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Overview

Your introduction to planet Earth, inside and out. The origin of our universe, oceans, mountains, climate change, and mass extinctions: it’s all connected. Three field trips including a research cruise.

This multidisciplinary paper explores diverse topics through the framework of Earth’s "spheres": Atmosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere. Topics include plate tectonics and associated hazards, climate and its interaction with the oceans, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, biogeochemical cycles and the ingredients for life on Earth, geophysics, fluvial systems, glaciers and ice sheets, and the impact of humans on the planet. You will finish the course with a holistic understanding of planet Earth, and a good feel for topics worth pursuing at more advanced levels.

About this paper

Paper title Earth and Ocean Science
Subject Earth and Ocean Science
EFTS 0.15
Points 18 points
Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,318.20
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Schedule C
Science
Notes
EAOS111 is required for students taking Geology as a major or minor subject, and is recommended for students wishing to enter Marine Science studies at a later stage.
Eligibility

Suitable for students in any discipline interested in gaining a better understanding of how the Earth works and how we can live sustainably in it. No specific science background necessary.

Contact

geology@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Co-ordinators: Dr Sophie Briggs and Professor Claudine Stirling

Teaching Arrangements

3 lectures and one 3-hour laboratory in 7 weeks of the semester.

Fieldwork: Two field trips (one on a weekend).

Textbooks
The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science 3rd Edition by Brian J Skinner & Barbara W Murck (2011), J Wiley & Sons Inc.
Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Critical thinking, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will:

  • Understand the processes that shape Earth's interior, surface, and oceans
  • Draw connections between the various components of the Earth system
  • Understand the concept of geologic time in relation to physical and biological systems
  • Apply concepts introduced in lectures and laboratories to real-world settings in the field
Assessment details

Assessment is 50% internal (during the semester) and 50% external (final examination)

Overview

Your introduction to planet Earth, inside and out. The origin of our Earth, oceans, mountains, and climate change: it’s all connected. Field trips including a research cruise.

This multidisciplinary paper explores diverse topics through the framework of Earth’s "spheres": Atmosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere. Topics include plate tectonics and associated hazards, climate and its interaction with the oceans, atmospheric and oceanic circulation, biogeochemical cycles and the ingredients for life on Earth, geophysics, fluvial systems, glaciers and ice sheets and the impact of humans on the planet. You will finish the course with a holistic understanding of planet Earth and a good feel for topics worth pursuing at more advanced levels.

About this paper

Paper title Earth and Ocean Science
Subject Earth and Ocean Science
EFTS 0.15
Points 18 points
Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Schedule C
Science
Notes
EAOS 111 is required for students taking Geology or Marine Science as their major subject. It is also required for a Marine Science minor, and strongly recommended for a Geology minor.
Eligibility

Suitable for students in any discipline interested in gaining a better understanding of how the Earth works and how we can live sustainably in it. No specific science background necessary.

Contact

geology@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Co-ordinators: Professor Claudine Stirling and Dr Sophie Briggs

Teaching Arrangements

Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory in seven weeks of the semester.

Fieldwork: Two compulsory field trips (one on a weekend).

Textbooks
  • The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science 3rd Edition by Brian J Skinner & Barbara W Murck (2011), J Wiley & Sons Inc.
  • Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Critical thinking, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    Students who successfully complete this paper will:

    • Understand the processes that shape Earth's interior, surface and oceans
    • Draw connections between the various components of the Earth system
    • Understand the concept of geologic time in relation to physical, chemical and biological systems
    • Apply concepts introduced in lectures and laboratories to real-world settings in the field
    Assessment details

    Assessment is 50% internal (during the semester) and 50% external (final examination).

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