Oceanography, B.S. MAP (ready for calculus)

Major Academic Plans

Major Academic Plans (or MAPS) show the courses you might take each semester to meet your degree requirements in 4 years. Students at Cal Poly Humboldt follow many different paths to graduation. Your educational and career goals, as well as personal interests all contribute to determining the courses you take. We encourage you to discuss course options with an advisor.

The General Education and All-University Requirements in this MAP are in effect for students entering Cal Poly Humboldt with the catalog year of 2023-24. Refer to your degree audit for details on your major and GE catalog year.

Set yourself up for academic success in challenging classes. Add a 1-unit Supplemental Instruction (SI) session.

Explore the Supplemental Instruction

options to see if there’s a match with a class you are taking.

Year 1

Semester 1 (13-15 Units)

GE Area A: Written Communication ENGL 102 - Composition and Rhetoric A Units: 3 OR ENGL 104 - Accelerated Composition and Rhetoric Units: 3
Optional: ENGL 110 - Academic Literacies Support and Seminar Units: 2
Major / GE Area B: Mathematics MATH 105 - Calculus for the Biological Sciences and Natural Resources Units: 3 ^{[1, 2]}OR MATH 109 ^{[1, 2]}
Major / GE Area B1: Physical Science OCN 109 - General Oceanography Units: 3 AND B3: Lab Activity OCN 109L
GE Area E: Lifelong Learning SCI 100 - Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century Units: 3

^[1]Prerequisite of MATH 102 or (MATH 101 and MATH 101T) or placement into calculus. See placement categories in Admission Information for details. Students not yet eligible to take MATH 105 or MATH109 should consult an advisor.

^[2] See Major Notes for math and physics pathways.

Semester 2 (15-17 Units)

GE Area A: Written Communication ENGL 103 - Composition and Rhetoric B Units: 3 ^[3]
Optional: ENGL 110 - Academic Literacies Support and Seminar Units: 2
GE Area A: Critical Thinking Units: 3
American Institutions / GE Area D: Social Science
U.S. and California Government
Units: 3
GE Area F: Ethnic Studies / DCG Domestic NAS 104 - Introduction to Native American Studies Units: 3
Major MATH 215 - Multivariate Calculus for the Biological Sciences and Natural Resources Units: 3 OR MATH 110 ^[2]

^[3] If ENGL 104 was taken last semester, take an elective, other GE or major course in place of ENGL 103.

Year 2

Semester 3 (16 Units)

GE Area A: Oral Communication COMM 100 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
Units: 3
Major CHEM 109 - General Chemistry I Units: 5
Major OCN 260 - Sampling Techniques and Field Studies Units: 1
Major STAT 109 - Introductory Biostatistics Units: 4 OR MATH 210 ^[2]

Semester 4 (16 Units)

American Institutions
U.S. History
Units: 3
Major / GE Area B: Life Science BIOL 105 - Principles of Biology Units: 4
Major CHEM 110 - General Chemistry II Units: 5
Major GEOL 109 - General Geology Units: 4

Year 3

Semester 5 (16 Units)

Lower Division GE Area C: Humanities
Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area D: Social Sciences
Units: 3
Major PHYX 106 - College Physics: Mechanics and Heat Units: 4 OR PHYX 109 ^[2]
Major OCN 310 - Biological Oceanography Units: 4
Major OCN 370 - Library Research and Report Writing Seminar Units: 2

Semester 6 (17-18 Units)

Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
OR
Humanities
Units: 3
Major OCN 330 - Chemical Oceanography Units: 4
Major and GWAR OCN 495W - Field Cruise I Units: 3
Major PHYX 107 - College Physics: Electromagnetism and Modern Physics Units: 4 OR PHYX 210 ^[2]
Major Elective ^[2] Units: 3-4

Year 4

Semester 7 (15-17 Units)

Upper Division GE Area D: Social Sciences
(take a course that double-counts for DCG) Units: 3
Major OCN 340 - Geological Oceanography Units: 4
Major OCN 496 - Field Cruise II Units: 2
Major Elective OR Minor Units: 3-4 ^[2]
Major Elective OR Minor Units: 3-4 ^[2]

Semester 8 (13-15 Units)

Upper Division GE Area C: Arts & Humanities
Units: 3
Major OCN 320 - Physical Oceanography Units: 4
Major OCN 420 - Oceans and Climate Units: 3
Major OCN 485 - Undergraduate Seminar Units: 1
Major Elective ^[2] Units: 2-4

^[2]See Major Notes for math and physics pathways.

Major Notes

Students choose 1 of 2 pathways for math, physics and electives units: Pathway 1: MATH 105, MATH 215, STAT 109, PHYX 106, PHYX 107 and 13 units of major electives decided with advisor. Pathway 2: MATH 109, MATH 110, MATH 210, PHYX 109, PHYX 210 and 11 units of major electives decided with advisor.

GE modifications for this major: the Upper Division GE Area B requirement is met by completion of this major.