Bachelor of Arts in Northern Studies

at University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) - Prince George Campus Canada

Gain a deeper understanding of why chemical reactions are the basis of all life as everything we are or do depends in one way or another on chemistry. Learn to interpret and predict the behaviour of matter as it relates to the world around us.

Chemistry is a fundamental science dealing with the nature of substances and the changes they undergo. Considered the “central science,” you will take courses in organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry along with math, physics and biology. 

In recent years the importance of an international perspective for Business students has increased as a result of the increasing globalization of the economy. The International Business major exposes students to the impact of the international environment on the functional areas of business management. In conjunction with courses in the International Studies program, the major in International Business allows students to focus on a country or region of the world, providing education in language, culture and business practice. All students, particularly those majoring in International Business, are encouraged to take courses in International Business, at institutions / universities abroad approved by the UNBC International Exchange & Student Programs Office in order to gain practical international exposure as part of their Bachelor of Commerce program. 
 

Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Learn to be an effective agent of environmental, sustainability and social innovation as you promote the mitigation of, and/or adaptation to, environmental and sustainability challenges.

A degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies leads to a rewarding career in sectors such as government, Indigenous government and agencies, the non-profit sector, law (with additional training), international development, environmental consulting, environmental health and more.

Political Science
Explore citizenship, democracy, justice and law in local, national and international communities. Learn about Canada’s political history and contemporary governance at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.

Examine the theories and practicalities of social and economic policy, Indigenous relations, societal issues and international affairs. Our political science degree prepares students for careers in public service, law, business and media.

The BSc Wildlife and Fisheries degree at UNBC is administered by the Ecosystem Science and Management Program. It provides students with a solid foundation in wildlife and fisheries biology with considerable indoor and outdoor laboratory experience. It also exposes students to an integrated approach to resource issues that confront today's professionals. As such, the BSc Wildlife and Fisheries encompasses a combination of theoretical and applied ecology that prepares students for different avenues including public- and private-sector employment as well as  graduate studies.

Why Choose the Wildlife & Fisheries at UNBC?
The BSc in Wildlife and Fisheries at UNBC is one of very few degrees of its kind in Canada. It gives students the theoretical background they need to work as a biologist, but it also exposes students to extensive hands-on and practical labs and exercises. Consequently, a student graduating from this degree has a sound biological background for pursuing post-graduate studies as well as a degree that can lead them directly into the wildlife or fisheries professions. The relatively small class sizes in upper-division courses provide an ideal learning environment. Faculty teaching the courses for this degree are of extremely high calibre – many of them have  won UNBC teaching and research awards. As a student in the program, you benefit greatly from taking courses from faculty who are actively engaged in wildlife and fisheries research and who can bring examples and experience from their research to the classroom and lab.

To be able to work for the government (either employed by or as a consultant for) in British Columbia, it is important to be accredited as a Professional Biologist. Currently, a student taking all of the courses needed to complete the BSc Wildlife and Fisheries at UNBC should meet the education requirements for eligibility as a Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio) in BC.

Chemistry
Chemistry is a fundamental science dealing with the nature of substances and the changes they undergo. Considered the “central science,” you will take courses in organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry along with math, physics and biology. 

Computer Science
The Computer Science program gives students a thorough exposure to basic areas like computer architecture, programming languages and methodology, algorithms and data structures, systems programming, operating systems and networking, knowledge-based and database systems, software engineering, and theory. The student will develop the advanced practical computing and problem-solving skills required for professional work in modern industry, based on a strong conceptual foundation and on insights into the nature of this rapidly changing field. Each student will use advanced development tools, and will be encouraged to approach problem-solving from a multidisciplinary point of view.

History
Historians study what people have thought, said, and done in the past. You will learn to think critically about the historical processes that shape the present. As a history major, you will develop the knowledge needed to pursue careers in law, education, journalism, civil service, politics, museum and library archives, or post-secondary professorship.

Political Science
Explore citizenship, democracy, justice and law in local, national and international communities. Learn about Canada’s political history and contemporary governance at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.

Examine the theories and practicalities of social and economic policy, Indigenous relations, societal issues and international affairs. Our political science degree prepares students for careers in public service, law, business and media.

Economics
Economics is concerned with how societies provide for the well-being of their citizens and residents, along with public policies to promote well-being. Faculty members in the Department of Economics are excellent teachers and committed to providing students with an active learning and inclusive environment, and to developing knowledge of contemporary issues and practical thinking skills. Economics courses address a range of current issues, such as: what are the impacts of carbon taxes? How can health care be efficiently and equitably provided? Should water be privatized? What is the best portfolio choice to maximize my investment?

Global and International Studies
Global and International Studies examines the drivers and impacts of our planet’s inter-connectedness in technology, culture, sustainability, governance and economics. You will be prepared for a rewarding career in global and international organizations including governments, inter-governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and international businesses.

This program addresses both project-level and large-scale environmental planning issues that occur in developments that impact the natural environment. 

Learn about provincial land use planning, environmental assessment, watershed planning and integrated resource management. 

The geographic and cultural context of Prince George and northern British Columbia provides you with a living laboratory to explore concepts, exchange ideas and discover solutions. Simply by living in the region, your life experiences will inform what and how you learn about the lives of people living in northern communities and First Nations, the impacts of resource extraction on the landscape and these people, and the need for new approaches to addressing long-standing social and environmental issues.

In addition to classes offered through the School of Environmental Planning, you will develop an interdisciplinary understanding of the world we live in through courses in biology, geography, environmental science, First Nations studies, forestry, economics, international studies, and outdoor recreation and tourism management. 

Economics
Economics as a discipline is constructed around the need to identify agents in the economy and analyze their interactions. As such it is based upon deriving generalizations by identifying behavioural rules and examining causal relationships between economic variables. The emphasis on examining causal relationships is a distinguishing feature of economics and forms an important part of its claim to be a social science. As well as addressing these central concerns, the Department of Economics recognizes the interaction between the economy and other broader social, political, cultural and technological forces. The Department therefore places special emphasis on courses that analyze institutions, facilitate comparative studies, encourage a historical approach, and recognize the pervasiveness of technological change.

Mathematics
An important feature of the mathematics degree program is the early emphasis on the development of abstract reasoning and the relation of the abstract to the concrete. The degree requirements have been chosen so as to provide students with a broad background in mathematics while still leaving them room to pursue their individual interests.

Global and International Studies examines the drivers and impacts of our planet’s inter-connectedness in technology, culture, sustainability, governance and economics. You will be prepared for a rewarding career in global and international organizations including governments, inter-governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and international businesses.

Program Details
This program is ideal for those whose eyes are on the future of our planet. You will study critical concepts that promote healthy, just, peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable societies for all. 

Our program includes four core themes:

• Global environment and sustainability
• Global cultures and diversity
• Global governance and social justice
• Global political economy and development