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Course Number: AQS 165
Course Title: Current Issues in Aquarium Science
Credit Hours: 1
Lecture Hours: 10
Lecture/Lab Hours: 0
Lab Hours: 0

Special Fee: none

Course Description

Students understand both internal operational issues and external issues which impact zoological facilities. Incorporates various topics each term.

Intended Outcomes for the Course

  • Discuss the benefits that a zoological facility presents to the local community and to society.
  • Understand and discuss the role of revenue streams and expenditures within a zoological institution.
  • Identify how global or regional conditions outside of a zoological organization impact its operations.
  • Understand the role of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and similar organizations in promoting the viability of zoological facilities.

Course Activities and Design

The format for this course is a combination of lecture and discussion based topics which provide the necessary understanding of how current issues facing zoological facilities influence their operation. Instruction will be based at the OCCC Central Campus and will include guest lectures from industry professionals.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

  • Written response papers summarizing selected weekly lectures.
  • Scheduled quizzes to evaluate knowledge of material presented in lecture and assigned reading.
  • Class discussions and presentation of current literature or texts relevant to the issues facing the operation of zoological facilities and their impacts on local, regional, national and global communities.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes
  • Contributions of zoological institutions on society.
  • Impact of societal culture, trends and economics on zoological facilities.
  • Internal and external politics influencing zoological facilities.
  • Functional departments and stakeholders of zoological organizations.
  • Financial management and stewardship in zoological organizations.
  • For-profit and non-profit zoological institutions.
  • Ethical issues facing zoological facilities.
  • Conservation issues influencing action and awareness in zoological organizations.
Concepts
  • Exploration of contributions that zoological facilities bring to the local, regional, national and global communities.
  • Influence of cultural and economic demographics on zoological institution mission, goals and operations.
  • Survey of legislative, political and regulatory impacts on zoological facilities.
  • Identification of the role that husbandry personnel play in the financial goals of an organization.
  • Contributions of marketing and public relations in reaching organizational goals in zoological settings.
  • Principles of Human Relations in zoological organizations.
  • Contributions of employees to organizational goals as internal customers and resources.
  • Exploration of the impacts of animal rights and welfare on zoological operations and goals.
  • Impacts of conservation issues on zoological facilities such as; habitat destruction, invasive species, species population status/management, and resource demand for energy, water and raw materials.
Issues
  • Conflict of financial stewardship versus mission at zoos and aquariums.
  • Zoological facilities matching needs of diverse communities and audience members with institutional mission and goals.
  • Ethics of maintaining live animals in zoological collections.
  • Impact of zoological facilities on conservation efforts and vice versa.
  • Internal and external political agendas that influence animal care facilities.
Skills
  • Identify, evaluate, determine, select.
  • Identify current issues, both internal and external, which impact zoological operations.
  • Distinguish between revenue and expenditure within a zoological facility budget.
  • Determine the criterion which defines a for-profit versus a non-profit zoological organization.
  • Identify current animal welfare issues faced within zoological organizations and how they are typically managed.
  • Identify current conservation issues facing zoological organizations and how they are handled both internally and externally.