School of Earth and Ocean Sciences

Faculty of Science

Undergraduate Courses

Minor in Ocean Sciences. The summer-intensive Minor in Ocean Sciences is open to all students in a B.Sc. program. Entry requires permission from the School (seos@uvic.ca; 250.721.6120).

Students registered in the program will normally register in all four of EOS 311, 312, 313 and 314.

Special consideration may be granted to students who do not meet all of the course prerequisites. Application is through the School's Ocean Science Advisor.

EOS 300   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Earth Science Field School

An up to two-week field course in and around southern Vancouver Island during which the students will be introduced to geological fieldwork (mapping, traversing, drawing sedimentary logs, sampling, recording field notes) and the regional geology and tectonics of Vancouver Island.

Note: 2012 dates: August 20-31. Registration by permission of the department.

Prerequisites: 201, 202, 205.

EOS 311   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Also: BIOL 311 (formerly BIOL 311B)

Biological Oceanography

An introduction to the ways in which physical, chemical and biological processes interact to regulate structure and productivity of marine ecosystems. Lectures will focus primarily on planktonic ecosystems. Participation in a one-day oceanographic cruise is required.

Notes: - Credit will be granted for only one of 311, BIOL 311, 311B

- BIOL 215 and EOS 110 recommended.

Prerequisites: MATH 100 or 102; PHYS 102 or 112; CHEM 101, 102.

EOS 312   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Introductory Chemical Oceanography

An introduction to the sources, distribution, and transformations of chemical constituents of the ocean, and their relation to biological, chemical, geological, and physical processes. Topics include: controls on average concentration of chemicals in the ocean; vertical and horizontal distributions of ocean constituents; air-sea interactions; production, export, and remineralization of organic matter; the ocean carbon cycle; human-induced changes; stable isotopes and trace elements.

Prerequisites: One of 110, 314, 431; CHEM 101 or 150, and 102; MATH 100 or 102.

EOS 313   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Geological Oceanography

An introduction to the geological processes that shape the ocean basins, oceanic plate creation and structure, hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges, bathymetry, ocean islands, different types of ocean margins, ocean sediments, the sedimentary record of past ocean circulation, coastal geology.

Prerequisites: 120; CHEM 101 or 150.

EOS 314   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Descriptive Physical Oceanography

An introduction to the geography of Earth's fluid ocean and the physics that govern it. Topics include fundamental physical variables and their distribution, air/sea interaction, water masses and their formation, large-scale ocean dynamics, equatorial and coastal physical oceanography, and interactions between physical, chemical, and biological processes in the ocean. Participation in a single-day oceanographic cruise is expected.

Prerequisites: Two of MATH 100, 101, 102, 151; one of PHYS 102, 112, 120.

EOS 400   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Advanced Field School

An up to two-week field trip through the Southern Canadian Cordillera, examining the rock units and structures of the major tectonic elements in southern British Columbia and Alberta. Parallels, where possible, recent COCORP and LITHOPROBE seismic survey routes. Introduces the complex evolutionary states of the western margin of North America.

Notes: - 330 strongly recommended.

- 2012 dates: April 30 - May 09. Registration by permission of the department.

Prerequisites: 300; 316 or 310 and 320; or permission of the department.

EOS 499A   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Formerly: part of 499

Honours Thesis I

The first stage of a research project conducted under the direction of a faculty member. Open to Honours students only.

Notes: - Credit will be granted for only one of 499A and 499B, 499.

- 499A and 499B are “tied” courses and must be taken in consecutive terms except with permission of the department.

- Credit for 499A will be assigned only upon successful completion of 499B.

Prerequisites: Permission of the department.

Grading: INP, letter grade (assigned upon completion of 499B; if 499B is not completed, a grade of N will be assigned to 499A).

EOS 499B   Units: 1.5   Schedule

Formerly: part of 499

Honours Thesis II

Continuation of a research project conducted under the direction of a faculty member. Open to Honours students only.

Notes: - Credit will be granted for only one of 499A and 499B, 499.

- 499A and 499B are “tied” courses and must be taken in consecutive terms except with permission of the department.

- Credit for 499A will be assigned only upon successful completion of both courses.

Prerequisites: 499A.

Graduate Courses

EOS 599   Units: to be determined*   Schedule

MSc Thesis

The thesis or dissertation requirement for advanced degrees (599 or 699) applies to all students in the School.

Note: *Normally 9 units.

Grading: INP, COM, N, F

EOS 693   Units: 3.0   Schedule

PhD Candidacy Examination

Students must enroll in EOS 693 in their first semester and remain enrolled until their candidacy requirements have been completed, normally within the first two years of a PhD program. A pre-candidacy committee meeting must precede the formal candidacy exam.

Corequisites: 699

Pre- or corequisites:

Grading: INP, COM, N, F

EOS 699   Units: to be determined   Schedule

PhD Dissertation

The thesis or dissertation requirement for advanced degrees applies to all students in the School. Students must enroll in EOS 699 in their first semester and remain enrolled until their dissertation requirements have been completed.

Corequisites: 693

Grading: INP, COM, N, F.