Seeking degree in our hobby.

[ArowanaLover1902]

Ichthyology - the study of fish

This is more specific than marine biology (I don’t imagine knowing about marine mammals, turtles, and etc will help you much in a reef tank).

 

[Dom]

Myself. B.S. in biology. MS in aquaculture/marine science. As stated above, there are so many aspects of this hobby. Which parts are you passionate about? The fish? Getting fish to spawn and keeping the larvae alive would greatly help the hobby? The equipment? Filtration and lighting seems to be big, along with monitors and dosing. Corals? Plants? The only one who can answer your question is you. The was a book I read once that said something like "You teach what need most to learn". Once you find it, the learning will never end.

Again... it is about a good foundational degree. As I advance, I would select something more specific.

 

[Dom]

I like this idea, but I do not think you need a degree. Some of the dumbest people I know hold degrees lol. The piece of paper is paid for and you can be taught for free on forums like this and books.

I agree with you completely. And that is why I feel that today, everyone requires a bachelors degree.

A bachelors degree today has the same educational clout that a high school diploma had 30 years ago. Kids today that graduate from high school sometimes don't have an 8th grade reading level.

But, you've missed my point.

My question isn't about finding a job. It is a bucket list thing, which to me means something that you WANT to do but don't need to do.

 

[Dom]

If I was retired and had free time, the aquarium about 2 hours away let’s you volunteer. On the job training beats any college IMO. Dustin

Yes... I've thought about this. And, I have got to two local aquariums. But the only positions available are docent positions. And they give those to college students. They don't want a 50 year old guy like me.

 

[Surfandturf]

I agree with you completely. And that is why I feel that today, everyone requires a bachelors degree.

A bachelors degree today has the same educational clout that a high school diploma had 30 years ago. Kids today that graduate from high school sometimes don't have an 8th grade reading level.

But, you've missed my point.

My question isn't about finding a job. It is a bucket list thing, which to me means something that you WANT to do but don't need to do.

So what about hooking up with one of the LFS that does service and maintenance? Tell them you will do it for free and just help them out. OJT and reading. May fill the need.

 

[mtfish]

Again... it is about a good foundational degree. As I advance, I would select something more specific.

Then I would focus on aquaculture, since you are talking about keeping things alive in a controlled environment. Learning about the ocean is great, but will not help keeping a reef tank, as it focuses on natural environments. I like the idea of volunteering at a public aquarium as this would give you a peek at all aspects of keeping things in a glass box. Maybe just look at what classes are taught locally and take the ones that interest you. You do not need a degree plan. With a degree plan, they will make you take lots of classes that have nothing to do with anything. Is a degree the only way forward for what y0u want to achieve?

 

[Lasse]

In my experience - marine biologists (if they haven´t been reefers before or are very interesting of reefing) are among the least appropriate according reefing. They are not told or learned about closed systems, not learning or told anything about the eco system in a glass box, neither know anything about animal behaviour. They are not told anything about biochemical processes in closed system. A newly educated marine biologist (in average I must stress because I´m working with four marine biologists for the moment - one with a PhD and I do not want to be killed at work on Monday ) has to be reschooled for many years in order to understand reefing.

Is a fish farmer the best reefer – no they are often specialists and have no clue about complex systems like a glass box reef

I have participated in employment processes of fish farmers in closed systems - I have seen in the rearview mirror that there are two types of people who manage best with fish farming: aquarists and ordinary farmers. Aquarists because they can processes in closed systems and farmers because they understand animals and their behavior. They also often have a great understanding of ecological processes.

The worst have been fishermen - they are hunters - not growers

Setting up a reef is setting up an ecosystem and IMO – knowing about the basic principles of ecology is the best guideline you can have.

To start an university education at the age of 50 years just because you want to know is a great idea and will give you a lot of very good experiences and new understandings – one will be that youngsters is not as dumb as many “grow-ups” think. I skip my normal work as warehouse worker (had been a ship yard worker before) and start a lower academic education when I was 34 – it was great and my experiences with and understanding of aquariums help me a lot when I educate my self to be a fishery consultant (never, ever worked as that before or after but the biological, ecological and fish physiology part of the education was great. The administrate part – yes it was helpful – but not more )

If you want an education that you can – if you want – use for your reefing skill and opposite – if you want to learn anything you can refer to from your hobby – take a grade in ecology (I suppose you have that type of education even in the US – but honestly – sometimes I´m not sure of that

If I see back – Ecology is the base for me – the technique is only a helpful tool in order to make the best working ecological system I can do in a glass box.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[hart24601]

I have taken well over 200 credit hours(250ish) of mostly science credits and while I have a degree in microbiology and minors I took a lot of the classes just for fun and my interest. You just need to grab course catalogs from places you are interested in and read about the offerings and see what sounds interesting. Depending on the school there are some great watershed and specific ecology classes that are fun and as other have said you might find aquaculture classes although I wouldn’t really expect to find anything that really is spot on to this hobby

It also will depend on how naturally you take to some subjects - many struggle with advanced chemistry and biochemistry and it might not be worth taking those classes or maybe take the non-major versions, but that is more individual choice however classes like ecology tend to require less time overall

 

[Mattrg02]

If I was retired and had free time, the aquarium about 2 hours away let’s you volunteer. On the job training beats any college IMO. Dustin

Beat me to it. I was going to suggest volunteer work. Learn from the pros by actually doing rather than reading.

Edit: Degree isn’t really worth it if you aren’t looking for a job. A degree only proves to an employer that you have the ability to learn, not that you can do the job. A degree in Engineering gives me the toolkit that Engineers use (calculus, physics, thermodynamics, etc. )
Engineering didn’t show me how to completely replace an existing SCADA system, infrastructure and all, for my Utility. That took on the job learning.

Many universities allow you to take classes as a non degree seeking student. Look up what’s around, and online, and see what classes are offered.

 

[Terry Mulhern]

Retiredteacher said:
Are there any programs to become a marine biologist in North Carolina (or in South Carolina)? I'm a dad of two and both are interested in marine science. I don't know why, because my wife and I are both linguistics teachers. I myself was a self taught linguist and a geek who used to do my essay analyzing all songs and even forum expressions (phrases often used on forums where I frequently hung out).

My son is in middle school now and we're considering two options: either Davidson County Community College in Thomasville or Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Davidson County Community College offers a Zoo and Aquarium Science Program program with 2 curriculums: Zoo Science Technology and Aquarium Science Technology. Students have a chance to do internships at public aquarium partners.