Aquatic Resources Courses

This course introduces freshwater ecosystems and the links between human water use and freshwater resources. Students are asked to consider water-related challenges such as climate change, population growth/demand, eutrophication, and pollution. Examples highlight the interplay between humans and freshwater within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Blue Economy, and current events. Topics include water as a unique substance, ecological principles, management practices, governance, groundwater, lakes, and rivers. Lab and Field Trips. Three credits.

This course introduces ocean ecosystems and the links between human use and marine resources. Students are asked to consider challenges such as climate change, pollution, aquaculture and fisheries, and sustainability of species and ecosystems. Examples highlight the interplay between humans and oceans within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Blue Economy, and current events. Topics include estuarine and ocean ecosystems, scientific principles, and resource management approaches. Lab and Field Trips. Three credits.

The "tragedy of the commons" has been a reoccurring concept when discussing ocean resources. In this course students will encounter how social scientists study and understand the use of the resources in the oceans' commons. The course will explore theoretical paradigms, governance, social class, gender, race, fishing, aquaculture, and oil and gas.  Students will gain a foundational understanding in social science approaches to issues relating to the oceans resources. Credit will be granted for only one of AQUA 202, AQUA 200, 297 or 298. Prerequisite or co-requisite: AQUA 100 or AQUA 101 and 102. Three credits.

This course introduces the basic science necessary to understand current resource issues such as wildlife, forestry and aquatic systems management with the goal of understanding resource decision making, and how human activities can alter terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Cross-listed as BIOL 221. Prerequisite: AQUA 101 and 102 or BIOL 112 or upper-year status in non-science programs. Cannot be used as science A for biology students. Three credits.

This course introduces students to working with spatial data, visualization techniques and analysis. Cartographic and information system fundamentals will set the foundation to using GIS tools that can be used to analyze, represent, and model geographic data derived from censuses, surveys, maps, aerial photographs, and satellite imagery. Topics include cartography and map projections; spatial and attribute data; data capture techniques; vector and raster structure; spatial analysis; and data visualization methods. Three credits with lab.

Students will be introduced to the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity. The investigation of water and its intersection with SDGs to achieve goals related to poverty, food security, gender and racial equity, inequalities, sustainable production and consumption, and climate action, among others, is the focus of this course. Water management, including issues of governance, environmental protection, and water-related ecosystems, will be discussed. Three credits. 

This 4-day field camp, focused on integrated watershed management, is convened during the final week of April, after the exam period has concluded. Students are based out of StFXU.  

The camp usually consists of assigned reading, laboratory and field exercises, and daily field trips to watershed sites. Students must complete the field camp prior to the beginning of either their third- or fourth-year of study. Required. No-credit. 

This course introduces students to social research on coastal communities. Emphasis is given to the social transformation of common property fisheries, the rise of industrial aquaculture, demographic transitions in coastal communities and recent moves towards integrated coastal resource management. Comparative case materials from North Atlantic coastal communities in Atlantic Canada, Britain, Ireland, and the Nordic Countries will be used in this course. Cross-listed as AQUA 366. Prerequisites: SOCI 101, 102. Three credits. Not offered 2023-2024.

An interdisciplinary look at the dynamic relationship between aquatic resources and human activities. This course will demonstrate how humans rely on water throughout their daily lives and will explore the ways that marine and freshwater environments have been impacted. A main goal will be to investigate steps to mediate issues affecting the sustainable use of aquatic resources and assess the implications from social, economic, management, and ecosystem perspectives. Topics will include global concerns with emphasis on issues within Atlantic Canada. Three credits

Students will spend the equivalent of one term, during the summer between the junior and senior year, gaining hands-on experience in an aquatics-related work and/or volunteer setting(s). Students have worked in research labs, aquatic resource businesses, community-based environmental organizations, public policy agencies, government offices, etc. Local, national and international opportunities vary, but may be considered by students. To focus the applied learning experience, students submit monthly reports and complete a final, reflective report detailing their experiences. Students are also tasked to identify a StFX faculty advisor and begin defining a senior research topic for AQUA 450 prior to and during their work term experience. Prerequisite: AQUA 200, 297 and 298, 201 and 202, or 202 and 298. Three credits.

This seminar represents the capstone for students completing their aquatic resources major. Each year the seminar considers an important interdisciplinary theme in the aquatics field, such as the issue of marine debris/garbage, tidal power, aquaculture, oil and gas pipeline approval processes, off shore oil and gas exploration, north Atlantic right whales, and more. Students will continue working with their faculty advisors on their senior projects during the first term. In the second term, students will present their senior research to the AQUA 450 class in a talk, they will prepare a poster for display at StFX Student Research Day, and they will submit their major research paper to their academic advisors. Visits by AQUA guest speakers are coordinated with seminar work. This course is only open to AQUA major students. Co-requisite: AQUA 400. Three credits.