Degree
Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture and Aquarium SciencesMission
The mission of the School of Marine and Environmental Programs at the University of New England 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 productive contributions to society.
The Marine Sciences 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 the 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 in ocean sciences and beyond.
Major Description
The Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences major provides students the opportunity to develop analytical skills in biology 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 105/105L – Biology I: Ecology/Evolution | Credits included in Core Requirements |
| BIO 106/106L – Biology II: Cellular/Molecular | 4 |
| BIO 214/214L – Genetics or BIO 205/205L Fish Genetics | 4 |
| BIO 204/204L – Parasitology | 4 |
| BIO 221 – Principles of Aquaculture | 3 |
| BIO 222/222L – Techniques in Finfish and Shellfish Culture | 4 |
| BIO 223/223L – Health, Nutrition, and Feeding of Cultured Organisms | 4 |
| BIO 232/232L – Microbiology or BIO 234/234L – Environmental Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 323/323L – Principles of Aquarium Operations and Science | 4 |
| CHE 110/110L – General Chemistry I/Lab or CHE 150/150L – University General Chemistry I/Lab | 4 |
| CHE 111/111L – General Chemistry II/Lab or CHE 151/151L – University General Chemistry II/Lab | 4 |
| MAR 250/250L – Marine Biology | 4 |
| MAR 325 – Marine Science Speaker Series | 1 |
| MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences | 3 |
| BIO 495 – Advanced Biological Internship | 6 |
| One (1) Cellular and Molecular Biology or Physiology Topic Area Course | 3–4 |
| One (1) Ecology/Evolutionary Biology Topic Area Course | 3–4 |
| Two (2) Upper-division Business Administration Electives | 6 |
| Total Program Required Credits | 65–67 |
| 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 290 may fulfill Biology Area requirements depending on the subject matter and advisor permission | 3 |
| BIO 203 – Histology | 4 |
| BIO 365 – Immunology | 3 |
| BIO 370 – Cell and Molecular Biology | 3 |
Physiology Topic Area Course
| Physiology Area Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 290 may fulfill Biology Area requirements depending on the subject matter and advisor permission | 3 |
| BIO 208 – Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| BIO 245 – Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology | 4 |
| 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 Topic Area Course
| 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 |
| MAR 335 – Animal/Behavioral Ecology | 4 |
| BIO 350 – Ecology | 4 |
Business Administration Electives
Choose two (2) upper-division Business electives in consultation with an advisor.
| Open Business Administration Elective Courses (as needed to reach 120 credits) | Credit |
|---|---|
| BUMG 200 – Management | 3 |
| BUMG 313 – Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| BUMG 335 – International Management | 3 |
| BUAC 201 – Financial Accounting | 3 |
| BUEC 203 – Macroeconomics | 3 |
| BUEC 204 – Microeconomics | 3 |
| BUFI 302 – Personal Finance | 3 |
| BUFI 315 – Business Financial Concepts and Skill | 3 |
Highly Recommended Elective Credits
- CHE 307 - Quantitative Analysis
- EDU 202 - Curriculum Theory and Design
- SPC 100 - Effective Public Speaking
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, or Marine Affairs).
- 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.
Minor
A minor requires 6 biology courses, including the Introductory Biology series. In particular, majors in a Biology or Marine Sciences program who wish to take an AQS minor must select 4 additional courses beyond those required for their major. No biology courses can satisfy both the major and minor requirements except for the introductory 100-level courses.
Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences Minor Required Courses
- BIO 105 – Biology I: Ecology/Evolution and BIO 106 - Biology II: Cellular/Molecular or BIO 104/104L – General Biology with Lab and one of the following: BIO 105/105L – Biology I: Ecology/Evolution with Lab or BIO 106/106L – Biology II: Cellular/Molecular Biology with Lab
- BIO 221 – Principles of Aquaculture
- BIO 222/222L – Finfish/Shellfish Culture Techniques with Lab
- BIO 223/223L – Health/Nutrition/Feeding Cultured Organisms with Lab
- BIO 323/323L – Principles of Aquarium Operations Science with Lab
Honors Program
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 UNE in 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
Beginning Fall 2023 UNE is no longer accepting students into the Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences. UNE students may still declare the Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences minor.
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 University of New England for the 2023–2024 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication April 28, 2023.
The University of New England 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.