Graduate Curriculum

500 level courses

SMS 500: Marine Biology (4 Credits)

Examines the biology of marine organisms including their diversity, disstribution, form, and function within a broader context of evolutionary adapttion to the marine environment. Emphasizes scaling of physiological and ecological processes and the biology of facclimation and adaptation in representative marine taxa including microbes, primary producers, invertebrates, fishes, and marine mammals. Includses one weekend field trip to Darling Marine Center.

Prerequisites & Notes: Required for Marine Biology graduate students. Open to other graduate students in related disciplines and exceptionally well-prepared undergraduates with permission from instructor.

SMS 501: Biological Oceanography (3 Credits)

Marine organisms and their interrelationships with chemical, geological and physical aspects of their environments.

Prerequisites & Notes: BIO 319 or equivalent or permission.

SMS 514: Ecology of Marine Sediments (2-3 Credits)

A multidisciplinary examination of factors controlling ecological processes in marine sediments. Emphasis on recent research integrating biological, geological, chemical and physical aspects of marine sedimentary environments. (May be taught during May Term or Summer Session at the Darling Marine Center.)

Prerequisites & Notes: SMS 501 or equivalent and permission.

SMS 516: Marine Phytoplankton (3 Credits)

Biology and ecology of marine phytoplankton, (particularly of the Gulf of Maine), with emphasis on quantitative aspects of growth, production and distribution in space and time.

Prerequisites & Notes: MAT 126, SMS 501 or equivalent.

SMS 520: Chemical Oceanography (3 Credits)

Distribution and cycling of elements in the marine system with emphasis on geochemical and biochemical interactions.

Prerequisites & Notes: CHY 121, CHY 123.

SMS 525: Marine Biogeochemistry (3 Credits)

Biogeochemistry and benthic-pelagic coupling of nutrients, organic substances, and trace elements in the marine system. Emphasis on coastal and sedimentary regimes.

Prerequisites & Notes: SMS 520.

SMS 528: Advanced Phycology (3 Credits)

Current and classic discoveries including classification, the theories of primary and secondary endosymbiosis, toxic algae and circadian rhythms.

Prerequisites & Notes: SMS 373 or concurrently, or equivalent, or permission of instructor.

SMS 530: Physiology of Fishes (3 Credits)

Analysis of the functional biology of fishes with emphasis on the mechanistic bases of physiological functions and their adaptive significance in a variety of environmental situations. Lec 3.

Prerequisites & Notes: BIO 377 or equivalent or permission.

SMS 531: Coral Reefs (3 Credits)

An exploration of the combined geological, physical, chemical and biological factors that make coral reefs among the most diverse and productive systems in the world. Examines biology, taxonomy and ecological interactions of dominant reef organisms. Explores modern reef processes such as primary productivity, competition, predation and herbivory along with some geological processes such as the role of sea level in reef formation and growth.

Prerequisites & Notes: BIO 353 or SMS 480 or permission.

SMS 533: Quantitative Genetics (3 Credits)

Covers the biological and statistical principles underlying the experimental approaches used to distinguish genetic and environmental sources of variation in quantitative traits. Topics include an intensive coverage of quantitative genetic theory, application of statistical methodologies for estimating the genetic contribution to quantitative traits, the application of quantitative genetic methodologies to studies in applied breeding and evolution and advanced topics, such as marker-based analysis and quantitative trait loci mapping.

Prerequisites & Notes: BIO 462 or BIO 465 or SMS 425 or permission.

SMS 540: Satellite Oceanography (3 Credits)

An overview of the use of remote sensing technologies for making measurements of the marine environment. Introduces the various sensors used by oceanographers, their background, the principles behind their operation and measurement retrieval. Emphasis will be placed on readings from the prime oceanography literature and biogeophysical applications of the data, their analysis, advantages and limitations rather than physical/optical theory.

Prerequisites & Notes: SMS 501 and SMS 541 or permission.

SMS 541: Physical Oceanography (3 Credits)

Covers physical properties of sea water, waves and tides, distribution of variables, dynamics, water masses and the general circulation.

Prerequisites & Notes: MAT 126, PHY 121, PHY 122 or permission.

SMS 550: Fisheries Oceanography (3 Credits)

The influences of physical and biological processes at various temporal and spatial scales on survival, growth, abundance, transport, and distribution of marine fishes and invertebrates are studies. Emphasis is on species of commercial or recreational importance. Lec 2, Rec 1.

Prerequisites & Notes: SMS 501 or SMS 541.

SMS 552: Coupled Natural & Human Systems (3 Credits)

This is a strongly interdisciplinary course concerned with the intersection between natural and social systems and is a basic introduction to complex adaptive systems. It addresses the question of how we can use our new understanding of complex systems to better adapt human behavior to the natural environment.

Prerequisites & Notes: Permission

SMS 553: Institutions and the Management of Common Pool Resources (3 Credits)

Focuses on the various social science theories concerning the generation of institutions and rules including action theory, the IAD approach (Institutional Analysis and Development), rational choice theory and topics from political economy. Emphasis will be placed on the development of institutions governing the use of fisheries with some discussion of the management of other common pool resources such as forests, rangeland, air and petroleum reserves. (SMS 553 and ANT 553 are identical.)

Prerequisites & Notes: senior or graduate standing or permission.

SMS 557: Coastal Processes and Coastal Zone Management (3 Credits)

Processes in specific near-shore environments like beaches, tidal flats, estuaries and shelves are discussed in terms of historic and encroaching human impacts. Case histories of successes and failures of attempts to live with coastal processes are presented.

Prerequisites & Notes: permission of instructor.

SMS 560: Marine Geology (3 Credits)

Topics include current theories of the origin of the earth as a planet and the development of continents and ocean basins, morphology and structure of the sea floor, interpretation of geological and geophysical evidence relevant to the origin and evolution of major tectonic features of ocean regions. Lec 3.

Prerequisites & Notes: ERS 101, ERS 102 or permission.

SMS 562: Fisheries Population Dynamics (3 Credits)

Fisheries stock assessment theory and techniques with emphasis on estimating vital fisheries population parameters and biological reference points and conducting stock assessment for commercially exploited marine fisheries populations.

Prerequisites & Notes: A course each in ecology, statistics and calculus.

SMS 585: Marine System Modeling (3 Credits)

Covers ocean circulation models, coupled atmosphere-ocean models, sea ice models, modeling oceanic carbon and nutrient cycles, and marine ecosystem models: beginning with theory, followed by model development and the most recent research results. Examines model representation of interactions among physical, chemical and biological processes in the ocean. Term project required.

Prerequisites & Notes: permission of instructor.

SMS 591: Dynamical Oceanography I (3 Credits)

Covers physical principals fundamental to the study of the oceans; the equations of motion for rotating fluids; circulation theorem and conservation of potential vorticity; scale analysis, boundary conditions; surface gravity waves; rotation effects in homogeneous oceans.

Prerequisites & Notes: SMS 541 or equivalent.

SMS 595: Data Analysis Methods in Marine Sciences (3 Credits)

Provides theoretical and computational guidance on techniques commonly used in data analysis. The first half of the course covers regression methods and the second half covers time series analysis and digital filters. Real data will be used to illustrate the practical aspects of the subject with emphasis on developing a hands-on understanding of the methods and correct interpretation of results.

Prerequisites & Notes: MAT 126 or equivalent.

SMS 597: Independent Study (1-3 Credits)

A graduate-level readings course, lecture course, laboratory or seminar study course arranged between instructor and individual graduate students, covering selected topics or areas within the field of Marine Science. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites & Notes: permission of instructor.

SMS 598: Special Topics in Marine Science (1-3 Credits)

A graduate-level readings, lecture, seminar or laboratory course covering timely topics in Marine Science. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites & Notes: permission of instructor.

600 level courses

SMS 618: Particle Dynamics in Aquatic Systems (3 Credits)

Examines the physical, chemical and biological genesis of particle matter in the ocean and large lake systems, the important role of particle matter in the majority of aquatic biogeochemical processes and the geological significance of particle flux in marine and lacustrine environments.

Prerequisites & Notes: SMS 501, SMS 520.

SMS 683: Internship in Marine Policy (1-6 Credits)

Professional experience with a marine resource management organization. Students must submit a plan approved by the graduate coordinator of the Marine Policy Program and the sponsoring organization. Reports and readings will be required.

Prerequisites & Notes: permission.

SMS 691: Marine Science Seminar (1 Credits)

Student seminars on their own research or current topics in marine science.

Prerequisites & Notes: none.

SMS 692: Problems in Marine Science I (Ar)

Directed studies of current problems in marine science. (Fall.)

Prerequisites & Notes: permission.

SMS 693: Problems in Marine Science II (Ar)

Directed studies of current problems in marine science. (Spring.)

Prerequisites & Notes: permission.

SMS 697: Readings in Marine Science (Ar)

A graduate level reading course on a topic arranged between the instructor and the student. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites & Notes: permission..

SMS 699: Graduate Thesis / Research (Ar)

Graduate Thesis

Prerequisites & Notes: None.