Natural Hazards & the Ocean is primarily a descriptive course that is intended to educate students about the roles of the oceans in such natural hazards as hurricanes, earthquakes, global warming, and tsunamis. The course will address student curiosity about these ocean-related hazards, by presenting a conceptual understanding of the relevant underlying ocean-atmosphere, and earth-mediated mechanisms. The students will be presented in lecture and through their readings about how the application of the scientific method (a) overturned historical Misunderstandings of Earth geology; (b) explains the far-reaching effects of ocean storm-generated waves; (c) relates deep ocean earthquakes to tsunamis; and (d) relates how dust from the North African deserts is related to hurricane generation.

Guides graduate student preparation of an acceptable master's thesis or PhD dissertation proposal in a series of papers and in-class oral presentations. Students work with a thesis advisor and committee within a framework defined by the instructor to define a thesis problem in terms of relevant literature and design a research plan, including a support budget. In the process, students are expected to improve their skills in literature research, writing, and oral presentations.