Ocean Recreation Associate in Arts Degree

Windward Community College

Associate in Arts Degree in Ocean Recreation and Safety

Proposed Program Description

Mission and Goals

In recognition of the fact that the ocean recreation industry is an important economic engine for the state of Hawai'i and that the people of Hawai'i benefit from this industry because it enhances the quality of their lives by providing recreational activities and employment opportunities, the Ocean Recreation Associate in Arts Degree Program seeks to support this industry by providing trained graduates with basic knowledge and experience in ocean recreation. Students graduating from this program will have knowledge and understanding of the ocean environment (especially the Hawaiian ocean environment), best environmental practices, water safety practices, social and cultural aspects of ocean recreation, legal and management issues, and specific water sports.

In addition to completing Windward Community College requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree (see below), the student will complete a prescribed program of study involving 24 credit hours of ocean recreation courses. The minimum number of credits required for the Associate in Arts Degree is 60 credits.

General Associate in Arts Degree Requirements for WCC Credits

Written Communication 3

ENG 100 (Expository Writing)

Mathematical or Logical Thinking 3

MATH 100, 111, 135,140, 203, 205, 206, or 231, or

PHIL 110 (Introduction to Logic)

World Civilization 6

HIST 151 (World Civilization I) and

HIST 152 (World Civilization II)

Oral Communications 3

Comun 145 (Interpersonal Communication) or

SP (Speech) 151, 231, or 251

Arts and Humanities 9

Three semester courses, one selected from three of the four groups (see college catalog for specific courses):

Group 1: The Arts

Group 2: History & Culture

Group 3: Languages, Linguistics, & Literature

Group 4: Values & Meaning

Natural Sciences 9

Nine credits, minimum of three credits in biological science (Group 1) and minimum of three credits in physical science (Group 2). In addition, one of these courses must be a laboratory/field trip course selected from Group 1, Group 2, or Group 3. Note, OCN 121, 121L, and 122, required courses for the Ocean Recreation Degree, also satisfy minimum requirements for biological, physical, and laboratory science (see college catalog for other possible courses).

Group 1: Biological Science

OCN 122 (Biological Oceanography)

Group 2: Physical Science

OCN 121 (The Physical Environment of the Ocean)

OCN 121L (The Physical Environment of the Ocean Lab)

Group 3: Other Sciences

Social Sciences 9

Nine credits made up of three or more courses from three different subject areas (see college catalog for applicable courses).

Writing Intensive Courses 6

Students must take six credits of Writing Intensive (WI) courses to fulfill graduation requirements. WI courses are regular courses with sufficient writing content and practice to be certified as such. This requirement is usually possible to achieve within the framework of normal course offerings.

Ocean Recreation (OR) Course Requirements (24 Credits Total)

OR 100 (Introduction to Ocean Recreation) 3

OR 110 (Water Safety) 3

OCN 121 (The Physical Environment of the Ocean) 3

OCN 121L (The Physical Environment of the Ocean Lab) 1

OCN 122 (Biological Oceanography) 3

OR 200 (Ocean Recreation Social and Cultural Issues) 3

OR 210 (Ocean Recreation Management and Legal Issues) 3

OR 220A-E (Water Sports)

OR 220A (Water Sports: Diving and Swimming) 1

OR 220B (Water Sports: Wind-powered Sports) 1

OR 220C (Water Sports: Paddle-powered Sports) 1

OR 220D (Water Sports: Surf Sports) 1

OR 220E (Water Sports: Boating) 1

Ocean Recreation Associate in Arts Degree

Sample Two-Year Curriculum

First Semester

OCN 121 (The Physical Environment of the Ocean)*** 3

OCN 121L (The Physical Environment of the Ocean Lab)*** 1

OR 100 (Introduction to Ocean Recreation)** 3

ENG 100 (Expository Writing)* 3

HIST 151 (World Civilization I)* 3

MATH 100 (Survey of Mathematics)* 3

Total Credits 16

Second Semester

OCN 122 (Biological Oceanography)*** 3

OR 110 (Water Safety)** 3

ECON 101 (Consumer Economics) 3

HIST 152 (World Civilization II)* 3

HUM 100 (Introduction to Humanities)* 3

Total Credits 15

Third Semester

OR 200 (Ocean Recreation Social and Cultural Issues)** 3

OR 220E (Water Sports: Diving and Swimming)** 1

OR 220B (Water Sports: Wind-powered Sports)** 1

GEOG 122 (Geography of Hawai'i)* 3

IS 160A (Polynesian Voyaging and Seamanship)* 3

SP 151 (Personal and Public Speech)* 3

Total Credits 14

Fourth Semester

OR 210 (Ocean Recreation Management and Legal Issues)** 3

OR 220C (Water Sports: Paddle-powered Sports)** 1

OR 220D (Water Sports: Surf Sports)** 1

OR 220E (Water Sports: Boating)** 1

BIOL 100 (Human Biology)* 3

SOC 100 (Survey of General Sociology)* 3

PHIL 101 (Introduction to Philosophy: Morals and Society)* 3

Total Credits 15

TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS 60

* satisfies WCC general education core requirements

** satisfies WCC Ocean Recreation requirements

*** satisfies both WCC core and Ocean Recreation requirements

Windward Community College

Ocean Recreation Associate in Arts Degree

Brief Course Descriptions

OR 100 Introduction to Ocean Recreation 3 credits

Introduction and overview of ocean recreation with special emphasis on ocean recreation in Hawai'i. (3 hours lecture).

Topics include:

+ The waterman concept

+ History of ocean recreation

+ Development of the ocean recreation industry

+ Overview of various water sports

+ Ocean recreation in HawaiÔi

+ Ocean-based ecotourism

+ Current and future trends in ocean recreation

+ Water safety issues

+ Ocean recreation employment opportunities

+ Introduction to ocean recreation management issues

OR 110 Water Safety 3 credits

Introduction to water safety issues and practices for ocean recreation activities. (2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab).

Topics include:

+ Introduction to life guarding and rescue skills

+ Emergency medical skills (e.g., CPR & First Aid)

+ Using personal water craft and boats for rescues

+ Victim psychology

+ Interacting with professional EMS personnel

+ Radio communications protocol

+ Near shore and beach hazard assessment

+ Risk management principles and assessment

OR 200 Ocean Recreation Social and Cultural Issues 3 credits

An understanding of the human element in ocean recreation with special emphasis on ocean recreation in Hawai'i. (3 hours lecture).

Topics include:

+ Water sport protocol and etiquette

+ Interpersonal relationships and communication

+ Water sport ethics

+ Professional and ethical employment behavior

+ Understanding locality-specific practices and protocols

+ Understanding the sensitivities and protocols of the Hawaiian people

+ Important people who contributed to ocean recreation in Hawai'i

+ Understanding the Hawaiian relationship with the land and the ocean

o The ahupua'a

o Identification of historically and culturally significant ocean recreation locations

o Hawaiian myths, legends, & place names for ocean recreation locations

o Historical facts regarding specific ocean recreation locations in Hawai'i

OR 210 Ocean Recreation Management and Legal Issues 3 credits

Introduction to the management of ocean recreation activities and the legal issues associated with these activities. (3 hours lecture).

Topics include:

+ Description of ocean recreation management and regulatory agencies

o Federal, state, & municipal agencies

o Mission, scope, and jurisdiction of each agency

o Inter-agency integration and cooperation

+ Laws and regulations governing ocean recreation activities

o Federal, state, & municipal laws and regulations

o Permits

o Enforcement responsibility

+ Liability issues

+ Ocean safety management

+ Ocean/water park and tourism operations

+ Ocean recreation business concerns and operations

+ Putting on water sports events

+ Managing multiple user conflicts

+ Interaction between ocean recreation activities and the environment

+ Enhancing public education and awareness

+ Example case studies

OR 220A-E Water Sports 5 courses @ 1 credit each

Hands-on experiences and practices in five categories of water sports (each in its own 1 credit course): diving & swimming (OR 220A), wind-powered sports (OR 220B), paddle-powered sports (OR 220C), surf sports (OR 220D), and boating (OR 220E). (each course = 5 weeks with 3 hour lect/lab).

Topics for each sport include:

+ Introduction and description of the sport

+ History and development of the sport

+ Equipment design, function, and maintenance

+ Customary practices and sport etiquette

OCN 121 The Physical Environment of the Ocean 3 credits

An introduction to physical science in the context of chemical, physical, and geological oceanography. Topics include the historical and philosophical development of the natural sciences, the history of oceanography, origins of the earth and its oceans, maps and ocean navigation, physical and chemical properties of sea water, waves, tides, currents, meteorology, ocean-atmosphere interaction, the geologic structure of the ocean floor, and human use of the ocean resources such as manganese nodules and fossil fuels. (3 hours lecture).

Topics relevant to the OR program include:

+ Map projections, coordinate systems, using charts, and Navigation basics

+ Physical and chemical properties of water and sea water

+ How various physical parameters (light, temperature, pressure, salinity, density, etc.) change with depth in the ocean

+ Geologic processes shaping continents, islands, the ocean floor, and coastlines

+ The composition, structure, and formation of ocean sediments

+ Characteristics and formation of ocean currents, waves, and tides

+ Characteristics of shores, coastlines, and the coastal ocean and the processes that shape and influence them.

+ Recognition of natural physical hazards in the ocean (e.g., waves, current, weather, reefs, etc.) and how to avoid them

+ Identification, utilization, and management of ocean physical resources such as minerals and energy

+ Human impacts on the ocean environment (physical and chemical impacts)

+ Law of the Sea

OCN 121L The Physical Environment of the Ocean Lab 1 credit

Companion lab course to OCN 121. (3 hours lab).

Topics relevant to the OR program include:

+ Marine charts and navigation

+ Bathymetry and geomorphology

+ Solar radiation and heat balance

+ Sea water temperatures

+ The salinity of seawater

+ Water masses and temperature-salinity diagrams

+ Water quality assessment in an estuary

+ Waves at Sea

+ Shallow-water waves and coastal processes

+ Beach profiling

+ Tides

+ Surface Currents

+ Sediment analyses

OCN 122 Biological Oceanography 3 credits

Introduction to biological science from a marine science perspective. This class will investigate the biology of marine organisms, covering major concepts and principles of biology such as classification, genetics, structure, physiology, ecology, and evolution. In addition this class will discuss the utilization, exploitation, and pollution of marine resources. (3 hours lecture)

Topics relevant to the OR program include:

+ The classification of the marine environment in regards to where living things occur and the characteristics of these different environmental zones

+ The species of marine life inhabiting these environmental zones and their adaptations for success

+ How the ocean differs from other environments (land, freshwater, & air) as a place for living things (how factors such as light, temperature, salinity, pressure, etc., affect living things, including humans in the ocean)

+ How living things are classified and named

+ Identification and handling of dangerous marine life; what to do if injured by dangerous marine life

+ Natural history of commonly encountered marine life (especially Hawaiian species such as humpback whales, monk seals, green sea turtles, fishes, corals, other invertebrates, seaweeds, etc.)

+ A special understanding of Hawai'i's coastal environments (e.g., near-shore deeper waters, coral reefs, bays, estuaries, wetlands, etc.), their formation, ecology, importance, and management

+ Identification, utilization, and management of ocean biological resources (e.g., fisheries and mariculture)

+ Influence of human activities involving the ocean and its ecosystems (e.g., pollution, exploitation of biological resources, carelessness, etc.)