NB: Undergraduate courses in Oceanography are offered at Second-Year level.
  • Students interested in an undergraduate degree in Oceanography must Apply Online
  • Please consult the Science Faculty Handbook to select First Year Core Courses to major in Ocean & Atmosphere Science (SEA03)

Second-Year Courses

SEA2004F PRINCIPLES OF OCEANOGRAPHY  24 NQF credits at NQF level 6

Convener: Associate Professor  K  Altieri

Course entry requirements: BIO1004S or GEO1009F, CEM1000W, or permission of the convener

Course outline: An introduction to the principles of oceanography, including an introduction to physical, biological and chemical oceanography, marine geology, and the ocean atmosphere system. The course comprises multiple modules, which cover the above topics. Oceanographic instrumentation and methods of data analysis will be covered in the tutorials and practicals.

Lecture times: Monday - Friday, 4th period

DP requirements: Attendance at  practicals and a class mark of at least 40%.

Assessment: Practicals and tests count 50%; one 3-hour examination written in June/July counts 50%. A subminimum of 40% in the examination is required.

SEA2005S MARINE SYSTEMS  24 NQF credits at NQF level 6

Convener: Associate Professor SE Fawcett

Course entry requirements:  BIO1004S or GEO1009F, CEM1000W, SEA2004F, or permission of the convener

Course outline: Building on the Principles of Oceanography SEA2004F course, this more advanced course will cover the main ocean and atmosphere systems with a particular emphasis on their biogeochemical functioning. This includes an introduction to the major marine biogeochemical cycles, seawater carbonate chemistry, phytoplankton-nutrient interactions and growth kinetics, surface ocean-lower atmosphere interactions, and an introduction to Earth system dynamics. The physical forcings and their biogeochemical and ecosystem responses will be quantitatively illustrated for upwelling systems, oligotrophic systems, coastal systems around South Africa, and the Southern Ocean. Emphasis will be placed on treating the system in an integrative manner. Methods of data sampling and analysis, and computation of biogeochemical pools, rates and feedbacks will be covered in the tutorials and practicals.

Lecture times: Monday - Friday, 4th period

DP requirements: Attendance of lectures and practicals, and a class mark of at least 40%.

Assessment: Practicals and tests count 50%; a final examination written in October/November counts 50%. A subminimum of 40% in the examination is required. 

Third-Year Course

SEA3004F OCEAN & ATMOSPHERE DYNAMICS  36 NQF credits at NQF level 7

Convener: Professor M Vichi

Course entry requirements: PHY1031F or equivalent, BIO1004S or GEO1009F, CEM1000W, SEA2004F, SEA2005S.

Course outline: The Ocean & Atmosphere dynamics course will begin to specialise in advanced material related to physical oceanography, atmospheric science and climate. These topics will include a quantitative approach to ocean/atmosphere dynamics, theories of circulation and the development of ocean and atmospheric weather systems, coupled ocean/atmosphere processes, interactions and feedbacks with the carbon cycle in the earth system and climate change. Methods of analysis of both observations and model data will be covered in the tutorials and practicals.

Lecture times: Monday - Friday, 4th period

DP requirements: Attendance at tutorials and practicals, and a class mark of at least 40%.

Assessment: Tutorials/practicals and tests count 40%; one 3-hour examination written in October counts 60%. A sub-minimum of 40% in the examination is required.