Bachelor of Science, Major in Conservation Science and Practice - Wildland Conservation and Recreation

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

Northern and Rural Community Planning is the application of planning principles and practices to the often unique social, economic, and ecological issues confronting northern and circumpolar communities. Many of the principles and skills you learn will prepare you to work in communities large and small in different regions and countries. 

Our degree provides you with a thorough understanding specific to the unique planning requirements of those communities while developing practical knowledge to address those issues. You will study both physical and social science knowledge as it relates to community planning, and develop an understanding of the relationship between northern communities and surrounding rural resource regions.

Through experiential learning, gain experience in applying your learning to designing and creating policy that is appropriate and responsive to northern and rural community needs. 

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.

Study the natural world at its most fundamental level. Learn about physics, the science upon which all other sciences and technologies are based. Our degree opens the door to future study and career opportunities in such fields as education, scientific research, industry, medical technology, and environmental studies.

Program Details
In the first two years, you will take courses in:

• Mechanics, waves, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism
• Modern physics including relativity and quantum theory and their applications
• Mathematics and computer programming

Build on that foundation in your third and fourth years with courses in:

• Quantum mechanics
• Electromagnetic theory and radiation
• Electronics 
• Optics
• Statistical mechanics
• Nuclear and particle physics 
• Condensed matter physics 
• Special-topics courses 
• Research-oriented, project-type courses

The Environmental Science Bachelor of Science degree is an interdisciplinary degree in which students take a core curriculum along with an area of specialization. The core curriculum is designed to provide students with knowledge of the fundamental biological, chemical, physical and applied aspects integral to the field of environmental science. In addition, students receive exposure to many of the human dimensions that underlie environmental issues. This approach ensures a uniform preparation among students and allows for the development of a diversity of expertise necessary to address the complexity of present environmental problems and future unanticipated ones.

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography degree provides a broad background on the fundamentals of physical geography (climate, snow and ice, water, soils, ecosystems). It provides you with specialized expertise in geospatial analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, statistics, and field measurement methods that are critical skills for professional geoscientists and environmental consultants.

The Bachelor of Science in Biology is a broadly-based undergraduate program in biology that is designed to present the major concepts of contemporary biology at the molecular, cellular, organismal, population and community levels. The degree is designed to have sufficient flexibility for students to follow interests ranging from microbial to plant to fish or wildlife biology. Capitalizing on the northern setting of the University, there is an emphasis on northern flora and fauna, morphological, biochemical, physiological and behavioural modifications to temperate and arctic conditions, and the dynamics of microbial, plant and animal populations in northern ecosystems. The Bachelor of Science in Biology prepares students for application to medical, dental, veterinary, or other professional schools, and for a wide range of other biology-related careers. Students who complete the degree are automatically eligible to apply to the College of Applied Biology as a Biologist in Training or a Registered Professional Biologist.

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.

Women's Studies 
Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to studying the historical, cultural, literary, and societal role of women and gender. UNBC's program has strengths in areas such as women's and gender history; gender, literature, and literary theory; gender, colonialism, and postcolonialism; gender and globalization; feminism, justice, and ethics; gender and health; and gender and international studies.The Women's Studies program offers majors and minors in Women's Studies and, in cooperation with other programs, four joint majors. At the graduate level, the program offers a Master's degree in Gender Studies.

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. 

As an environmental engineer, you can serve society by ensuring we all have clean air, water and soil, and by creating sustainable solutions to today’s critical environmental questions.

This program prepares you for important employment opportunities where your technical expertise and problem-solving skills as an engineer are required, in addition to your strong awareness and understanding of environmental issues and a passion to improve the communities you live in.

Program Details
You will take design courses that begin in your first year, giving you the chance to engage your creative thinking. Hone your problem-solving skills as you continue to take design courses in every year of the program. 

During the first two years, build a foundation in basic sciences, engineering tools and environmental issues. In the final two years, you will develop an in-depth knowledge of environmental engineering.

Along with developing a solid background in environmental engineering, you will also gain strong communication skills and the ability to work across various disciplines including resource-based industries, government departments, research organizations, and environmental engineering consulting.

Example projects that an environmental engineering graduate can work on include the following:

• Designing and building processes to bring clean drinking water to northern communities 
• Designing and building processes to treat municipal or industrial wastewater
• Designing and building processes to recover energy from municipal and industrial waste 
• Developing methods to clean contaminated soil
• Developing flood control plans
• Mapping groundwater flow and contaminant transport in subsurface environments

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