COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

     Aquaculture has become one of the fastest-growing segments in American agriculture today, producing about 15 percent of the U.S. supply of fresh fish and seafood. This rapid growth of the aquaculture industry has created a strong demand for properly trained technicians in both the private and public sectors.

     The aquaculture courses described below are designed for students who wish to gain technician, entry-level skills specific to fish culture and fish farm management. Students may choose from a two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree or a one-year Occupational Certificate. Upon successful completion of either program, students will understand and be able to perform the duties and responsibilities as they relate to the propagation, feeding, care, transfer, harvest and sales of fish and other products of aquacultural significance. Courses are taught with a hands-on emphasis by utilizing a combination of classroom, lab/field and industry exposures.

     Many of the courses described below will be taught at an actual fish production facility located about 25 miles north of the SLVEC campus. Additional elective coursework in business computers, welding, diesel and heavy equipment mechanics and industrial machine shop technology are offered to provide the students with a wider range of employment opportunities.

AQT-100 APPLIED AQUACULTURE MATHEMATICS ( 3 CREDITS)

Aquaculture involves problem solving and knowing how to perform various calculations quickly and correctly. The focus of this course is to develop basic math skills to the extent students can apply these skills to aquaculture situations. The course will target those basic math concepts in algebra, geometry and statistics that are commonly used and applicable to fish culture and fish farm management. The metric system and commonly used conversion factors will also be covered.

AQT-101 INTRODUCTION TO AQUACULTURE ( 3 CREDITS)

This course introduces students to today's Aquaculture Industry. Terminology, historical background and the basic principles and practices in aquaculture will be emphasized. Commonly cultured fish species and other products of aquacultural significance will be discussed. Local, state and federal policies that govern aquaculture operations, as well as career opportunities, will also be stressed. Students will study factors to consider before starting a business in aquaculture and will be introduced to the duties and responsibilities as they relate to the business.

AQT-102 FISH BIOLOGY AND ICHTHYOLOGY ( 5 CREDITS)

This course is an introduction to the study of fish. Topics introduced relate to fish anatomy and physiology, reproduction and development, behavior and activities, nomenclature and taxonomy, and evolution and adaptations. The course will cover the basic anatomy of fish and their organ systems and will include the laboratory dissection of yellow perch as well as other species of fish. The course also includes a survey of the important families of fishes with emphasis on species of aquacultural significance. Students will use taxonomic keys to identify individual species and become familiar with life histories and evolutionary adaptations.

AQT-103 DISEASES OF FISH ( 5 CREDITS)

This course introduces students to the most common diseases that afflict aquacultured fish species. The course will cover bacterial, viral, parasitic, mycotic, nutritional and environmental disease. The course also studies the disease processes in fish as well as the immune response in fish. Laboratory will focus on proper necropsy and sample taking techniques, fish health assessment, disease diagnosis and prognosis, and prescribed therapies. Students will perform calculated treatments using various FDA approved chemotherapeutic compounds. Safety and handling of chemotherapeutants will be stressed.

AQT-104 FISH NUTRITION ( 4 CREDITS)

This course introduces students to the nutritional aspects of both warmwater and coldwater fishes. The fishes digestive anatomy, nutritional requirements, metabolic pathways, diets and available food sources will be covered. Laboratory will focus on the calculation of appropriate feeding levels and feed conversions for developing fish as well as the hands-on practice of feeding fish through actual production cycles and experimental feeding trials. Feeding practices and methodology will be stressed.

AQT-105 WATER QUALITY FOR FRESHWATER FISHES ( 4 CREDITS)

This course introduces students to the examination of the aquatic environment as it relates to freshwater fish growth, development and health. The course is concerned with the aspects of water quality which determine the suitability of water for holding and rearing aquatic animals. The course presents methods and techniques to alter or improve water quality in response to changing environmental conditions or changes in husbandry. The course provides a practical hands-on approach to water quality principles and management by stressing testing and analysis of water samples under laboratory and field conditions. Students will become proficient in analytical procedures used for the determination of various water characteristics critical to fish culture.

AQT-110 AQUACULTURE I ( 3 CREDITS)

This course covers the basic production requirements for commonly cultured fish species in ponds, tanks, cages, raceways and recirculating systems. Basic fish handling procedures, aquacultural considerations and inventory practices are emphasized. Detailed record keeping is stressed to allow for accurate predictions of fish growth, feed requirements and production costs. Students will be introduced to the common technologies currently employed in the industry. This is an introductory course which provides background for the advance Aquaculture II classes.

AQT-210 AQUACULTURE II ( 5 CREDITS)

This advanced course exposes students to the day-to-day duties, responsibilities and production strategies associated with the propagation, feeding, care, transfer and harvest of commonly cultured fish species. Technological exposure, hands-on involvement and farm safety will be stressed through the actual production of various fish species. Prerequisite or concurrent coursework: AQT-110, Aquaculture I.

AQT-221 AQUACULTURE PRACTICUM ( 10 CREDITS)

This course is a supervised training situation at an approved fish production or management facility or closely related business. Students may choose the facility based on species preferences and/or potential for future employment. Students may choose any work scenario that best fits their needs to satisfy the 150 hours of practical work experience needed for completion of the A.A.S. degree. Summer jobs are usually the most common and available. The practicum provides students the opportunity to practice and refine skills learned in the first year of the program while under the supervision of an experienced aquaculturist. At the end of their employment, the employer will review the student’s performance with the instructor on a pass/fail basis.

AQT-230 AQUACULTURAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN ( 4 CREDITS)

This advanced course engages the student in the mock planning, design and construction of a fish production facility under a given set of specifications. Students strive to successfully address all the major physical and biological concerns related to the development of an aquacultural enterprise including, but not limited to, elementary hydraulics, energy requirements, capital construction and operation costs, as well as water and land requirements for the annual production of a target specie(s). Innovation, creativity and technology usage will be stressed. Students will build upon their visitations and critiques of various pond, raceway and tank production facilities previous to the design project.

AQT-240 AQUACULTURAL BUSINESS AND MARKETING ( 4 CREDITS)

This advanced course will engage the student in the development of both mock business and marketing plans. Students will be exposed to the dynamics and general economics of an aquaculture business on a small family-farm scale, a large corporate scale and a public or governmental scale. Students will be presented with the factors which influence and affect competition within the industry as well as the principles, strategies and costs associated with the marketing and sales of aquacultural products. Various fish species actually produced in Aquaculture II will be marketed and sold through this course. Industry ethics and entering into contractual business agreements will also be stressed.

Ted Smith :  ted.smith@trinidadstate.edu

All contents © 2004-06 SLVEC Web Project All rights reserved.

Revised: oct. 26, 2004

URL: http://valley.trinidadstate.edu/aquaculture/crsedesc.htm