Master of Business Administration

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

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. 

The MBA is recognized worldwide as the hallmark of the management professional.  Graduates of the UNBC MBA program develop a well-rounded understanding of the skills needed by leaders of private and public sector organizations, and the challenges facing enterprises in general, and northern ones in particular.

The program is designed to allow professionals to complete their degree within two years while continuing to work full-time.  During the first year of the program, students are introduced to the major disciplinary areas within the field of business, including strategy, economics, accounting, finance, organizational behaviour, marketing, and operations management.  This part of the program builds the broad base of knowledge and skills required by senior management. 

During the second year of the program, students gain a broad understanding of the global, legal and ethical environment in which organizations operate, and of the challenges facing organizations.  In the context of northern British Columbia, there are economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting small and rural communities participating in a resource-based economy.  Through the development of leadership and management capabilities, the MBA Program helps communities and organizations achieve sustainable success and prosperity in a changing and complex world.  

Course participants have the opportunity to focus on individual interests during the MBA Project.  Working under the supervision of a faculty member, students complete a major research project, applying relevant theory to the study of a substantial organizational problem or issue.

The MBA program course work normally includes work assessed on an individual and group basis.  Enterprise problems are seldom completely resolved through individual effort, and group work reinforces and enhances individual ability to work within multi-disciplinary teams.

Students come to the MBA program with diverse backgrounds, a range of social and cultural perspectives, and different industry and business experiences. The MBA program encourages this diversity as it fosters a rich learning environment.

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. The program emphasizes direct co-operation with industry. 

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. 

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biology B.Sc. Program combines the rigour of chemistry with the fascination of living systems, and is therefore the traditional major for students with biomedical interests.Majors begin their studies with a broad set of courses in the natural sciences. In the second year, biochemistry is introduced, leading to third year explorations of DNA, the blueprint of life, proteins, the machines that make our bodies work, and a wide range of other molecular topics. Finally, your degree culminates in the fourth year with courses that let you see why BCMB is the largest and most dynamic scientific discipline. Topics include oncology, the evolution of life, advanced genetics, and much more.With its strong emphasis on analytical skills, the BCMB major is an excellent launching point for a variety of science-based careers, as described below. The BCMB major also includes extensive training in practical laboratory skills, such as DNA fingerprinting, which are essential for careers in the natural sciences, criminal forensics, laboratory technician programs, and a variety of industries.

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 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.

The Public Administration and Community Development major gives students the skills required to function within a range of groups, organizations, and offices. Graduates are able to interact with appropriate professionals, receive their input and reports, and collate a wide range of information and material in service of their group/organization/office. Skills in analysis and synthesis are complemented by an ability to work cooperatively and effectively, and an ability to communicate clearly through written, oral, and graphic media.

The Forest Ecology and Management degree provides students with a thorough understanding of the science, philosophy, and practice of managing forested ecosystems.  Through study and activeStudents in field learning experiences, students obtain a consistent and broad background in course work that encompasses foundational and integrative topics.  Given the range of knowledge and expertise needed to effectively manage forested ecosystems, students are then provided an opportunity to select a minor and pursue a specialisation consistent with the overall objectives of the degree.  Although the degree is designed to expose students to contemporary knowledge and techniques drawn from a variety of disciplines in the natural and social sciences, students also are encouraged to challenge conventional knowledge paradigms and approaches to forest management.

The General Business major allows students to obtain a reasonable depth of knowledge in all the functional areas of business while maintaining a broad-based education in business management. This combination provides the integrative management skills to operate both within and across functional responsibility areas, an ability valued highly by employers. Therefore, General Business majors are in demand by many firms and government organizations. Students intending to start their own business endeavours would also be well-served by the General Business major.