Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences - AAS
If you have a love for the great outdoors and an interest in biology and wildlife, consider earning your Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Fisheries & Aquaculture Science at Bellingham Technical College. You can prepare for a rewarding career as a fish hatchery specialist, fish culturist, fisheries technician, shellfish hatchery worker, scientific aide, water quality technician, or habitat restoration specialist. In BTC’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Science programs, you’ll learn top skills such as fish culture, aquaculture, and fish spawning that will position you for the best aquatic science jobs in the fisheries industry. Hands-on courses take place in the classroom as well as at the Whatcom Creek Hatchery at the Maritime Heritage Park in Bellingham, which is operated by Bellingham Technical College’s Fisheries & Aquaculture Science program.
Employment Information
88% BTC graduate placement rate in all states*
69% BTC graduate placement rate
$34,341 starting annual wage
$44,521 average annual wage
$57,231 potential annual wage
* Many Fisheries & Aquaculture students are employed outside of WA and OR. According to BTC faculty records, 88% of 2017-18 graduates seeking employment have been hired in their field of study.
- Employment and Wage Data Sources
BTC graduate employment rates:
The graduate employment rate reflects placement rates of students who graduated from BTC in 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17. The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Data Linking for Outcomes Assessment database pulls from Unemployment Insurance (UI) data across Washington and Oregon. UI data do not reflect BTC graduates who (a) are employed in states beyond those listed above or outside of the United States, (b) are self-employed, (c) are active duty members of the armed forces, (d) continued on to another educational institution, and/or (e) did not provide a social security number while enrolled at BTC.
Wages:
Washington State Employment Security Department 2018 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (
esd.wa.gov) reflect 2014-2017 employment
Starting annual wage = 25th percentile
Average annual wage = 50th percentile
Potential annual wage = 75th percentile
Estimated Program Costs