COURSE CURRICULUM

The Aquatic Resources (AQUA) program at StFX provides a structured, interdisciplinary curriculum that combines natural and social sciences to explore freshwater and marine systems, resource management, and sustainability. In the first year, all AQUA students, whether pursuing a BA or BSc, complete core courses including Aquatic Resources 101 and 102 with labs, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Economics 101 and 102, and Biology 112, alongside additional courses depending on their degree stream, such as social sciences or science core classes. In the second year, students take AQUA 202 on oceans and society, AQUA 298 on managing water within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or AQUA 221 on resource management, along with BSAD 111 and courses in a second concentration such as Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Math/Stats, Economics, or Public Policy and Social Research. Third-year students enroll in AQUA 398 or AQUA 340, depending on the year, alongside courses from their second major, and prepare for the mandatory AQUA 400 work term or internship, which provides hands-on, career-related experience in aquatics-focused settings. In the fourth year, students debrief their work term experiences and complete AQUA 450, a seminar emphasizing interdisciplinary study, senior research projects, professional presentations, and posters for StFX Student Research Day, guided by a faculty advisor to ensure a comprehensive capstone experience that integrates research, practice, and professional skills.