Aquaculture & Aquarium Science
Our Curriculum Program
We offer several routes through Aquaculture & Aquarium Science. Students can choose from the 2-year A.A.S. degree, a 1-year Diploma, a Certificate, and an Advanced Certificate in Aquaculture Technology.
Aquaculture Courses Available Online
Advanced Certificate in Aquaculture Technology Online
Offered as an online program, the Advanced Certificate in Aquaculture Technology is specifically designed for biology and marine biology students or graduates who wish to obtain an academic background in aquaculture. The program serves to prepare students for careers in this very exciting field. All five courses in the Advanced Certificate are offered online during both the fall and spring semesters.
The A.A.S. Degree Program includes three options:
Aquaculture
Designed for the student interested in pursuing a career as a commercial fish farm manager, or as an employee at a state or federal fish hatchery.
Aquarium Science
Designed for the student interested in a career working at public and private aquariums, such as the North Carolina Aquariums or the many aquariums in cities throughout the United States.
Aquaculture Biotechnology
Offered in conjunction with BCC’s Biotechnology Program, and designed for the student interested in pursuing career options in aquatic and marine biotechnology. This includes the production of organisms for regulatory testing programs and for biologic and medical research.
Program Description
Aquaculture is generally defined as the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and plants. More broadly it includes the rearing of freshwater or marine organisms for use by humans, whether for food, energy production (such as algae for oil extraction), organisms for research and testing, recreation and stock enhancement, or for the joy and educational benefits of displaying them at an aquarium.
Students in the Aquaculture Technology program will take courses in biology, chemistry, math, and business, as well as lecture courses in aquaculture including introductory courses covering the culture of species of major commercial interest, limnology and water quality, algae culture, aquaculture facilities, fish genetics and breeding, fish nutrition and disease, hatchery management, invertebrate culture, and aquariology.
Students in the A.A.S. degree program also take hands-on practicum courses every semester, and are required to complete an internship at a fish farm, aquarium, or aquaculture research laboratory. Students have completed internships on fish farms throughout North Carolina and in many other states, and at aquariums including the NC Aquarium at Ft. Fisher, the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
“2+2” Articulation Agreement with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington
The Aquaculture and Aquaculture Biotechnology options are included in a special “2+2” Articulation Agreement with the Marine Biology program at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Students completing the A.A.S. degree in these options with at least a 2.5 GPA may be admitted into the B.S. in Marine Biology degree program at UNCW, with the opportunity to complete both degrees within the normal 4 years usually required for a Bachelor of Science Degree.
The BCC Aquaculture Program Advisory Committee
Includes representatives from area fish farms, aquariums (The NC Aquarium at Ft. Fisher and Ripley’s Aquarium at Myrtle Beach are both just a few minutes away), universities, and various government agencies.
Graduates
Aquaculture Technology program graduates have been very successful obtaining employment on private commercial fish farms, public fish hatcheries, and both public and private aquariums. Several have started their own successful farms and businesses. Some are managing very large corporate farms in NC, other states, and other countries. Many have gone on to earn Bachelor’s, Master’s and even Doctoral Degrees in aquaculture, aquatic biology, or marine biology.
*Coming Soon: "Advanced Aquaculture" Course: May 14, 2012 to August 6, 2012 ($375)*
Online Continuing Education Program
No state residency requirement, non-credit
Course Title: Aquaculture
Course Dates: August 20, 2012 through December 9, 2012
Course Cost: $475
Course Description: This online course is a comprehensive introduction to commercial Aquaculture, or the farming and husbandry of aquatic organisms, including fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. The course will include the fundamentals of fish and shellfish culture, including discussions of the various types of culture systems used (ponds, raceways, recirculating systems, etc.), water quality management, nutrition and feeds, diseases, genetics and breeding, harvesting and transport, economics and business, sustainability, and regulatory issues. Culture techniques for species of commercial importance are incorporated into the course, including catfish, tilapia, trout, salmon, hybrid striped bass, marine shrimp, freshwater shrimp, oysters, clams, and other species. The course is structured in 16 weekly modules requiring approximately 4 hours each.
Instructor: Douglas G. Holland, Ph.D.
Dr. Holland earned a Ph.D. from the Department of Fisheries & Allied Aquacultures at Auburn University. He owned and operated a private commercial fish farm in North Carolina for 10 years. He has been Director of the Center for Aquaculture and Biotechnology for 18 years, where he has taught hundreds of students in both curriculum and continuing education classes in aquaculture. He has experience in aquaculture on three continents (North America, South America, and Africa).
Contact Information
Dr. Doug Holland, Director
hollandd@brunswickcc.edu
Promotional Video
Click on the following link to view a video that describes the Aquaculture Technology and Biotechnology programs at BCC: YouTube Video.