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MACS 418: Paleoceanography
Oceans covers about 70% of Earth’s surface, harboring valuable natural resources and rich biodiversity as well as playing a fundamental role in the hydrologic cycle and the climate system. Human observation of the oceans represents a tiny fraction their existence on Earth and there is much to learn by looking deeper in time. Paleoceanography is the study of the oceans as they were in the past and this course considers the major methods in the field and applies them to regional examples in the north Pacific Ocean and Salish Sea. Specific topics covered will include the geologic settings where paleoceanographic information is archived, common marine dating methods, techniques for estimating important ocean variables ranging from productivity to circulation to temperature, the Cenozoic evolution of the oceans, Milankovitch cycles, and abrupt ocean change. Concepts from geology, chemistry, physics and marine science will be used to explore this interdisciplinary topic through discussion, case studies, data analysis and collaborative research.
Offered in 1 of the 26 listed terms (Spring 2026).
Catalog entryBrowse ClassesTextbooks (WWU Bookstore)
Prerequisites
((GEOL 101 and (GEOL 211A) or GEOL 211 or HNRS 212) and (MACS 210 or MACS 211 or GEOL 340 or ESCI 321 or ESCI 393))
Prerequisite tree
Each course's own prerequisites, down to the first courses in the chain.
- GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology
requires MATH 107 or MATH 108 or MATH 112 or MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Statistics AP Exam, score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30- MATH 107 Mathematical Reasoning and Its Applications
requires MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or MATH 112 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 145 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 25 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2- MATH 099 Introductory Algebra
requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 1 - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods
requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 148 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 35 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or MATH 197C (minimum grade S) or MATH 109 (minimum grade S)
- MATH 099 Introductory Algebra
- MATH 108 Math Applications & Reasoning
requires MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or MATH 112 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 145 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 25 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods
requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 148 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 35 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or MATH 197C (minimum grade S) or MATH 109 (minimum grade S) - MATH 114 Precalculus I
requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or MATH 112 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70- MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II
requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus
requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 70 - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80 - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4 - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus
requires Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4 or (Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 2 and Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3) - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics
requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 152 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MATH 112- MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics
requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 148 or MATH 156 or MATH 114 or MATH 118 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 2.3 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 2.3 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2
- MATH 107 Mathematical Reasoning and Its Applications
- GEOL 211A Physical Geology Review
requires (MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65) and (GEOL 101 (minimum grade B-) or HNRS 158 or HNRS 212 or SCED 202 (minimum grade B-))- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology (shown above)
- HNRS 212 Colloquium in Geology
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- SCED 202 Matter and Energy in Earth Systems
- GEOL 211 Physical Geology
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- HNRS 212 Colloquium in Geology
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MACS 210 Introduction to Marine and Coastal Science Research
- MACS 211 Introduction to Marine and Coastal Science
requires MACS 110- MACS 110 Marine Habitat Diversity
- GEOL 340 Geological Oceanography
requires (GEOL 101 or HNRS 158 and GEOL 211A) or (GEOL 211 or HNRS 212) or SCED 202 - ESCI 321 Oceanography
requires BIOL 205 and (CHEM 121 or CHEM 161 or CHEM 175) and (MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 75)- BIOL 205 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology w/lab
requires BIOL 204 and (CHEM 121 or CHEM 161 or CHEM 125 or CHEM 175) and (CHEM 122 or CHEM 162 or CHEM 126 or CHEM 176)- BIOL 204 Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity w/lab
requires (CHEM 121 or CHEM 161) or (CHEM 125 or CHEM 175)- CHEM 161 General Chemistry I
requires MATH 114 or MATH 156 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 115 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- CHEM 161 General Chemistry I
- CHEM 161 General Chemistry I
requires MATH 114 or MATH 156 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 115 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- CHEM 162 General Chemistry II
requires CHEM 121 or CHEM 161- CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
- CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors
requires CHEM 175- CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
- BIOL 204 Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity w/lab
- CHEM 161 General Chemistry I
requires MATH 114 or MATH 156 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 115 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors
requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- BIOL 205 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology w/lab
- ESCI 393 Our Coastal Seas and Climate Change
requires (ENVS 203 or HNRS 215 or ESCI 321 or GEOL 211 or (GEOL 101 and GEOL 211A)) and (MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157)- ENVS 203 Physical Geography
- HNRS 215 Colloquium in Physical Geography
- ESCI 321 Oceanography (shown above)
- GEOL 211 Physical Geology (shown above)
- GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology (shown above)
- GEOL 211A Physical Geology Review (shown above)
- MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
- MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
- MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
From Banner's catalog for Spring 2027. Banner lists only the requisites it enforces, so check the catalog entry too.
Required by (0)
No course lists it as a prerequisite.
Syllabi and course websites
None listed yet.
Instructors
| Instructor | Sections | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Saenger, Casey | 1 | Spring 2026 |
Every offering in the listed terms (1 section)
| Term | Sec | CRN | Type | Meets | Instructor | Enrolled | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | 0 | 23348 | Lecture | TR 10:00am-11:50am · IS 410 | Saenger, Casey | 19/20 | Face to Face Instruction |