Fall enrollment is open, and closes September 28. Check out the Academic Term Calendar for more information.

The Ocean Environment: An Ecosystem Perspective

ENVIRON X 14

Through online discussions, media assignments, and narrated lectures, this course provides a scientific overview of the oceans with a strong focus on ecosystems and environmental issues.

View Course Options

What you can learn.

Understand basic physical, chemical, geological, and biological components and paradigms of ocean environment
Recognize marine environmental issues: ocean acidification, global climate change, marine mammal conservation, and ecosystem degradation
Evaluate physical, chemical, geological, and biological features of marine ecosystems

About this course:

This course provides students with an overview of the scientific study of the oceans with a strong focus on ecosystems and environmental issues. The course incorporates narrated lectures, readings, media assignments and online discussion. Through these course activities and assessments, students 1) become knowledgeable with respect to basic physical, chemical, geological and biological components and paradigms of the ocean environment; 2) become familiar with physical, chemical, geological and biological features of several marine ecosystems; and 3) become knowledgeable on marine environmental issues including ocean acidification, global climate change, ocean resources, marine mammal conservation and ecosystem degradation.

Winter 2026 Schedule

January 5 - March 22

This section has no set meeting times.

Future Offering (Opens November 03, 2025 12:00:00 AM)

See Details

Instructor: Rebecca Shipe

406371

Fee:

$900.00

Online

Updating...

See Details

Notes

Enrollment deadline: January 11, 2026.

Enrollment is typically reserved for adult students 18 years of age and older. Students under 18 years of age may receive consent to enroll based on special academic competence and approval by the instructor. If you are a student under 18 years of age, you must submit a request to enroll in the course 8 weeks before the course start date to sustainability@uclaextension.edu for your request to be considered.

Refund Deadline

Refunds only available from November 03, 2025 to January 18, 2026

Course Requirements

Book: Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life by John Morrissey

ISBN 9781284090505