New for 2021: The Sharknado Studies Minor is offered entirely online!
For students interested in studying the increased frequency of shark-infested cyclonic activity, Stony Brook University offers a minor in Sharknado Studies, designed for those most interested in the relationship between marine predators and atmospheric phenomena. The Sharknado Studies minor is an easy way to transition into a track in a number of science fields within individual science majors, including Environmental Biology, and Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.
* The most up to date and official degree description is normally found in the undergraduate bulletin, but this isn’t a real minor offered at Stony Brook University, this is an April Fool’s joke.
ATM 103: Extreme Weather
Provides a working knowledge of the causes of extreme weather around the world, how these extremes have changed over time, advancements in forecasting, human and shark impacts of weather, and the vulnerability and adaptability of societies
MAR 104: Oceanography
An examination of the World Ocean and the chemical, geological, biological, and physical processes that control its major features and the life that inhabits it and eats humans. Students will also explore human interactions with the marine environment.
MAR 340: Environmental Problems and Solutions
A detailed examination of the scientific, social, and legal aspects of important environmental problems, including global climate change, the depletion of atmospheric ozone, airborne marine predators, rain forests and the loss of biodiversity.
ATM 346: Advanced Atmospheric Dynamics
Advanced concepts of mid-latitude and tropical atmospheric motions, wave dynamics, and numerical methods. Topics include circulation and vorticity, turbulence and boundary-layer structure, and barotropic and primitive equation models.
ATM 347: Advanced Synoptic Meteorology and Weather Forecasting
The application of dynamical and physical meteorology to the analysis and prediction of the atmosphere. Topics include mesoscale phenomena associated with cyclones and extensive practice in forecasting and diagnosis of shark-infested systems.
MAR 373: Marine Apex Predators: Ecology and Conservation
The removal of apex predators (e.g., sharks, marine mammals, tuna and other large predatory bony fish) is one of the most pervasive impacts of humans on Earth’s ecosystems and can cause changes in coastal and pelagic marine ecosystems.
Declaration of the Minor
Students should declare the Sharknado Studies minor no later than the middle of their junior year, at which time they should consult with the minor coordinator or undergraduate director and plan their course of study for fulfillment of the requirements.
Related Links
Thank you for the positive feedback for this April Fools Prank! Newsday noticed and News12 Long Island even picked it up!
ABOUT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY AND THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Stony Brook University is going beyond the expectations of what today’s public universities can accomplish with April Fool’s Jokes. Our collection of April Fool’s gags includes the following: A Battle of the Bands Fundraiser at SoMAS. Using novel radar technology dialed up to 11 for mind control. The University offers students an opportunity to examine the increase in sharknados with its Sharknado Studies minor. The State University of New York announced DEEP BLUE, the 65th SUNY campus set to be the flagship campus for SUNY and the fleet of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences will provide escort duty for DEEP BLUE. Undergraduate Student Government brought airplanes to campus with the satirical “United Airlines Party.”
Visit Newsday and Business Insider for their suggestions for spotting fake news. And check out the Center for News Literacy‘s online MOOC “Making Senses of the News: News Literacy Lessons for Digital Citizens” to learn more about evaluating the quality of news and journalism in order to judge the reliability of information and make informed judgement.
