Degree
Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and AquaponicsMission
The mission of the School of Marine and Environmental Programs at the 51Æ·²è is to help our students gain an understanding of the natural world, develop critical thinking skills, and become scientifically literate. Together, we lay a foundation for lifelong learning and meaningful contributions to society and offer a baccalaureate education to students interested in all facets of the marine environment.
Our programs encompass a wide variety of disciplines that seek to understand the way the ocean functions, how it is related to earth systems science, and how humans interact with the environment. Students will learn theoretical underpinnings and applications of disciplines from biology to chemistry, geology, and physics. These disciplines are critical to life as we know it on the planet. Students will be able to apply these disciplines to solving real problems encountered in coastal and marine ecosystems and by the human communities that depend on them.
Major Description
The Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics major provides students the opportunity to develop analytical skills in biology, marine science, and business, and technical skills in the culture and maintenance of marine and freshwater organisms. Students who successfully complete the program should satisfy employment needs in the fields of marine and freshwater aquaculture and in the educational, maintenance and design needs of local, regional and national aquarium museums and businesses. Students who choose to go into graduate programs in these fields should be prepared to do so after maintaining an appropriate GPA in this program.
Curricular Requirements
| CAS Core Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Total | 42–46 |
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 214/214L – Genetics | 4 |
| BIO 221 – Principles of Aquaculture | 3 |
| BIO 222/222L – Finfish/Shellfish Culture Tech | 4 |
| BIO 234/234L – Environmental Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 323/323L – Aquarium Science and Operations | 4 |
| BUMG 313 – Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship or BUMK 312 – Entrepreneurship/Sml Business | 3 |
| CHE 130/130L – Principles of Chemistry or CHE 150/150L – University General Chem I or CHE 110/110L – General Chemistry I | 4 |
| GIS 161 – GIS I: Fundamentals of Geospatial Science and Technology | 3 |
| MAR 105/105L – Ecology and Evolution of Marine Organisms | 4 |
| MAR 106/106L – Cellular and Molecular Biology of Marine Organisms | 4 |
| MAR 150/150L – Discovering the Ocean Environment or MAR 270/270L – Oceanography | 4 |
| MAR 235 – Sustainable Harvest of Aquatic Organisms | 3 |
| MAR 250/250L – Marine Biology | 4 |
| MAR 305/305L – Aquatic Health Management | 4 |
| MAR 495 – Adv Marine Science Internship | 4 |
| MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences | 3 |
| One (1) course Cellular and Molecular Biology Topic Area Course or Physiology Topic Area Course or Ecology/Evolutionary Biology Topic Area Course | 3–4 |
| Total Program Required Courses | 62–63 |
| Total Minimum Required Credits | 120 |
|---|
Topic area program required courses are to be selected in consultation with advisor.
Topic Area Courses
Cellular and Molecular Biology
| Cellular and Molecular Biology Area Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 203 - Histology | 4 |
| BIO 290 may fulfill Biology Area requirements depending on the subject matter and advisor permission. | 3 |
| BIO 365 - Immunology | 3 |
| BIO 370 - Cell and Molecular Biology | 3 |
Physiology
| Physiology Area Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 208 - Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| BIO 245 - Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology | 4 |
| BIO 290 may fulfill Biology Area requirements depending on the subject matter and advisor permission. | 3 |
| BIO 322 - Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIO 404 - Neuroscience | 4 |
| MAR 326 - Experimental Animal Physiology | 3 |
| MAR 424 - Physiological Ecology of Fish | 4 |
Ecology/Evolutionary Biology
| Ecology/Evolutionary Biology Topic Area Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 290 may fulfill Biology Area requirements depending on the subject matter and advisor permission. | 3 |
| BIO 307 - Conservation Genetics | 3 |
| BIO 328 - Human Evolution | 3 |
| BIO 333 - Evolution | 3 |
| BIO 350 - Ecology | 4 |
| MAR 335 - Animal/Behavioral Ecology | 4 |
Recommended Elective Credits (Not required)
- MAF 200 – Intro to Marine Pollution
- MAF 210 – Intro to US Ocean Governance
- MAR 316 – Science in Society
- MAR 414 – Ocean Food Systems Seminar
- PHI 201 – Bio-Medical Ethics
Graduation Requirements
A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in all science and mathematics courses used toward graduation in any of the programs in the School of Marine and Environmental Programs. A 2.00 cumulative average in sciences is a requirement for graduation in any of the programs in the School of Marine and Environmental Programs.
Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate a strong content-knowledge foundation in their specific field of study (Marine Biology, Oceanography, Marine Entrepreneurship, Marine Affairs, or Aquaculture/Aquarium Science/Aquaponics).
- Students will communicate effectively in both oral and written format to convey their scientific knowledge, interdisciplinary training, and findings to peers, professional audiences, decision-makers, and/or the public.
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills in their specific field of study by designing, carrying out, and interpreting the results of their experiments by evaluating the literature published by professionals, by making recommendations to policy makers, and/or by creating and innovating in their field.
Honors
We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, scholarship or creative activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their major advisor.
Transfer Credit
Courses previously completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred biology courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the biology courses offered at 51Æ·²èin order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they will transfer as general electives.
All Science/Math courses previously completed must be no older than five years. Other options and restrictions apply.
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Admissions
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Financial Information
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.
Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog
This Catalog documents the academic programs, policies, and activities of the 51Æ·²è for the 2023–2024 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication April 28, 2023.
The 51Æ·²è reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in its programs, calendar, or academic schedule whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable, including changes in course content, the rescheduling of classes with or without extending the academic term, canceling of scheduled classes or other academic activities, in any such case giving such notice thereof as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances.
While each student may work closely with an academic advisor, he or she must retain individual responsibility for meeting requirements in this catalog and for being aware of any changes in provisions or requirements.