About the course
"How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean” - Arthur C. Clark
The ocean encircles the globe, forming the largest interconnected ecosystem on earth. It provides a huge range of services on which we rely; food, energy, transportation, environmental resilience, but also material benefits such as beauty, cultural identity, and recreation that enhance our sense of well-being. The pivotal role of the ocean in stabilizing climate, enabling a just distribution of economic prosperity and allowing for sustainable management and good governance of human activities is recognized in Goal 14 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focuses on the Ocean.
Our course will provide you a knowledge base that brings to you to the science and fascination of the ocean. Marine scientists have teamed up with economists, lawyers and philosophers to bring you a holistic view of how the ocean functions, how human interactions with the ocean can be understood, and what solutions are available to support both sustainable use and stewardship of our blue planet.
We address you – learners around the world who want to share our nuggets of insight and include these in your knowledge space. Whether you are looking to upgrade your education, are professionally involved in ocean issues, or seek to know more about your local coastline such as the fish you eat or the climate that the ocean regulates; we invite you to join us on this voyage of discovery.
You can expect to learn:
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The physics, biology, chemistry and the geology of the ocean
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How human interactions with the ocean impacts it's resilience
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The rules and regulations governing ocean use and related economics of ocean ecosystems
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Sustainable solution options for natural resource use, habitat protection, fisheries, and coastal systems
Course Logistics & Requirements
The course will run as a self-paced course until August 31, 2022. If you wish to upgrade your track, be mindful of the Important Course Dates section on the main "Course" tab.
A note on dates:
For self-paced courses, edX suggests due dates for assignments and exams as a way to help you stay on track. These due dates are suggestions to help you plan and pace your studies. You can submit assignments or exams any time up until the final end date of the course. Learn more about edX suggested due dates here.
If you see an assignment you have not completed is Past Due, or you see a message that you have missed a suggested deadline on the course homepage or Dates tab, you can shift your due dates. You can shift your due dates using the Shift due dates button on the course homepage or Dates tab. This will not affect any of the progress you have made in the course so far.
Structure
- Estimated time commitment: That the course is structured into six modules, but it is self-paced. You can complete the modules at any time until the course closes on August 31, 2022. If you follow a weekly schedule, we estimate that it will take 4-6 hours per week to go through all lectures and engagement activities.
- Requirements: An internet connection
- Pre-requisites: None
- Core Course components include:
- Pre-recorded lectures (5-8 core lecture videos per week)
- Pre- and post-course surveys
Verified learners also have access to:
- Mid-term exam (40% of your overall grade)
- Final exam (50% of your overall grade)
This course is especially keen on provoking discussion and gathering your engagement. Thus, every module is also accompanied by:
- Accessory Material and some activities relating to the video lectures
Certificates
Students who successfully complete the course may choose to purchase a Verified Certificate signed by the course instructors. In order to successfully complete the course, students must score an average of 70% or higher on the graded components of the course. In order to be eligible to purchase a verified certificate, you must achieve a 70% overall average grade (details on the "Grading" page). You may decide to purchase a verified certificate
As a reminder, edX offers financial assistance to learners who need it.
Translations
All core course lectures have been recorded in English. You may view the transcript on the right side by clicking the " button at the far bottom right of the video or opt to view Closed Caption embedded within the video (click on CC).
Partial Transcripts are also available in Chinese, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Click on the " button of all core videos to view the transcript options available.
Contact Information
Questions? Concerns?
Please be sure to direct any technical questions about the course to edX using the "Help" button at the top of your page!
Questions about course content or the SDG Academy, in general, should be addressed to courses@sdgacademy.org.