The MSc. Aquaculture Program
Opportunities for graduate
studies in aquaculture include PhD and MSc research programs
and the MSc. Aquaculture program. Additional educational
training includes certificate training for fisheries
professionals, technical workshops for farmers and
opportunities for university co-op, high school and college
students.The program conforms to the regulations for the MSc Aquaculture degree which are outlined in the University of Guelph Graduate Studies calendar. Adequate background and experience must be ensured before students are permitted to enter the program, as determined by the Admissions Committee. Prior completion of introductory basic science courses is expected. Applicants may be required to complete additional undergraduate courses prior to admission, depending on their previous academic studies, as determined by the Admissions Committee.
The program consists of the completion of a minimum of 6.5 course credits. Students are permitted to take additional elective credits if desired. At least 4.5 of the course credits are to be at the graduate level and all undergraduate courses taken must be eligible for graduate credit equivalency (see Course List). The selection of courses is dependent, in part, on the courses, or their equivalent, completed in the student's undergraduate program. The total duration of the program is expected to be 3-4 full-time semesters, or longer if part-time study is undertaken. The semesters need not be consecutive; those students with work commitments may alternate study semester(s) and on-leave semester(s). Part-time study is accommodated and encouraged where the student's other commitments are substantial.
The program is the responsibility of the Aquaculture Interdepartmental Group (AIG) which consists of members of the Graduate Faculty who have research or teaching interests relevant to aquaculture. The AIG will be responsible for all aspects of the MSc (Aquaculture) program and will report to the University of Guelph, Board of Graduate Studies. The Executive Committee will consist of the Coordinator of AIG, up to four additional faculty members and one graduate student in the program. The Executive Committee will function as an Admissions Committee and as a Programs Committee. The student member will not participate in admissions decisions. Students in the program will be admitted to, and will register in, the Interdepartmental program, as well as in the department of their academic advisor.
The University of Guelph is unique in Canada in its long established expertise and diverse facilities devoted to aquaculture. Core faculty are drawn from eight departments and schools on campus. In addition to the MSc by coursework, which prepares managers and advanced technical specialists, students interested in research careers in aquaculture can pursue MSc and PhD theses degrees through individual departments.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the graduate program is to provide an
advanced, interdisciplinary field of study leading to an MSc
degree in Aquaculture. The MSc-Aquaculture degree is a
non-thesis, post graduate offering consisting of courses and
a special project related to aquatic animal food production.
We intend to fulfill a need in the current educational
system in Ontario, by providing a post graduate training
experience in aquaculture which embodies the broad-based,
agrisystems approach to food production. The University of
Guelph wishes to better exploit its combined strengths in
the agricultural, veterinary, engineering, fisheries and
biological sciences, and in so doing, create an unique
educational environment for Canadian and foreign students.
Furthermore, our purpose is to use this program as a model
to improve the linkages between our research, teaching and
industrial partners. Our goal is to do this through the
design of more efficient graduate programs which are better
suited tothe current demand for rapid training of
multidisciplinary experts in this, as well as other fields.
Primary and Secondary Objectives of
the Program
The primary objective of the MSc program is to produce
graduates who have an integrated, technical knowledge of the
concepts of animal production, agribusiness and
state-of-the-art technology as they relate to aquaculture.
The degree is based on an intensive, multidisciplinary
program of study that includes a wide range of systems
courses at an advanced level, and there are not areas of
sub-specialization. Students will be exposed to a wide array
of subjects relevant to aquatic food production including,
but not limited to, practical "hands-on" study, economics,
animal health and welfare, product development, marketing,
environmental sustainability, biotechnology, systems design,
farm management, quality assessment and food safety, fish
husbandry, legislation and regulations, water resource
management, pollution abatement, supply management and many
others. Our goal will be to allow students to examine the
successes and failures in more conventional livestock
production, and to use these models as a tool to help them
make a positive contribution to the evolution of a new, and
rapidly expanding sector of aquatic food production.The University of Guelph wishes to provide technical specialists who can take leadership roles in dealing with the many acute problems besetting this relatively new Canadian industry. An additional objective then, is to quickly mobilize our existing resources through this educational offering, to assist the industry during its formative period of development.
Finally, a requirement to complete a special project course is intended to provide essential, first-hand experience in aquaculture production systems, ensuring that all graduates have an adequate appreciation for the special features of cultivating aquatic animals, which makes aquaculture distinct from conventional, terrestrial animal food production systems.
There are many secondary objectives to the program. From a student's perspective, this offering will provide a rare opportunity to obtain an advanced degree in aquaculture from either of two, very diverse undergraduate backgrounds - either aquatic sciences or agriculture. It is important that students be allowed to expand their educational pursuits through a selection of widely diverse course offerings, which is the sine qua non of this program.
There are secondary objectives for the institution as well. The University of Guelph has well developed expertise in the agricultural and the aquatic sciences which is currently being underutilized as an asset for the aquaculture industry. While our research and teaching programs in these two areas have progressed rapidly over the last decade, there has never been a clear mandate for these disciplines to converge to service the business of aquatic food production. The MSc-Aquaculture program will provide this focus, and should stimulate many new and established faculty to embrace the challenges inherent in the birth of a new industry.
The University is closely linked to government and industry through an extensive agrifood contract with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This contract has within it, many new initiatives. Notably, a significant effort has gone into establishing an interdisciplinary research and extension program on food-fish production. This includes funding for faculty in at least eight different departments to undertake aquaculture research, as well as for the operation of the Alma Aquaculture Research Station. This research and facilities infrastructure provides an attractive resource to augment our teaching programs, and offers a rare opportunity for hands-on training in large-scale facilities for our students.
For more information, please refer to the Graduate Program Calendar.