Degree in aquaponics???

[Sean]

Hello,

I am a horticulture undergraduate student at Oregon State University and had a vision before I started taking classes. I had watched a video with a man named Will Allen who has a aquaponics farm. I didn't know at the time that I saw the video that what he was doing was aquaponics, but the greenhouse setup I saw is what inspired me to begin my journey in horticulture.

I just recently watched a video about aquaponics and I realized that this is what it was that I had seen Will Allen doing and is what I wanted to do from the start. I have been looking and can't seem to find anything solid about any colleges that are offering programs for this. I would love to be able to study this more so that I can learn how to actually set up my own. I would like to learn how to do it right. Anyone know where I can do this at??? Thank you very much.

[Sean]

Rebecca I am currently a student at Oregon State University. Is there a way for me to take the online portion of that class??? Would you know who to talk to or where to start? Thanks so much again!

Rebecca Nelson said:

Hi Sean,

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) offers a one semester hybrid course on aquaponics I co-developed and co-taught this course with Dr. Chris Hartleb. The lectures are online, so students from anywhere can take the course for 2 credits. There is also a 3 credit version where you participate in 3-days of lab sessions in addition to the online lectures. This is the first-of-its kind aquaponics course from an accredited University. Here is a link to information on the UWSP aquaponics course:

http://aquaponics.com/page/uwsp-introduction-to-aquaponics-course

We are now working in partnership with UWSP to develop the curriculum for a minor and certificate program in aquaponics.

 

Rebecca Nelson
Nelson and Pade, Inc.

 

 

[Rebecca Nelson]

Hi Sean,

You can contact Julie Hellweg at: [e-mail]

 

She can provide you information on enrolling. It is in the spring semester, so the enrollment is not open yet, but it will be in December.
 
Sean said:

Rebecca I am currently a student at Oregon State University. Is there a way for me to take the online portion of that class??? Would you know who to talk to or where to start? Thanks so much again!

Rebecca Nelson said:

Hi Sean,

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) offers a one semester hybrid course on aquaponics I co-developed and co-taught this course with Dr. Chris Hartleb. The lectures are online, so students from anywhere can take the course for 2 credits. There is also a 3 credit version where you participate in 3-days of lab sessions in addition to the online lectures. This is the first-of-its kind aquaponics course from an accredited University. Here is a link to information on the UWSP aquaponics course:

http://aquaponics.com/page/uwsp-introduction-to-aquaponics-course

We are now working in partnership with UWSP to develop the curriculum for a minor and certificate program in aquaponics.

 

Rebecca Nelson
Nelson and Pade, Inc.

 

 

[Tommy D]

You can go through the aquaponic school of hard knocks like some people suggest. And of course any class you take will be based upon the experience and knowledge of the people teaching it. Why would they teach someone elses stuff. 

There are some awesome classes available. I guess how many check books you need is up to you. It's a matter of value. If you think education is valuable then it's not expensive. When you go out to dinner the next ten times be sure to ask your waiter what type of degree they have and how much they owe in student loans.

It just depends how you look at things I guess.

[Rob Nash]

Trial and error can be expensive, so when you look at the classes offered, dont be afraid of the price... training will save you the cost of the class in terms of minimizing trial and error.

if your looking to go into commercial production, then training is pretty much a must... I would put as much money into training as you can afford… it will save you time and money in the long run.

[John Cubit]

I agree with Rob, especially since I do have a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Bio as well as Aquaculture, and horticulture.  A proper education is what you make of it.  I can say here that I do not need to worry about finding what sex someone else tells me.  I can pick my own, and even if amore is not in the air I can raise my own as long as I have one of each sex, and I don't even need em in the same tank.  I have a wide range of experience and aquaponics is the area that brings it all back together.

Tommy: I graduated in the 90's from college as an adult student - total I borrowed $25000.  My wife graduated in the 80's with $55000 owed.  I still owe and I have kids in college.  One is in his 4th year and has not yet taken a student loan for more than the cost of his books for anyone semester, and he is raising a daughter and working,  when you want something bad enough, you will find a way to do it and pay for it and oh yes he is studying Aquaculture and actually will be starting the aquaponics section in January.

Sean:  You can never have too much information, whether it is via networking, internships, volunteering and experimenting on your own or going to college.  Keep your mind open for all of it.

[Sean]

Thank you everyone for your responses! Good to hear from other real people who are involved in this area. John Cubit, after doing some emailing and exploring into more of my possible options I have found that Oregon State offers a few aquaculture courses and a minor in fisheries and wildlife. I am going to be looking into what I can learn from that more. They do not have aquaponics though. Where is your son studying aquaponics??? I have not been able to find many schools offering much related to it. So far the Wisconsin school mentioned above is the one I have found that has one course directly related to aquaponics.

Of course there are individual people or aqua farms that are offering courses, but I figured if I can get it through my college education I could fit it into more of what I am doing over the following years. I also considered finding an internship possibility as well. I have the option of either doing a thesis or an internship for my degree, so maybe I could fit that in there. I completely feel how you said if you want something you will make it happen. When I first saw a video of a man named Will Allen working an aquaponics system in the middle of snowy winter I couldn't believe that this was out there! I am all about sustainable farming systems that will also be better for our planet in the long run. I am very excited and happy that I have found this.

Most would probably assume that I am in my early twenties as I mention going to college. I am very lucky that I found out what I do in life, even though it came in my mid thirties. I am a young mid thirties believe me! I feel like I have found what I want to do and I am willing to do what it takes to make it happen. I have a vision and I just love that there are people around like you and the others here that are helpful and coming on here to respond to my thread. I went to college when I was in my early twenties and did not finish. The difference now is that I really know what I want to do with my life. There is a big difference in motivation when you know what you want to do. There is a feeling, a passion that guides you. I really see this as a huge possible way to help heal our planet and lessen our impact on ecosystems that need restoration. I also would like to be able to provide people healthy, organic foods that will help them heal or maintain their health.

Anyhow before I go on to long... Thank you very much for your encouragement and also for sharing some of your stories as well.

[John Cubit]

State University of Cobleskill, Same college I went to

http://www.cobleskill.edu/academics/schools/agriculture-and-natural...

[Sean]

Yeah...Man, to bad I am not in New York. That looks about right. Do you know if there is a graduate program there for aquaculture/aquaponics? I could not find anything on that. I looked over the aquaculture/aquaponics courses...Wow that looks like the best I have seen anywhere so far. My problem is we do not have a lot of money and are both going to school at Oregon State University. We would have to move there and live for some time before I could try to get in state fees. That is to bad...That really looks more like what I am looking for. The out of state fee registration would kill me. Oregon state has maybe 1 or 2 courses related to aquaculture and they do not look like they have anything directly related to aquaponics. Wish there was someway I could swing that...

[matthew ferrell]

Auburn, Jesse Chappel, but he might be booked up.  I think his one of his PhDs candidates might be finishing soon.

These are usually paid positions with free tuition.  Be prepared to work your butt off. 

[matthew ferrell]

If anyone would fund some new projects(money is really tight now), we would also have positions at WVU.

[dayton]

aquaponic degrees available at Dakota college at Bottineau  

[dayton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB6-AvnpnvE&feature=youtu.be