locate mates, and how to optimize reproduction throughout a lifetime. We'll relate and compare characteristics of animals, plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria, examining how and why these organisms have arrived at various solutions to life's problems. Laboratory exercises will complement lectures and will involve field experiments on natural selection and laboratory studies of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. Four classroom hours and three laboratory hours per week.
Fall semester. Professors Hood and Temeles; Lab Coordinator Kristensen.
Please note that the same textbook is used for both BIOL 181 and BIOL 191.
Michael E. Hood, Ethan J. Temeles
TH 01:00 PM-01:50 PM
Michael E. Hood, Ethan J. Temeles
F 01:00 PM-01:50 PM
Michael E. Hood, Thea V. Kristensen, Ethan J. Temeles
T 02:30 PM-05:30 PM
Michael E. Hood, Thea V. Kristensen, Ethan J. Temeles
W 02:00 PM-05:00 PM
Michael E. Hood, Thea V. Kristensen, Ethan J. Temeles
TH 08:00 AM-11:00 AM
Michael E. Hood, Thea V. Kristensen, Ethan J. Temeles
TH 02:30 PM-05:30 PM
Ethan D. Clotfelter
MW 12:30 PM-01:50 PM
Shaped by millions of years of evolution, animals have evolved myriad abilities to respond to their environment, their potential predators and prey, and members of their own species. This course examines animal behavior from both a mechanistic and a functional perspective. Drawing upon examples from a diverse range of taxa, and using articles from the primary scientific literature, we will discuss topics such as behavioral endocrinology, sexual selection and mating systems, animal communication, and kinship and cooperation. Four classroom hours and three laboratory hours per week; the laboratory projects will require additional time outside of class.
In Fall 2022, the laboratory will be structured as a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). The focus will be a semester-long, field-based project on bird behavior in the Wildlife Sanctuary. Students will be outdoors in the Sanctuary under almost all weather conditions. Students can register for either laboratory section, both of which will be held at low enrollments to facilitate field research.
Requisite: BIOL 181. Limited to 8 students per lab section. Fall semester. Professor Clotfelter.
Ethan D. Clotfelter
T 08:00 AM-11:00 AM
Ethan D. Clotfelter
TH 08:00 AM-11:00 AM
Martha Hoopes
MWF 11:30AM-12:45PM
Martha Hoopes,Molly McCutcheon
M 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 008
Molly McCutcheon,Martha Hoopes
T 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 008
Martha Hoopes,Molly McCutcheon
W 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 008
Molly McCutcheon,Martha Hoopes
TH 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 008
L. David Smith
M W F 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
Denise Lello
M 1:30 PM - 4:20 PM
Sabin-Reed 223
Mariana Abarca
M W F 10:50 AM - 11:40 AM
from population dynamics to ecosystem function. Fundamental ecological concepts are covered within
the context of current environmental challenges arising from global change. This framing illuminates
how population dynamics, community composition and trophic interactions affect ecosystem function
and ecosystem services. Prerequisites: Bio 130 or an equivalent course in ecology or environmental
science.
Mariana Abarca
W 1:10 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 314
L. David Smith
M 3:05 PM - 4:20 PM; W 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Sara B. Pruss
M W 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Sabin-Reed 103
Sara B. Pruss
W 1:20 PM - 4:00 PM
Sabin-Reed 106
Bruce Byers
M W F 12:20PM 1:10PM
Integ. Learning Center S211
Christiane Healey
TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
Integ. Learning Center S331
Jeffrey Podos
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr.1 rm N326
M 1:25PM 4:25PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 339
W 1:25PM 4:25PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 339
Elizabeth Jakob
M W 2:30PM 3:45PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (III) rm 203
TU 1:00PM 4:00PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 339
TH 1:00PM 4:00PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 339
Anne Averill
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Holdsworth Hall room 312A
Fall 2022 CMS Courses: GEOLOGY and CHEMISTRY
Nicholas D. Holschuh
MWF 10:00 AM-10:50 AM
Humankind is a major agent of environmental change. With each new hurricane, wildfire, and heat wave, public conversations turn to the topic of anthropogenic climate change. But it can be difficult to separate what we know with confidence from what we think we know, and what we are unsure of, given the complex information landscape that defines our moment in time. This leaves many people asking "Is climate change happening? Is it us? Where are we headed? How fast? How do we know?" In this class, we will address these questions directly with a focus on building an interdisciplinary understanding of Earth's climate system. In addition, we will discuss the disparate impacts of climate change on communities around the world, how climate information gets shared between scientists and citizens, and the challenges of building consensus on climate issues.
The internet presents a double-edged sword for climate communication - it is our primary tool for sharing the data and models used to understand Earth's climate, but can be a platform for misinformation and mischaracterization of science for political ends. We will explore this dichotomy in detail, through both the direct download and interpretation of climate data and an evaluation of the way climate change is discussed in the public forum. We will meet three times a week with lecture, small group discussion, and an end goal of producing digital media to share our collective understanding of climate with a broader audience.
Three class meetings per week. This course is open to all students of the College. Limited to 48 students. Fall Semester. Assistant Professor Holschuh.
Tekla A. Harms
MWF 12:00 PM-12:50 PM
How well do you know the planet on which we live? In this course we will explore Earth from its core to its surface, from the mountains to the deep ocean basins, from the past and present to the future. The earth is an evolving and dynamic system, changing on time scales that range from seconds, to millennia, to eons: volcanos erupt, earthquakes vibrate the globe, continents separate and collide, and mountains rise only to be worn away and rise again. What physical processes drive this dynamism? How does the restless nature of Earth impact our residency? Studying active geologic processes will provide us with a means to decode the history of Earth as written in rocks; analyzing the rock record allows us to test hypotheses about the formation and continual modification of the planet. With a geologic understanding of your home planet, students will emerge from the course with an expanded notion of what it is to be human. This is a science course designed for all Amherst students.
Three hours of class and two hours of lab in which the student gains direct experience in the science through demonstrations, examination of earth materials, and projects. Lab materials will be provided for remote students.
Limited to 60 students with 20 students per lab. Fall semester: Professor Harms. Spring semester: Assistant Professor Bernard and Professor Harms.
Tekla A. Harms
W 02:00 PM-04:00 PM
Tekla A. Harms
TH 08:00 AM-10:00 AM
Anna M. Martini
TTH 10:00 AM-11:20 AM
(Offered as GEOL 301 and ENST 301) As the global human population expands in a future marked by climate change, the search for and preservation of our most vital resource, water, will demand thoughtful policy and greater scientific understanding. This course is an introduction to surface and groundwater hydrology, geochemistry, and management for natural systems and human needs. Lectures will focus on understanding the hydrologic cycle, how water flows over and within the earth, and the many ways in which this water is threatened by contamination and overuse. Three hours of lecture and three hours of lab each week. The laboratory will be centered around on-going local issues concerning use and restoration of the Fort River watershed.
Requisite: GEOL 109 or 111 or consent of the instructor. Fall semester. Professor Martini.
Anna M. Martini
T 01:00 PM-04:00 PM
David S. Jones
MWF 11:00 AM-11:50 AM
From the muddy Mississippi River delta to the clear waters of the Bahamas, from the bottom of the Greenland ice sheet to the shifting dunes of the Namib sand sea, sediment is continually being produced, transported, and deposited on the planet’s surface. These processes are fundamentally linked to global climate and tectonics. Sedimentary rocks are therefore archives of environmental, climatic, and tectonic changes through Earth history. In this class, students will learn how to interpret the sedimentary rock record, on scales ranging from individual grains to kilometers-thick sequences of strata. Students will develop an understanding of sedimentary processes in modern environments and learn how to interpret the sedimentary rock record.
GEOL 311 will be conducted remotely, using a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities. In lab, students will participate in virtual field trips, do hands-on work with rock specimens, practice techniques of image interpretation, and learn to manipulate sedimentary data sets. Students will be guided through the course by close, regular interaction with the instructor as would be true in a classroom setting. We will draw inspiration for our remote studies from the success of the Mars Curiosity Rover, which is essentially a tool to do sedimentology on another planet! Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week.
Requisite: GEOL 111. Recommended requisite: GEOL 112. Fall 2022 Professor Jones.
David S. Jones
TH 01:00 PM-04:00 PM
Christina Cianfrani
01:00PM-02:20PM M;01:00PM-02:20PM W
Cole Science Center 333;Cole Science Center 333
Alan Werner
TTH 10:30AM-11:45AM
Clapp Laboratory 305
Alan Werner
T 01:30PM-04:20PM
Clapp Laboratory 305
Cristina Suarez
TU TH 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
Ford 322
Mona Kulp
TU 1:20 PM - 5:00 PM
Ford 322
Mona Kulp
TH 1:20 PM - 5:00 PM
Ford 322
Amy Larson Rhodes
M W F 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM
Sabin-Reed 103
Greg de Wet
M W 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Matthew Winnick
M W F 10:10AM 11:00AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 129
TH 11:30AM 2:30PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (IV) rm N301
Raymond Bradley
TU TH 8:30AM 10:00AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 225
Julie Brigham-Grette
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 129
TU 1:00PM 5:00PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 129
Steven Petsch
TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
Thompson Hall room 102
Steven Petsch
TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
Thompson Hall room 102
Michael Rawlins
TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
Morrill I Room 444
William Clement
M W F 9:05AM 9:55AM
Hasbrouck Lab Add room 126
William Clement
M W F 9:05AM 9:55AM
Hasbrouck Lab Add room 126
M 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 108
TU 8:00AM 11:00AM
Morrill III Room 108
TU 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 108
W 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 108
TH 8:00AM 11:00AM
Morrill III Room 108
TH 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 108
Steven Petsch
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 225
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Morrill I Room 444
M 1:00PM 4:00PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 225
Isaac Larsen
M W F 11:15AM 12:05PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 129
Fall 2022 CMS Courses: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, POLICY, and SCIENTIFIC SKILLS
Ashwin J. Ravikumar
TTH 02:30 PM-03:50 PM
This course is built around core readings on key policies and agencies of environmental governance in the US. It will provide students with a strong grasp of the most important environmental legislation in the United States (such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act). We will explore how existing environmental laws and institutions have provided important environmental protections, and also where they have fallen short. We will also ask how environmental racism and other forms of inequality have been addressed or exacerbated by historical policies, with an eye towards identifying promising alternatives in the future. Students will examine the relationships between local, state, and federal agencies carrying out environmental governance. This class will explore how policy is "political," and how it emerges from the actions of competing interest groups.
Pre-requisite: ENST-120. Fall 2022. Professor Ravikumar.
Theodore Gilliland
TTH 03:15PM-04:30PM
Catherine Corson
MW 10:00AM-11:15AM
Catherine Corson
MW 11:30AM-12:45PM
Thomas Millette
MW 10:00AM-11:15AM
Andy Reiter
TTH 09:00AM-10:15AM
Gunjan Sharma
TU TH 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Jack Loveless
M W F 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Sabin-Reed 104
Jack Loveless
M W F 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Sabin-Reed 104
Juan-Camilo Cardenas
TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
Ag. Engineering Bldg rm 119
Eric Thomas
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Hasbrouck Room 236
TU TH 1:00PM 2:15PM
Morrill Sci. Ctr. (II) rm 225
TU 2:30PM 4:30PM
Morrill III Room 212
Anne Averill
TU TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Holdsworth Hall room 312A
Timothy Randhir
TU TH 10:00AM 11:15AM
Holdsworth Hall room 308
Forrest Bowlick
TH 11:30AM 12:45PM
Hasbrouck Lab Add room 124
F 9:05AM 12:05PM
Morrill III Room 212
F 1:25PM 4:25PM
Morrill III Room 212
TH 2:30PM 5:30PM
Morrill III Room 212
John Stranlund
TU TH 2:30PM 3:45PM
Integ. Learning Center S331
Internships
Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Internship Program
Funded by the Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Program. Only Five College students are eligible (Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and Smith Colleges and the University of Massachusetts Amherst). Graduating seniors and graduate students are not eligible.
The 2021 Internship Program application is now available.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)
Nationwide search for paid internships in ocean science (and many other science fields), Funded by the National Science Foundation. Stipends and application deadlines/procedures vary (some as early as January for the following summer). NSF updates deadlines and adds opportunities as they become available. Most of these are limited to undergraduates who are permamnent US residents or citizens.
Hint: If deadlines are out-of-date, click on link to individual REU programs. The individual program websites are more likely to be current.
Texas A&M Ocean and Coastal Resource REU
Due February 15th each year
Marine Biological Laboratory
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
REU for rising sophomores and juniors.
Due February 15th each year (priority)
March 10th each year (final)
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Summer student fellowships for guided research (only juniors may apply).
Due February 15th each year.
UMass-Dartmouth
School for Marine Science and Technology
Coverletter and resume required,
no application or due date posted.
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, ME
Due February 15th each year
Ocean Exploration Trust
Internships in ocean science, seafloor mapping, ROV engineering and vieo engineering/filmmaking.
Due January 20th each year.
Institute for Broadening Participation:
Pathways to Science
A compilation of coastal and marine research, outreach, and educational opportunities for undergraduates and graduates (you can also search other disciplines). Stipends and application deadlines/procedures vary (some as early as January). Please note that only research internship field hours can be applied towards the certificate.
Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Laboratory
University of Southern Mississippi. Fall and spring volunteer internships available.
Due May 1 and November 1
Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
Gulfport, Mississippi
Due November 1, March 1, and June 1 for following season
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
Known for its research in marine science and biomedicine, aquaculture and ocean engineering, Harbor Branch-FAU is located between Vero Beach and Fort Pierce, Florida, on the Indian River Lagoon, one of the most biodiverse estuaries in the United States.
Due March 1st each year.
Seabird & Shorebird Internships/Jobs
Many internships and paid field positions in the Northeast and nationwide, posted in weekly compilations (search on "birdjobs"). Applications and due dates vary by posting.
Texas A & M Job Board
Too many great opportunities to list: marine mammals, birds, fisheries, sea turtles, etc. Worth a look.
Green Dream Jobs
Find jobs/internships nationwide. There are usually a few marine science postings.
Seabird & Shorebird Internships/Jobs
Many internships and paid field positions in the Northeast and nationwide, posted in weekly compilations (search on "birdjobs"). Listserve available. Applications and due dates vary by posting.
Institute for Broadening Participation:
Pathways to Science
A compilation of coastal & marine research opportunities for undergraduates and graduates (you can also search other disciplines). Stipends and application deadlines/procedures vary (some as early as January for summer).
Ocean Exploration Trust
Internships in ocean science, seafloor mapping, ROV engineering, and vieo engineering/filmmaking. Due January 16, 2015.
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, Plymouth, MA
Volunteer Internships in marine conservation.
Minimum commitment of 3 months, with the possibility of extended term.
All interns are trained in photo-identification, data-collection and management, identification catalog maintenance, public speaking, and marine mammal policy.
Admission is rolling-early application (January) advised.
Cape Ann Whale Watch and Ocean Alliance, Gloucester, MA
Interns will staff whale watch tours (Humpback, Minke, and Fin Whales)and interact with passengers with hands-on teaching tools such as baleen and whale teeth, a 3-D model of the ocean floor, and plankton collected during the trip. Interns will also collect data on whale sighting, identification, and weather. naturalist training will be provided. Group housing is available at cost. Position is volunteer (minimum 2 months), application is rolling.
Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Laboratory,
University of Southern Mississippi. Fall and spring volunteer internships available.
Due May 1st and November 1st
Humpback Whale Internship with the Alaska Whale Foundation's Rapunzel Project
Nationwide
Western USA (AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY)
- Alaska Sea Life Center: Seward, AK
- Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies: Homer, AK
- SEACAMP San Diego: San Diego, CA
- Aquarium of the Pacific: Long Beach, CA
- Stanford Univ. Hopkins Marine Station: Pacific Grove, CA
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Monterey, CA
- Marine Advanced Technology Education Center: Monterey, CA
- Scripps Instituion of Oceanography: San Diego, CA
- Sea Life Park of Hawaii: Waimanolo, HI
- Pacific Whale Foundation: Wailuku, HI
- Hatfield Marine Science Center: Newport, OR
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center: Seattle, WA
Southeastern USA (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
- Mote marine Laboratory: Sarasota, FL
- The Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Dauphin Island, AL
- The Conservancy of Southwest Florida: Naples, FL
- Dolphin Research Center: Grassy Key, FL
- Dolphins Plus: Key Largo, FL
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute: St. Petersburg, FL
- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Key West, FL
- Perry Institute for Marine Science: Jupiter, FL
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic: Ft. Pierce, FL
- Mote Marine Laboratory: Sarasota, FL
- Newfound Harbor Marine Institute: Big Pine Key, FL
- Theater of the Sea: Islamorada, FL
- The Whitney Laboratory of Marine Bioscience: St. Augustine, FL
- NOAA Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research: Beaufort, NC
- Fort Johnson Summer Research Fellowship Program: Charleston, SC
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science: Gloucester Point, VA
NORTHEAST USA (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA)
- Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration: Mystic, CT
- The Maritime Aquarium: Norwalk, CT
- College of Marine and Earth Science: Lewes, DE
- New England Aquarium: Boston, MA
- Coastal Studies Institute of Cape Cod: Provincetown, MA
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
- Marine Resources Center (MBL): Woods Hole, MA
- Quebec-Labrador Foundation/Atlantic Center for the Environment (QLF): Ipswich, MA
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute: Woods Hole, MA
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: West Boothbay Harbor, ME
- Darling Marine Center: Walpole, ME
- The Wetlands Institute: Stone Harbor, NJ
- Marine Mammal Stranding Center: Brigantine, NJ
- James J. Howard Marine Science Laboratory (Scroll down): Highlands, NJ
- New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences: Camden, NJ
- South Street Seaport Museum: New York, NY
- Shoals Marine Laboratory: Appledore Island, ME (Cornell University and University of NH)
- The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation: Riverhead, NY
- Cornell University Arnot Teaching and Research Forest: Van Etten, NY
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, NY
- The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc: Poughkeepsie, NY
- The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History: New York, NY
- Univ. of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography: Narragansett, RI
- Ocean Conservancy: Washington, D. C. (Headquarters)
Midwest USA (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI)
International

