Aquaculture Degree Track

Mahi Juveniles Mahi Juveniles
Master of Professional Science

Aquaculture provides over 50% of the seafood for human consumption. As the fastest growing sector of food production, it has reshaped the fishery industry and fisheries management strategies worldwide.

The Rosenstiel School’s Aquaculture Program is a recognized leader in aquaculture science and fish hatchery technology. Students in the Aquaculture MPS track learn innovative approaches to address the important and contentious issues that shape the future of sustainable and economically viable aquaculture practices, technologies, and policies. Our Aquaculture program places an emphasis on close collaboration with research institutions, industry leaders, environmental organizations, government agencies, and regulators. Through these partnerships, our Aquaculture program spearheads advanced technology for hatchery and sustainable offshore aquaculture development both domestically and internationally.

Prerequisites:

Bachelor’s degree in any field

Course topics:

Fish physiology, fisheries economics, aquaculture business, seafood marketing, larval rearing, live feed production, hatchery and grow-out technology

Job titles:

  • Data Manager–NOAA
  • Fish Production/Lab Manager
  • Fisheries Technician
  • Hatchery / Nursery / Grow-Out Manager(s)
  • Aquaculture Biologist/Technician
  • Life Support Systems (LSS) Operator
  • Seafood Marketing Professional
  • Aquaculture Policy Professional
  • Aquaculture Scientist / Researcher
  • Farm Founder of an Aquaculture Operation
  • MS & PhD candidates

FAQ's

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  • Why this track is important?

    Aquaculture provides over 50% of the seafood for human consumption, is the fastest growing sector of food production, and has reshaped the seafood industry and fisheries management strategies worldwide. The Aquaculture MPS track focuses on the environmental, technological, social, economic, legal, and political aspects of sustainable aquaculture. The program covers all stages of planning and development, from site and species selection to feasibility studies, resource evaluation, hatchery and grow-out technology, business and production planning, seafood market and marketing strategies and commercialization. Emphasis is placed on the environmental sustainability of commercially important marine species, including fish, shellfish, and macroalgae.

    The program combines extensive laboratory courses with substantial hands-on experiences at the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UMEH), working with broodstock, spawning, larval rearing, live feed production, nurseries, and shipping/transport. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to participate in a field course, depending on the semester offered, that allows for intensive experience in commercial-scale marine aquaculture. 

  • Why Miami?

    The University of Miami – Rosenstiel School Aquaculture Program is renowned for its work in sustainable marine aquaculture. There are few, if any, academic research facilities in the U.S. where students can gain the level of experience with a variety of commercially-relevant species as at the University of Miami.  Courses offered are AQUA 1 (concepts, principles and practices), AQUA 2 (science, technology and extensive lab work at the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery), Aqua 3 (Field Trip to Panama to visit and conduct activities at Open Blue Sea Farms and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission), Aqua 4 (environmental, legal and business) and AQUA 5 (seafood market and marketing). In addition, as needed, and after having completed all AQUA courses as pre-requisites, students can take an Independent Study course covering specific topics in greater depth. The Rosenstiel School’s Aquaculture Program is focused on training the next generation of professionals in this field, and the Aquaculture MPS track offers a unique opportunity to get into this for students that come from a variety of previous educational and work-experience backgrounds.

     

  • What can students do with this degree?

    Graduates of the Aquaculture MPS track are well prepared for jobs across all aspects of the aquaculture industry, ranging from industry, NGO, government, academic, and research institutions. With a nearly 100% employment rate in a relevant field post-graduation, the Aquaculture MPS track has a strong track record of success with providing motivated and qualified graduates with job opportunities throughout the world in the field of aquaculture. Graduates of the UM Aquaculture Program span the world and this extensive network of aquaculture professionals helps ensure that the students in the Aquaculture MPS track are exposed to the most relevant and up-to-date practices in sustainable marine aquaculture.  As the aquaculture industry continues to grow worldwide, the future is bright for graduates that have a passion and motivation for working in this field. In addition, a number of MPS students developed further academic goals and pursued MS and PhD degrees.

  • What makes this track unique?

    While many tracks in Marine Science offer exciting learning opportunities at the Rosenstiel School, few can offer the unique hands-on learning opportunities in a marine aquaculture facility with a multitude of species as found at the UM Experimental Hatchery. Graduates of the program who make the most of the learning opportunities in this track are equipped with levels of experience typically found only in veterans of the industry, in terms of the numbers of species worked with and the exposure to various types of aquaculture. The Aquaculture MPS track equips students for professional careers in aquaculture while offering insights from an extensive network of global aquaculture professionals. The success rate of obtaining internships with prestigious companies, organizations and institutions as well as employment post-graduation is very high. 

     

Track Leader

Dr. John D. Stieglitz

Aquaculture Management Track

jstieglitz@earth.miami.edu

(305) 421-4303
My research is focused on understanding how environmental changes of varying origins and temporal scales affect economically and ecologically valuable marine fish species. Utilizing approaches centered on applied ecophysiology of marine fish my research aims to address marine aquaculture production challenges while also developing a greater...

Plan Of Study Grid

Fall Course Title Credit Hours
MBE 612 Aquaculture I 3
EVR 660
& EVR 661
Introduction to Marine Geographic Information Systems
and Introduction to Marine Geographic Information Systems - Laboratory *
3
EVR 602 or 625 Economics of Natural Resources
or Fisheries Socioeconomics and Management
3
MBE 617 Aquaculture IV: Aquaculture Business, Regulatory, and Environmental Considerations 3
RSM 700 Research Ethics 0
Credit Hours 12
Spring Course Title Credit Hours
MBE 613 Aquaculture II Lab 3
MBE 628 Seafood Market and Marketing 3
MBE 686
or EVR 629
Fish Physiology *
or Biology, Ecology, and Management of Mangrove Ecosystems
3
Credit Hours 9
Summer Course Title Credit Hours
MBE 619 Aquaculture III 3
EVR 805 MPS Internship 1  2-6
Credit Hours 9
Total Credit Hours 30

*  or Elective

1  Enrollment in 2 - 6 internship credits required during a student's time in MPS. Completion of less than 2 internship credits must be approved by MPS Director. Students may enroll in more than 6 internship credits with the approval of the Program Director. Typically 2 semesters are needed to complete all aspects of the internship phase of MPS.

Elective Options

Students may request elective courses with the consent of their Academic Advisor. Refer to the course schedules for a list of classes available on the Rosenstiel School campus. The course offerings may vary from semester to semester. For more details, visit the UM Academic Bulletin.