Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Forestry

at Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus Canada

Outdoor recreation plays an increasingly important role in our contemporary lives, contributing to our health, family cohesion, enrichment of culture, environmental appreciation, and economic development. Our Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism program is the only one of its kind in Canada due to our integration of both theoretical and applied perspectives.

With mountains, lakes, and trails at our doorstep, our program takes advantage of this unique terrain as well as our campus’ proximity to world-class kayaking, climbing, hiking, and other recreational pursuits that are ideal for the practical experience required to excel within the discipline. Our field trips and outdoor schools take place locally and expose you to a variety of landscapes, weather patterns, and populations preparing you to work in any environment.

Many of our courses involve interaction with experts in the field as well as technological elements such as geographic information systems, computer programs and multimedia/video. It is our goal to prepare you for success in this challenging and rapidly changing industry, from planning and leading guided tours to assessing and creating visitor experiences for communities and parks organizations.

The study of Sociology emphasizes the social relationships between people, communities and cultures. By exploring fundamental sociological theories, contemporary thinkers, and a variety of research methods, you will have the opportunity to examine topics including:

• Health and Aging
• Marriage and the Family
• Crime and Deviance
• Media and Popular Culture
• Science and Technology
• Gender and Sexuality
• Education
• Northern Communities
• Discrimination
• Social Change 

Research and hands-on application is at the core of our programs. You will graduate with the necessary skills to facilitate quantitative and qualitative research and to think creatively and inquisitively in order to better understand social patterns, behaviours and issues. 

Our faculty is actively engaged in diverse areas of research such as Gerontology, Education, Health, Demography, Media, Work and Occupations, Social Psychology, and Northern Studies, providing you with well-rounded course options taught by some of the foremost leaders in the field.

It is our goal to enhance your knowledge of the society in which you live and to increase your ability to think independently and critically.  You will graduate with a strong understanding of social interaction, preparing you for success in virtually any profession.

Economics is a social science dedicated to the study of decision-making under scarcity, and the factors that influence wealth. Economics involves financial topics and broader historical, sociological and cultural topics ranging from the individual (microeconomics) to governments, industries and central banking (macroeconomics). This extensive and multidisciplinary study of the economy is what sets it apart from other seemingly similar topics such as Business or Finance.

As an economics student you will gain insight into the long-term effects of policy on communities by studying:

• Resource Allocation
• Current Policy Debates
• Statistics
• Economic Theory
• Incentives
• Econometrics
• Decision-Making 

You will also gain a marketable edge through field and speciality courses focused on labour, natural resources and industrial organisation. The natural ebb and flow of the economy means that economics is a changing and dynamic field. Our continually updated course content reflects new theories, information and current events impacting the Economics field. Mathematics is a large component of many of our Economics courses; therefore, our recommendation is that you have some knowledge and skill in the area.

Government policies influence virtually every aspect of our lives, from housing to education to crime. Our Political Science program studies the institutions, ideas, practices, and power that shape government and policy at all levels. Students will gain a thorough understanding of political systems - with a particular focus on Canadian politics - and overarching notions of freedom, equality, and justice.

Our goal is to provide a well-rounded Political Science education by applying both theoretical and practical modes of analysis to examine sociological, economic, and historical contexts.

If you have an interest in political systems abroad, you will also have the opportunity to explore the politics of America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Additionally, you will study:

• International Relations
• Political Theory
• Law and Politics
• Public Administration and Policy
• Indigenous Governance
• Comparative Politics

Geography is the study of spatial patterns and processes on Earth's surface and the relationship between society, populations and the environment. Our Geography programs focus on physical geography, dealing with spatial aspects of land, water and the atmosphere, as well as human geography which explores the cultural, political and economic forces behind the distribution of human activities. 

As a Geography student you will spend the first two years building a foundation of knowledge in a wide spectrum of geographical themes which examine: 

• Where populations and activities are located on Earth 
• When and why physical and environmental patterns change 
• The impacts these changes have on human and physical environments 
• The responses to these impacts 

In your final two years of study you may specialize in a particular area including: 

• Climate change 
• Glacial Processes 
• Soil Analysis 
• Conservation 
• Natural Hazards 
• Water Resource Management 
• Sociocultural Geography 

Our courses reflect the breadth of the discipline, as well as geographical techniques and research methods such as digital photogrammetry, remote sensing, soil and water testing and geographic information systems (GIS). We also offer regional field camps and a Regional or International Field Study course that is available in your final year of study.

Lakehead University offers a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology. The master degree normally requires two years of full-time study.

As an exception to the general Master's regulations, applications to this program must be made by December 15.  Only complete applications will be reviewed.
The MA Clinical program strives to develop and nurture skills within students that are grounded in science, critical thinking, and ethics, so that they may serve as competent researchers, clinicians, and educators. The program adheres closely to the scientist-practitioner model of training and practice in psychology.  

Mathematics seeks hidden patterns that help us to understand life and the complex problems that surround us. This discipline of numbers, quantity, and space can be applied to many fields and industries, from Life Science to Finance. As a student in our Department of Mathematics, you will develop advanced analytical and critical thinking skills in addition to: 

• Research techniques 
• Scholarly writing proficiency 
• Comprehensive understanding of mathematical structures 
• Mathematical proof formulation and solution skills 

Mathematics is a very diverse and intellectually stimulating field of study. In addition to our traditional Mathematics programs, we offer Mathematical Physics and the flexibility to combine your Mathematics degree with a degree in Education, Economics, or Physics. You will benefit from our small class sizes, world-class faculty, unique research opportunities, and the ability to pursue mathematical topics you find most appealing.

Our graduates have gone on to pursue rewarding careers in both government and the private sector in research, leadership, and applied capacities.

Most students opt for the non-thesis option given that it is the standard in most graduate Economics programs in North America. This option consists of eight half courses and an extended research paper. Many students will take six courses during their first year (three in fall, three in winter); two courses in the fall of the second year and complete their extended paper in the winter of the second year.

MA Economics Co-operative Program Option
The purpose of the co-op option is to provide students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom and to obtain new insights and educational experiences. Two four-month work terms (which may be taken consecutively) follow the first two terms of study.

To proceed to the co-op option, students must complete at least six half courses chosen from those required for the thesis and non-thesis options.

Bioinformatics is the application of information technology to the field of molecular biology. As a relatively new area of study, we are one of the very few universities in Canada that offer this program from year one. 

Our Department of Bioinformatics integrates tools and theories from several disciplines including:

• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics 

Whether designing a new life-saving drug, decoding a genome sequence or developing algorithms to analyze medical images, Bioinformaticians solve problems that arise from the analysis of biological data. As a student skilled in Bioinformatics, you will be at the forefront of this newly emerging field which has a widespread impact on the way we approach important global issues and topics including healthcare and sustainability.

You will gain the necessary education and training in all of the component fields and insight into:

• the complex interactions of living systems
• big data collection and analysis
• the physical and chemical nature of the environment
• building descriptive models based on biological data
• theoretical biology

Our program is well-rounded and small in size allowing for one-on-one interaction with educators and many research opportunities. Additionally, we maintain close relationships with local knowledge-based businesses and organizations which contribute to unique course content and job opportunities post-graduation.

The Course-based Master’s degree (Master’s in Forest Management) emphasizes professional development in forest management, policy, geomatics, and ecology. The degree entails 4 terms of coursework (16 months).  Three terms are on campus and one term, comprised of an internship and field school, is off-campus. The curriculum of this 16-month programme is given below:

First Term (Fall, 2.0 FCE)

• NRMT 5550: Principles of Research Methods & Experimental Statistics
• NRMT 5135: Applied Geomatics

Two half-course electives:

• NRMT 5138: Restoration Ecology, and
• NRMT 5430: Advanced Forest Pathology

Second Term (Winter, 2.0 FCE)

• NRMT 5132: Foundations of Operation Research
• NRMT 5137: Biodiversity Conservation

Two half-course electives from:

• NRMT 4239: Urban Forestry,
• NRMT 4252: Conservation Ecology,
• NRMT 5134: Complexity Science,
• NRMT 5136: Remote Sensing Applications,
• NRMT 5530: Research Methods II: Experimental Design in Forestry Research,
• NRMT 5610: Genetics: Natural Variation & Selective Breeding,
• NRMT 5770: Management and Marketing Strategies,
• NRMT 5815: Environmental Assessment,
• BIOL 4115: Plant Ecology of Disturbed Habitats,
• BIOL 4117: Advances in Contemporary Ecology, and
• ENST 5030: Qualitative Research Methods

Third term (Spring-Summer, 1.5 FCE)

• NRMT 5094: Field School
• NRMT 5100: Internship

Fourth term (Fall, 2.0 FCE)

• NRMT 5570: Advanced Economics
• NRMT 5133: Indigenous Peoples & Natural Resources Management
• NRMT 5810: Natural Resources Policy
• NRMT 5111: Professional Communication

Anthropology is the broad, multi-disciplinary study and documentation of humans, past and present. As an Anthropology student you will have the opportunity to study everything from stone artifacts and skeletal remains, to a community's economic structure and unique dialect. Our Department of Anthropology has four distinct sub-disciplines with many different topics to explore in each:

• Archaeology
• Bioanthropology
• Linguistics
• Socio-Cultural Anthropology

Our courses blend in-class lecture with seminars, labs and field work to provide you with a well-rounded background in both the theoretical and practical applications of your area of interest. You will have access to world-class laboratories and anthropological collections which have contributed to groundbreaking findings and been utilized by some of the foremost leaders in the field.

Our Department of Anthropology is widely recognized as a leader in undergraduate research and for producing world-class Anthropologists. Our faculty members are leaders in their respective field of study and regularly work with undergraduate students on special topics courses and projects. Our students have published papers and presented their findings at national archaeological conventions across Canada, with most of them winning a place on the podium for their innovation.

A student may enter, proceed in and graduate from the Honours BA program in accordance with stipulations of the University Regulations section and Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies Faculty Regulations section of the Calendar. All course choices in fourth year must be approved by the department. For more information Click On

We have a range of laboratories housing world-class equipment, integral to research across the region. You will have access to these resources including:

• Environmental Archaeology & Paleoecology Laboratory
• LU GIS Laboratory
• LU Instrumentation Laboratory
• LU Map Library
• LU Paleo-DNA Laboratory
• Physical Anthropology Laboratory
• Zooarchaeology Laboratory