Welcome to the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Aquatic Resources!
First-year course selection for the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Aquatic Resources is very easy. Most courses are required. If you plan to do a Major in Public Policy and Social Research, there is only one course for which you will need to make a choice. If you plan to do a Major in Economics, you have a variety of choice in the selection of your two elective subjects.
If you are unsure which major you will want to pursue, it is recommended that you follow the Public Policy and Social Research pattern. That will easily allow you to go in either direction at the end of first year.
First-Year Course Patterns
Public Policy & Social Research
| AQUA 101 | Introduction to Freshwater Systems and Resources - 3 credits (first term) |
| AQUA 102 | Introduction to Ocean Systems and Resources - 3 credits (second term) |
| ECON 101 | Introductory Microeconomics - 3 credits (first term) |
| ECON 102 | Introductory Macroeconomics - 3 credits (second term) |
| EESC 171 or EESC 173 |
Understanding the Earth - 3 credits (first term) Natural Hazards - 3 credits (first term) |
| BIOL 112 | Diversity of Life - 3 credits (second term) |
| PSCI 101 | Introduction to Power and Politics - 3 credits (first term) |
| PSCI 102 | Introduction to Comparative and Global Politics - 3 credits (second term) |
| Anthropology or Sociology - 6 credits in one subject (see below) | |
| ANTH 111 and ANTH 112 |
Introduction to Archaeology - 3 credits (first or second term) Introduction to Socio-cultural Anthropology - 3 credits (first or second term) |
| OR | |
| SOCI 101 and SOCI 102 |
Introduction to Sociology I - 3 credits (first term) Introduction to Sociology II - 3 credits (second term) |
If you are unsure which of these two subjects to choose, look at the upper-level courses in each discipline to see which appeal to you the most. As you will be taking additional courses in this subject in future years, upper-level courses in which you have the most interest should dictate your choice of introductory-level courses.
Economics
| AQUA 101 | Introduction to Freshwater Systems and Resources - 3 credits (first term) |
| AQUA 102 | Introduction to Ocean Systems and Resources - 3 credits (second term) |
| ECON 101 | Introductory Microeconomics - 3 credits (first term) |
| ECON 102 | Introductory Macroeconomics - 3 credits (second term) |
| EESC 171 or EESC 173 |
Understanding the Earth - 3 credits (first term) Natural Hazards - 3 credits (first term) |
| BIOL 112 | Diversity of Life - 3 credits (second term) |
| Anthropology or Political Science or Sociology - 6 credits in one subject (see below) | |
| Arts or Science course(s) - 6 credits, normally in one subject (see below) | |
| Economics majors in the Aquatic Resources program must complete one of the following three options: | |
| ANTH 111 and ANTH 112 |
Introduction to Archaeology - 3 credits (first or second term) Introduction to Socio-cultural Anthropology - 3 credits (first or second term) |
| OR | |
| PSCI 101 and PSCI 102 |
Introduction to Power and Politics - 3 credits (first term) Introduction to Comparative and Global Politics - 3 credits (second term) |
| OR | |
| SOCI 101 and SOCI 102 |
Introduction to Sociology I - 3 credits (first term) Introduction to Sociology II - 3 credits (second term) |
If you are unsure which of these three subjects to choose, look at the upper-level courses in each discipline to see which appeal to you the most. As you will very likely take additional courses in this subject, upper-level courses in which you have the most interest should dictate your choice of introductory-level courses.
Elective Arts/Science Subject for Economics Major
Your remaining 6 credits will normally be in another arts subject, though they could be chosen from the sciences. You may choose a second subject from the above three (anthropology, political science, sociology), or from any of the other subjects listed below. Click on each to learn more.
Please note that the subjects displayed in the following table are also links to their respective pages on this website. If first-year, 100-level courses are offered in a particular subject, their course descriptions are displayed at the bottom of the applicable subject page.
* Mathematics & Statistics and Computer Science are departments in the Faculty of Science, but for purposes of pairs (see definition below) and electives in the BA programs, Computer Science and Mathematics are considered as arts subjects.
** Climate and Environment may be considered as either an arts or a science subject. For a BA student, it would be considered as an arts subject.
| SCIENCE SUBJECTS |
| Biology |
| Chemistry |
| Physics |
Things to Remember
- When building your course schedule, begin with required courses that are offered in only one timeblock, and schedule other courses around those.
- When choosing your arts/science elective, explore your available options from the list above. You may decide to choose a subject that is familiar to you, but don’t hesitate to be adventurous and try something new.
-
The BA degree requires the completion of “pairs”. (A “pair” is 12 credits in one subject – see the Glossary of Terms for a full definition). If you like your elective subject this year, you can take an additional 6 credits in that subject over the remaining years of your program and complete one of your pairs that way.
- If you find, by year-end, that you are not interested in taking additional courses in your first-year elective subject, don’t worry. The BA degree also has open electives in its degree pattern. This subject may be used as an elective in your program, and you can choose different subjects in second year to use as foundation courses for pairs. So you can choose your elective this year risk-free!
Questions You Might Have
1. I am interested in Development Studies, but there is only one 3-credit course available at the 100-level. What else should I take in the second semester to fill out my schedule?
You can take a 3-credit course in any of the other arts or science subjects listed above. If you decide to do a pair (see explanation above) in DEVS, you will need to complete 9 additional credits of DEVS, to include one of DEVS 201 or 202, over the remaining years of your degree. If you decide to do a minor in Development Studies, you will need to complete DEVS 201 and 202, plus an additional 15 credits of DEVS, over the remaining years of your degree.
2. I am interested in Public Policy and Governance, but there is only one 3-credit course available at the 100-level. What else should I take in the other semester to fill out my schedule?
You can take a 3-credit course in any of the other arts or science subjects listed above. If you decide to do a pair (see explanation above) in PGOV, you will need to complete 9 additional credits of PGOV, to include one of PGOV 201 or 202, over the remaining years of your degree. If you decide to do a minor in Public Policy and Governance, you will need to complete PGOV 201 and 202, plus as additional 9 credits of PGOV, over the remaining years of your degree.
3. I am interested in English, but there is only one 3-credit course available at the 100-level. What else should I take in the other semester to fill out my schedule?
You can take a 3-credit course in any of the other arts (or science) subjects listed above. If you choose ENGL 111 in the first term, you can also choose any 200-level English course that is offered in the second semester, subject to availability. However, most second-term English courses are likely to be full before first-year registration opens, so this option may not be a possibility for you.
4. Why is Earth and Environmental Sciences not listed in the allowable Science Subjects above?
You are already taking EESC 171 as part of your degree program. In addition, your required AQUA 101 and 102 courses serve as substitutes for EESC 172 so AQUA students do not normally take EESC 172. You are therefore already taking the introductory level courses for EESC this year. Should you wish to take additional EESC courses in future years, you will have the prerequisites to do so by completing your program's core courses this year.
5. What if I am interested in taking a course in a subject that is not mentioned above?
The other subjects offered at StFX are in our other professional or applied science programs: Business Administration; Engineering; Health; Human Kinetics; Human Nutrition; Nursing. (Aquatic Resources also falls into this category.) Most courses in these departments are restricted to students in these programs. In second year, you will take BSAD 101. For future years, there are some Human Nutrition courses and two 300-level Nursing elective courses that are open to students outside of those programs. If you are interested in taking other courses from one of these departments you will need to contact the relevant department chair. (Courses in Health and Nursing are not options for students outside those programs, but permission is sometimes granted for Business Administration, Engineering, Human Kinetics, and Human Nutrition courses.)
Registration Help Centre
By Email Only: nsr@stfx.ca
The registration help centre will be in operation and will respond to email from June 10 through August 30.
Hours of Operation are Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Atlantic Time
For registration issues after August 30, please email the registrar's office: @email
Please include your full name and Student ID number in all correspondence.
