Oceanography, B.S. MAP

Major Academic Plans

At Cal Poly Humboldt, your path to graduation is shaped by your goals and interests. Major Academic Plans (MAPs) suggest courses each semester to help you meet degree requirements in four years. They’re flexible, especially for General Education & All-University Requirements , so use them as a guide-not a rule. First-year students join Place-Based Learning Communities (PBLCs), taking connected courses with peers. Some majors fulfill GE requirements through Approved General Education Modifications by Major . Use DARS planning tools to build your personalized plan, and meet with your advisor each semester to customize your schedule and stay on track. Visit the PBLC website for more information.

Year 1

Semester 1 (14 Units)

Semester 2 (16 Units)

Major (Core, Lower Division): CHEM 109 - General Chemistry I Units: 5
Major (Core, Lower Division): OCN 260 - Sampling Techniques and Field Studies Units: 1
Major (Math/Physics Option) Units: 4
Lower Division GE Area 1C: Speech Communication Units: 3
GE Area 6: Ethnic Studies and Diversity and Common Ground: Domestic and American Institutions: U.S. History Units: 3

Year 2

Semester 3 (15 Units)

Major (Core, Lower Division): CHEM 110 - General Chemistry II Units: 5
Major (Math/Physics Option) Units: 4
Lower Division GE Area 3B: Humanities and Diversity and Common Ground: Domestic or Non-Domestic Units: 3
American Institutions:
U.S. and California Government
Units: 3

Semester 4 (14 Units)

Major (Core, Lower Division): GEOL 109 - General Geology Units: 4
Major and Lower Division GE Area 5B: Biological Science : BIOL 105 - Principles of Biology Units: 4
Lower Division GE Area 3A: Arts Units: 3
Lower Division GE Area 4: Social Sciences
Units: 3

Year 3

Semester 5 (14 Units)

Major (Math/Physics Option) Units: 4
Major (Core, Upper Division): OCN 310 - Biological Oceanography Units: 4
Major (Core, Upper Division): OCN 370 - Library Research and Report Writing Seminar Units: 2
Major (Approved Elective) Units: 4

Semester 6 (16 Units)

Major (Core, Upper Division): OCN 330 - Chemical Oceanography Units: 4
Major (Core, Upper Division): OCN 485 - Undergraduate Seminar Units: 1
Major (Core, Upper Division): OCN 495W - Field Cruise I Units: 3
Major (Approved Elective) Units: 4
Major (Math/Physics Option) Units: 4

Year 4

Semester 7 (14 Units)

Major (Math/Physics Option) Units: 4
Major (Core, Upper Division): OCN 340 - Geological Oceanography Units: 4
Major (Core, Upper Division): OCN 496 - Field Cruise II Units: 2
Major (Approved Elective) Units: 4

Semester 8 (17 Units)

Major: OCN 320 - Physical Oceanography Units: 4
Major: OCN 420 - Oceans and Climate Units: 3
Upper Division GE Area 3: Arts or Humanities
Units: 3
Upper Division GE Area 4: Social Sciences Units: 3
Elective Units: 4

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 2/5: Mathematics or Sciences requirement is met by completion of this major.