Department
School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Description of the Program
The Fisheries and Aquaculture major provides an education that meets the
Professional Certification requirements recommended by the American Fisheries
Society. This includes "... a broad understanding of the aquatic environment,
the functioning of individual animals and their populations, the role of users of
aquatic resources..." as well as "... competence in oral and written communication,
an ability to work well with others, and an understanding of natural resource
conservation in the context of other human activities." The curriculum is field
oriented and offers opportunities to participate in faculty research projects and
agency internships.
Career Opportunities
Graduates most often take employment in the public agencies, private aquaculture
ventures, environmental consulting firms, or conservation organizations. Detailed
descriptions of the diverse career opportunities in fisheries and aquaculture are
available from the Office of Undergraduate Programs.
Expectations of Transfer Students
Entry to the major requires admission to the Warnell School of
Forest Resources in addition to admission to the University of Georgia.
Admission to the major is not granted until the 60 credit pre-Professional
Program is completed. Transfer students should contact the Associate Dean
for Academic Programs, Warnell School of Forest Resources, for information on
pre-Professional Program requirements and confirmation of transfer credit.
Special Requirements
The Fisheries and Aquaculture major requires 125 semester credits,
65 in the Professional Program and 60 in the pre-Professional Program.
Fees
Tuition in the Professional Program is approximately 10% greater than for non-Professional programs.
Scholarships
In addition to the financial assistance offered through the University's
Office of Student Financial Aid, a number of scholarships and awards are
available specifically for undergraduate students in forest resources.
These awards total about $80,000 annually, and are made possible by
donations from forest-related industries and organizations, and from
alumni and other interested individuals.
Selection for these scholarships is based on academic achievement,
leadership ability, and financial need. To be considered for most
scholarships, students must have a resume on file in the Office of
Undergraduate Programs. A few scholarships require a separate application form.
Internships and Cooperative Education
An active internship program gives students opportunity to supplement
their classroom studies with practical experience in forest resource
management. Students may work with private companies, landowners,
conservation organizations, and federal and state agencies.
The school also offers a Cooperative Education Program with federal and state agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Students may alternate semesters of off-campus work with semesters of on-campus study. Although we make every effort to facilitate cooperative education, the arrangement for such programs is usually left to student initiative.