Ocean Science Course Requirements

Course Outline

Intro Course

Students must complete the following intro course:

  • EAS 2250 The Earth System

Core Courses

Students must complete the following 3 core courses:

  • EAS 3530 Physical Oceanography
  • EAS 3050 Climate Dynamics
  • EAS 3030 Biogeochemistry (was EAS 3010 Evolution of the Earth System)

Concentration Courses

Students must complete 5 concentration courses at the 3000-level or higher. Below are suggested concentration courses.  Other courses not listed below might also be suitable. Students should speak with their advisor about which concentration courses are most appropriate for their program of study.

Geological Oceanography Focus

  • EAS 4190 Geofluids
  • EAS 3010 Evolution of the Earth System
  • EAS 3090 Earth Materials
  • EAS 4040 Geodynamics
  • EAS 4940 Glaciology
  • EAS 3880 Global Geophysics

Physical Oceanography Focus

  • EAS 3420 Atmospheric Dynamics
  • EAS 4860 Tropical Meteorology & Climate
  • EAS 4940 Glaciology 
  • CEE 3310 Fluid Mechanics
  • EAS 6920 Studies of Ocean Worlds Across the Solar System

Biological Oceanography Focus

  • EAS 3540 Ocean Satellite Remote Sensing
  • EAS 3555 Marine Microbes and Disease in a Changing Ocean
  • EAS 4790 Paleobiology  
  • BIOSM 3210 Anatomy and Function of Marine Vertebrates (summers)
  • BIOSM 3330 - Marine Parasitology and Disease (summers)
  • BIOSM 3830 Field Marine Invertebrate Biology (summers)
  • BIOSM 3650 Underwater Research (summers)
  • BIOSM 3450 Marine Mammal Biology (summers)
  • BIOSM 4650 Shark Biology and Conservation (summers)
  • BIOEE 3730 Biodiversity and Biology of the Marine Invertebrates 
  • BIOEE 4570 Limnology: Ecology of Lakes, Lectures (100% freshwater)
  • BIOEE 4571 Limnology: Ecology of Lakes, Laboratory (100% freshwater)
  • NTRES 3110 Fish Ecology, Conservation, and Management
  • NTRES 3150 Introduction to Conservation Bioacoustics
  • NTRES 3152 Field Methods in Conservation Bioacoustics: Hawai’i Experience
  • BIOAP 3300 Fish Physiology

Chemical Oceanography Focus

  • EAS 4561 Isotope Geochemistry
  • BIOEE 6680 Principles of Biogeochemistry
  • PLSCS 3650 Environmental Chemistry: Soil, Air and Water

General Crosscutting for All Focus Areas

  • EAS 4350 Stats Methods in Meteorology & Climatology
  • EAS 4740 Data Analysis for the Geosciences
  • EAS 4840 Inverse Methods in the Natural Sciences

Cornell Global Programs (Abroad)
Sea Education Association (SEA) Courses accessed through the Cornell Global Learning Program.

Field Course

Exposure to the basic observations of earth science in the field is necessary to fully understand the chosen area of concentration in the major. A minimum of 3 credits of appropriate coursework is required, although more experience with fieldwork is encouraged. Students can choose from the following options.

  • Shoals Marine Lab Courses
  • SEA Abroad Course 
  • Woods Hole Course
  • Summer REU Programs could also satisfy the requirement.
  • 3-semester credits of advisor-approved Independent Research (EAS 4910 / EAS 4920). Independent research must conclude with formal paper describing results and conclusions or else a poster or oral presentation of results presented at a public venue.