Skip to content
Academic Programmes August 29, 2026

Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture and Aquatic Science

August 29, 20267 min read

Programme Description

Aquaculture is an art and science that deals with farming of aquatic organisms (e.g. fishes, shrimps, seaweeds, echinoderms, and crocodiles). Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences is an essential knowledge and practice in enhancing the sustainable availability of fish resources and maintaining the aquatic ecological goods and services. Aquaculture uses artificial techniques for rearing of both aquatic plants and animals in a confined artificial environment whether earthen ponds, concrete ponds, tanks, raceways, pens, or floating cages. On the other hand, aquatic environment like lakes, rivers and ocean provides food and income to fisherfolk at local level and contributes to national export and global food security. World human population is increasing while many natural resources are not increasing at the same rate; causing depletion of such resources in their natural settings. Following this, there is a need to establish artificial production of natural resources that are over utilized by human population in order to reduce pressure on natural resources. Furthermore, it is important to train experts who can lead others in such operations. Fish is one of the natural resources that are highly utilized by human in an unsustainable way, thus causing depletion of different species of fish. However, many species of fresh water fishes can be farmed. Thus, it is important to train people on basic principles of fish farming to improve food security as well as generation of household income. Notwithstanding the human related impacts to fish populations, global climate change is also contributing substantively to the decline of fish population due to changes in water body environment (e.g. salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen) which may affect plankton that fishes feed on. Inland water bodies (lakes and rivers) are polluted by heavy metals from mining industries which causes health hazards to human who feed on fishes and other aquatic resources. Therefore, it is important to farm fishes in local areas where such pollution cannot contaminate such local ponds. The BSc. Aquaculture and Aquatic Science Programme emphasize on practical production of fish in local areas where contamination is minimal in order to improve food security as well as household income. The Bachelor of Science in Statistics is geared towards producing graduates who are well versed with the skills necessary to assist in planning, decision making, and research within various institutions. The curriculum provides training in general statistical techniques, specialized statistical methods, aspects of statistical management which enable graduates to be employed as statisticians in any corporate or public sectors or in academic institutions. In addition, they can also serve as bank officers, quality control officers, economists and other related professionals.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply concepts, theories, and methodologies to tackle emerging problems related to aquaculture and aquatic science.
  • Access, analyse, synthesize, and evaluate information objectively and act professionally and ethically towards clients, the public, and agency personnel in the aquaculture sector.
  • Apply knowledge to advice authority in sustainable utilization of aquatic resources, proper management, and policy development.
  • Conduct research in aquaculture and aquatic science fields to generate sustainable solutions for aquatic resource utilization.
  • Apply hands-on experience in aquatic sampling inventory and measurement techniques.
  • Apply modern technology, products, and services to optimize production of aquatic products. After the completion of the programme, graduates are expected to:
  • Demonstrate the ability to handle and manipulate data for decision making processes.
  • Manage statistical activities at different offices and institutions: public or private.
  • Plan and conduct sample surveys and experimental designs.
  • Demonstrate the ability to write reports and provide statistical service consultancy.
  • Demonstrate competence in using various statistical software packages for data analysis.
  • Demonstrate ability to identify, design, and manage different social and economic projects.

Programme Structure

Year 1

Semester One

Code Course Title Status Credits
AA 111 General Aspects in Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences Core 7.5
BI 112 Invertebrate Zoology Core 1E+1
BI 113 Ecology I Core 7.5
DS 102 Development Perspective Core 7.5
CH 115 Chemistry for Life Science Core 1E+1
LG 102 Communication Skills Core 7.5
MT 110 Introduction to Information and Communication Technology Core 7.5
BI 111 Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics Core 1E+1

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
AA 121 Practical Training, I Core 7.5
BI 122 Chordate Zoology Core 1E+1
BI 126 Introduction to Parasitology Core 7.5
BI 125 Environmental Science Core 7.5
BI 304 Estuarine and Wetland Ecology Core 7.5
AA 123 Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Core 7.5
AA 124 Principles and Practices of Swimming and Snorkeling Core 7.5
BI 124 Introduction to Microbiology Elective 7.5

Year 2

Semester One

Code Course Title Status Credits
AA 216 Mollusc and Crustacean Culture Core 7.5
AA 212 Aquatic Microbiology Core 7.5
AA 213 Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology Core 7.5
BI 215 Biostatistics I Core 1E+1
AA 215 Mangrove and Seagrass Ecosystems Core 7.5
AA 211 Principles of Aquaculture Core 7.5
AA 219 Aquatic Pathology Core 7.5
AA 214 Fish Processing Technology and Quality Assurance Core 7.5
BI 213 Ecology II Elective 1E+1

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
AA 221 Non-Food Aquaculture Core 7.5
BI 222 Introduction to Research Methodology Core 7.5
AA 224 Oceanography Core 7.5
AA 226 Practical Training II Core 7.5
AA 227 Aquatic Field Practical Core 7.5
AA 225 Aquatic Resources and Management Core 7.5
AA 228 Algal Biology and Culture Core 7.5
AA 222 Mariculture Elective 7.5

Year 3

Semester One

Code Course Title Status Credits
AA 318 Research Project Core 7.5
AA 311 Fish Genetics and Breeding Core 1E+1
AA 314 Larviculture and Larval Food Production Core 7.5
AA 315 Introduction to Remote Sensing and GIS Core 7.5
AA 317 Law of the Sea and Inland Waters Core 1E+1
AA 316 Aquatic Pollution and Management Core 1E+1
AA 319 Coral Reef Biology and Ecology Elective 7.5
AA 313 Aquatic Toxicology Elective 7.5

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
AA 320 Research Project* Core 7.5
EM 306 Small Business and Entrepreneurship Core 1E+1
AA 323 Seed Production and Hatchery Management Core 1E+1
BI 301 Ichthyology Core 7.5
BI 327 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Core 7.5
AA 325 Integrated Coastal Zone Management Core 1E+1
AA 324 Aquaculture and Environment Elective 7.5
BI 306 Conservation Biology Elective 7.5

Year 1

Semester One

Code Course Title Status Credits
ST 1100 Statistical Computing Core 9
ST 1101 Basic Statistics Core 9
CP 111 Principles of Programming Core 9
MT 1101 Foundations of Analysis Core 9
MT 1102 Linear Algebra and Applications Core 10.5
LG 102 Communication Skills Core 7.5
DS 102 Development Perspectives Core 7.5

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
ST 1201 Probability Theory Core 9
ST 1202 Operations Research I Core 9
ST 1203 Basic Demographic Models Core 9
MT 1201 Mathematical Analysis I Core 9
MT 1202 Ordinary Differential Equations Core 9
EN 126 Statistical Methods in Economics I Core 7.5
CP 123 Introduction to High Level Programming Core 9

Year 2

Semester One

Code Course Title Status Credits
ST 2101 Probability Distributions Core 10.5
ST 2102 Statistical Inference Core 10.5
ST 2103 Statistical Methods for Quality Control Core 9
ST 2104 Operations Research II Core 9
ST 2105 Research Methods and Practice Core 7.5
ST 2299 Practical Training I Core 7.5
EN 216 Statistical Methods in Economics II Core 7.5

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
ST 2201 Sampling Theory and Methods Core 9
ST 2202 Regression Analysis I Core 9
ST 2203 Actuarial Statistics Core 9
ST 2204 Non-Parametric Methods Core 9
ST 2205 Time Series and Forecasting Core 9
ST 2206 Financial Statistics Core 7.5
CP 121 Introduction to Database Systems Core 9

Year 3

Semester One

Code Course Title Status Credits
ST 3101 Design and Analysis of Experiments Core 9
ST 3102 Introduction to Multivariate Analysis Core 10.5
ST 3104 Categorical Data Analysis Core 7.5
ST 3105 Stochastic Processes Core 9
IM 315 Management Information Systems for Statisticians Core 7.5
EME 211 Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship Core 9
ST 3299 Practical Training II Core 7.5

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
ST 3201 Biostatistics and epidemiology Core 10.5
ST 3202 Applied Spatial Statistics Core 9
ST 3296 Statistical Project Core 10.5
ST 3206 Regression Analysis II Core 10.5
ST 3204 Panel Data Analysis Elective 10.5
ST 3205 Statistical Methods for Projects Evaluation Elective 10.5
CS 329 Big Data Analysis Elective 9
CP 224 Database Management System Elective 9

Special Programme Requirements

• PT requirement, semester II: Year I and Year II. • Field Requirement, semester II: Year II. • Special Project (Research Report) semester I and II: Year III.Bachelor of Science in • The first Field Practical Training (FPT) will be conducted at the end of first academic year, where students will be required to attend PT at The University of Dodoma (in- house practical training sessions) for four weeks. Students will be given practical training on some software on computing laboratory. The cost for this training per student is TZS 300,000 for four weeks. • The second Field Practical Training (FPT) will be conducted in different government and private institutions for eight weeks at the end of second year academic year. The cost for this training per student is TZS 600,000 for eight weeks. • Special Project (ST 320 Statistics Project) will be done from the beginning of Semester II of Year III. The cost for the Special Project per each student is TZS 300,000 for one semester. • Special Faculty requirement in Semester I of Year I. The amount per student is TZS 100,000.

About the author