The subjects and the quantity of semester credit unit (SCU) required for the students to achieve the expected learning outcomes have been formulated by PS-TMA. In delivering the course content, lectures are performed by several methods such as meetings in the classrooms, online learning platform (Learning Management System, LMS), laboratory practices and observations, field works through practical activities or observations in the field laboratory. The students have the opportunities to discuss the materials that had been delivered in the class; and for a deeper review they get an assignment to perform a presentation as an individual or a group seminar. The presentation is conducted in order to improve the students’ skill to deliver the information and to make them more active in scientific discussion.

Basically, based on their contents, the courses offered to the students of PS-TMA are divided into 4 groups, consisting of Basic university courses, Basic faculty (fisheries and marine science) courses, Major courses (MCs) and Minor or Supporting Courses. Basic university courses are given to the first year students at IPB. These courses are necessary to strengthen the students’ knowledge for more advanced courses in the following years. Basic faculty (fisheries and marine science) subjects comprise general and comprehensive fisheries subjects for third semester students. Major courses (MCs) consist of primary courses, which construct the core competence of the SP-TMA. Minor or supporting courses mainly consist of the subjects which become the main interest of students and which mostly supports the expected learning outcome. Each course offered to the students at IPB University has a standardized course specification namely Teaching Programme Guideline (TPG).

Quality assurance and learning systems at PS-TMA are monitored both internally and externally. Internal monitoring quality assurance is done by the Quality Management Office of the University.  At the level of the Department of Aquaculture there is a Quality Control Unit and at the level of the Faculty of FFMS, a Quality Assurance Unit has been established. The assessment process is conducted regularly in every semester, and the evaluation results are further discussed by all lecturer and administrative staff for improvements for the following semester during weekly academic staff meetings every Wednesday (Rabuan). External quality assurances are assessed by the Indonesian National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN PT), and ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN QA) every 4 year. Accreditation Grade from BAN PT for SP-TMA was level A (in 2013); whereas accreditation grade from AUN QA was 4.4 (in 2013). Evaluation of the course content is conducted periodically based on the development of science and technology and stakeholder demands. Curriculum development and evaluation activities are periodically held at the least every 4 years in the form of curriculum workshops (Lokakarya Pendidikan, Academic Workshop). The workshop involves students, teaching staff, academic staff, alumni, and government and private institutions (stakeholders). The workshop also discussed various aspects in relation to the passing rate, attained targets or unattained targets using the GPA of graduates and waiting period of graduates in getting their first jobs and other academic process evaluation.

All degree programs have been divided into modules. Each module is a sum of teaching and learning whose contents are concerted As in all undergraduate programmes in Indonesia, the PS-TMA has 4-years (8 semesters) study duration, at a maximum study period of 12 semesters to complete 144 – 146 SCU with an average study load of 18 SCU per semester. A semester consists of 16 weeks of lectures including 2 weeks of exams (mid and final exams). The first and second semesters of each academic year begin in the third week of August and the first week of February, respectively.
PS-TMA study program has been divided into several semesters. Modules already prepared in stages in accordance with the competency level mastered by the students. Each module consists of subjects prepared in such a way based on students’ competencies, ranging from mastery of basic knowledge in the first year (Common Course Program) to mastery of knowledge and specific skills in aquaculture in the next year to final year (Figure 1.1). In the first year of the study program, students are directed to master basic knowledge as the basis to improve aquaculture science and technology, which has been considered as an applied science (Table 2.1). In the second year, the learning process focuses on mastery of general fisheries competencies (Basic Faculty Subjects) that are closely related to aquaculture and technology. In the third year, learning modules include various courses specific in aquaculture as the major competency. Internship programs in aquaculture-related institutions are also recommended to be taken by the students to enrich their knowledge and skills in aquaculture. This program is not obligatory, but PS-TMA facilitates the administrative process for this internship program. In the final year, students would perform an Aquaculture Field Practical Work program which is conducted directly in aquaculture-related institutions or companies with an aim to expose students to actual aquaculture activities so that they can directly observe and implement the science and knowledge they obtained in class. In this year, there are also several courses focusing particularly on the interrelation of previous courses in aquaculture activities as well as its development. For their final project, the students are offered to choose various types of projects including experimental and non-experimental research such as laboratory experiments, literature review, feasibility study and problem-based internship program. Upon the completion of their project, the students are required to write a scientific report and present the results in a seminar (Seminar) attended by their colleagues, supervisor and a representative from PS-TMA. For the final exam, the students are required to defend their report and their learning competency comprehensively within a closed exam attended by their supervisors, external examiner and a representative from PS-TMA for a quality assurance.