MACS 421: Waves and Tides

Marine & Coastal Science · 4 credits

Using a new data set and cutting edge oceanographic instrumentation, students will apply the basic physics of waves and tides to investigate sea level properties on the Washington coast and across the Pacific Ocean. Topics will include: wave generation, transformation, and breaking; tidal forcing and currents; coastal inundation and sea level rise. Assignments and in-class activities for this class will make use of the Backyard Buoys’ project array of community stewarded wave buoys to investigate these topics. This course will include two field trips to deploy and recover a wave buoy near the Shannon Point Marine Center; students will work with the buoy data during the course.

Offered in 2 of the 26 listed terms (Winter 2024 to Winter 2026).

Catalog entry Browse Classes Textbooks (WWU Bookstore)

Prerequisites

(MATH 125 or MATH 135 or MATH 138) and (ESCI 340 or BIOL 340 or MACS 401) and PHYS 162

Prerequisite tree

Each course's own prerequisites, down to the first courses in the chain.

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 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 115 Precalculus II
    requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
    - 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
        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
        requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 1
        MATH 197C Support Topics for Functions and Algebraic Methods
        requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
        MATH 109 Support for Functions and Algebraic Methods
        requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
  - 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 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 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
  - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
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)
ESCI 340 Biostatistical Analysis
requires (CHEM 123 or CHEM 163 or CHEM 225) and (BIOL 206 or PHYS 163)
- CHEM 163 General Chemistry III
  requires CHEM 122 or CHEM 162
  - CHEM 162 General Chemistry II
    requires CHEM 121 or CHEM 161
    - 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
        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 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
        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 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
        MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
        MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
- CHEM 225 General Chemistry III, Honors
  requires CHEM 126 or CHEM 176
  - CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors
    requires CHEM 175
    - 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)
- BIOL 206 Introduction to Organismal Biology w/lab
  requires BIOL 205 and (CHEM 122 or CHEM 162 or CHEM 126 or CHEM 176) and (CHEM 123 or CHEM 163 or CHEM 225)
  - 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 (shown above)
      - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
    - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
    - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
    - CHEM 162 General Chemistry II (shown above)
    - CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors (shown above)
  - CHEM 162 General Chemistry II (shown above)
  - CHEM 176 General Chemistry II, Honors (shown above)
  - CHEM 163 General Chemistry III (shown above)
  - CHEM 225 General Chemistry III, Honors (shown above)
- PHYS 163 Physics with Calculus III
  requires PHYS 162 and ((MATH 124 and MATH 125) or (MATH 134 and MATH 135) or MATH 138)
  - PHYS 162 Physics with Calculus II
    requires (PHYS 161 or HNRS 211) and ((MATH 124 and MATH 125) or (MATH 134 and MATH 135) or MATH 138)
    - PHYS 161 Physics with Calculus I
      requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
      - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
      - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
    - HNRS 211 Colloquium in Physics
      requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
      - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
      - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (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 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)
BIOL 340 Biostatistics
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 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
- MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
MACS 401 Earth and Ocean Data Analysis
requires (PHYS 161 or HNRS 211) and (MATH 125 or MATH 135 or MATH 138)
- PHYS 161 Physics with Calculus I
  requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- HNRS 211 Colloquium in Physics
  requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
- MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
- MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
- MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
PHYS 162 Physics with Calculus II
requires (PHYS 161 or HNRS 211) and ((MATH 124 and MATH 125) or (MATH 134 and MATH 135) or MATH 138)
- PHYS 161 Physics with Calculus I (shown above)
- HNRS 211 Colloquium in Physics (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)

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.

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Instructors

Instructor	Sections	Terms
Kastner, Sam	2	Winter 2024 to Winter 2026

Every offering in the listed terms (2 sections)

Term	Sec	CRN	Type	Meets	Instructor	Enrolled	Delivery
Winter 2026	0	13642	Lecture/Lab	TR 1:00pm-2:50pm · IS 410	Kastner, Sam	20/20	Face to Face Instruction
Winter 2024	0	13846	Lecture/Lab	TR 1:00pm-2:50pm · IS 410	Kastner, Sam	21/22	Face to Face Instruction