Oceanography, B.S. MAP (MATH 101)

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
GE Area B: Mathematics MATH 101 - College Algebra Units: 3 OR (MATH 101I - College Algebra with Integrated Support Units: 3 AND MATH 1 - Support for College Algebra Units: 1 ) ^[1]
GE Area B: Physical Science / Lab / Major OCN 109 - General Oceanography Units: 3 AND OCN 109L - General Oceanography Laboratory Units: 1
GE Area E: Lifelong Learning SCI 100 - Becoming a STEM Professional in the 21st Century Units: 3

^[1] Credit earned for math support course (MATH 1) does not count toward unit requirements for graduation, GE or major.

Semester 2 (15-16 Units)

GE Area A: Written Communication ENGL 103 - Composition and Rhetoric B Units: 3 ^[2]
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. History
Units: 3
GE Area F: Ethnic Studies & DCG Domestic NAS 104 - Introduction to Native American Studies Units: 3
Prerequisite MATH 101T - Trigonometry Units: 3

^[2] If ENGL 104 was taken the previous semester take an elective, other GE or a major course in place of ENGL 103.

Year 2

Semester 3 (15-16 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 ^[3] MATH 105 - Calculus for the Biological Sciences and Natural Resources Units: 3 OR MATH 109 - Calculus I Units: 4

^[3] See major notes for math/physics pathways.

Semester 4 (15-16 Units)

American Institutions
U.S. and California Government
Units: 3
Major / GE Area B: Life Science BIOL 105 - Principles of Biology Units: 4
Major CHEM 110 - General Chemistry II Units: 5
Major ^[3] MATH 215 - Multivariate Calculus for the Biological Sciences and Natural Resources Units: 3 OR MATH 110 - Calculus II 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 OCN 310 - Biological Oceanography Units: 4
Major OCN 370 - Library Research and Report Writing Seminar Units: 2
Major [3] STAT 109 - Introductory Biostatistics Units: 4 OR MATH 210 - Calculus III Units: 4

Semester 6 (16 Units)

Lower Division GE Area C: Arts
OR
Humanities
Units: 3
Major GEOL 109 - General Geology Units: 4
Major OCN 330 - Chemical Oceanography Units: 4
Major OCN 485 - Undergraduate Seminar Units: 1
Major ^[3] PHYX 106 - College Physics: Mechanics and Heat Units: 4 OR PHYX 109 - General Physics A: Mechanics Units: 4

Year 4

Semester 7 (14-15 Units)

Upper Division GE Area D: Social Sciences
Units: 3
Major OCN 340 - Geological Oceanography Units: 4
Major^[3] PHYX 107 - College Physics: Electromagnetism and Modern Physics Units: 4 OR PHYX 210 - General Physics B: Thermodynamics, Waves and Optics Units: 4
Major (Approved Elective) ^[4]Units: 3-4

^[4] Depending on the math/physics pathway selected, complete 11 or 13 units of major electives.

Semester 8 (15-17 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 and GWAR: OCN 495W - Field Cruise I Units: 3
Major (Approved Elective) ^[4]Units: 2-4

Year 5

Semester 9 (6-10 Units)

Major OCN 496 - Field Cruise II Units: 2
Major (Approved Elective)^[4] Units: 3-4
Major (Approved Elective) ^[4] Units: 1-4 (as needed to meet required units)

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, 13 units of major electives decided with advisor. Pathway 2: MATH 109, MATH 110, MATH 210, PHYX 109, PHYX 210, 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.