Diploma in Northern Studies

at Yukon University - Whitehorse Campus Canada

Renewable resources include the living portions of the natural world such as plants and animals as well as non-living resources such as air and water. Managing these resources so they are sustainable for future generations is a critical mission. Achieving this task involves a balancing act so that we can meet society’s present needs without harming the resource base for the future.

Students receive a Diploma of Renewable Resources Management (RRMT) after successfully completing a total of 22 academic courses over a two-year period as well as non-credit courses in Winter Travel and Survival, Wilderness First Aid and Firearms Safety. Most of these courses are delivered in a classroom setting with an emphasis on practical techniques acquired during mandatory labs, short field trips and three separate 10-day field courses.

Team and individual projects, discussions and presentations are important aspects of program delivery. Practising managers from the community frequently assist with the teaching.

Students take a set of core courses in first year that develop competencies in areas such as:

    data collection
    oral and written communication
    computer use
    mapping
    basic biology

Two field courses between first and second year offer the chance to gain field experience, while many of the second year courses emphasize practical management aspects and give students the opportunity to choose from a series of electives.

Instruction reflects the cultural, political and employment realities in Yukon—particularly those associated with the implementation of land claim settlements—but program content is of wide application and graduates have found employment across Canada.

Our goal is to provide the knowledge, skills and perspectives to enable graduates to assist with the management of land, water, forest, fish and wildlife resources in the North; and to prepare students for transfer to degree level programs in fields related to renewable resource management.

The Culinary Arts program is designed to meet the need for qualified cooks in the hospitality industry. The program provides professional cook training in a practical, hands-on learning environment achieved through our commercial kitchen.

Students will rotate through a variety of stations in the kitchen. Each station has a different culinary focus. Students will also participate in a variety of caterings, banquets and community events, all of which broaden and enhance the student experience.

Apprenticeship Level I and Level II Cooks Exam
Culinary Arts students must write and pass the Apprenticeship Level I exam early in the second term followed by the Level II Cooks exam towards the end of the second term. (Students must pass the Level I exam to be eligible to write the Level II Cooks exam.)

Students who successfully complete the program, and pass the Level I exam may be eligible for up to 1,040 hours time credit towards a Cook Apprenticeship program. This time credit is based upon the recommendation of the employer who is signatory to the initial Apprenticeship Agreement.

Students who pass the Cook Apprenticeship Level exam(s) would be exempt from attending that level of apprenticeship in-school training.

In collaboration with the University of Alberta (U of A), Yukon University (YukonU) offers years three and four of a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences (ENCS), with a major in Northern Systems. 

The ENCS curriculum offered at YukonU integrates natural and social sciences as related to issues such as:

• Wildlife conservation
• Land use
• Resource management under modern treaties
• Energy
• Global climate change
• Northern and aboriginal studies,
• Local environmental, economic and social context

The program provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand environmental conditions and evaluate impacts on plants, soils, water and animals. The structure and function of ecosystems are explored as students learn to develop, assess and implement conservation and restoration measures for natural and managed ecosystems.

Earth science literacy is critical to meet the needs of modern society. The study of the Earth is focused not only on the rocks and minerals that make up solid Earth but also on the interaction of these materials with other earth systems. An understanding of Earth’s evolution through time allows earth scientists to interpret present-day conditions on our planet and predict how they will change in the future; these changes will affect both human societies and the natural environment.

Earth scientists are stewards of the planet’s mineral, energy and water resources. They must also be problem solvers, as Earth’s natural resources are currently threatened by climate change, overconsumption and natural disasters. In the North, we live in a complex landscape where earth scientists must address the legacy of contaminated sites, support sustainable resource discovery and extraction, and grapple with a rapidly changing environment.

Students completing the two-year program will receive a diploma in Earth Sciences and be eligible for transfer into upper-level standing in many Canadian B.Sc. geoscience degree programs. A block transfer agreement between Yukon University and Vancouver Island University (VIU) allows Earth Science program graduates to easily transfer between institutions and directly apply all completed courses towards completion of a B.Sc. in geoscience from VIU's Department of Earth Science. 

Criminology is the multidisciplinary study of crime, criminal behaviour, and social reactions to crime and criminal behaviour.

The northern justice emphasis of criminology means that southern-based criminology courses are "northernized" and "regionalized" through integration of relevant course content and the assignment of coursework to better reflect the environment in which northerners live, work and study.

The certificate option is designed for those students who do not intend to transfer directly to a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) degree program but are interested in taking criminology courses to increase their knowledge of this field of study.

The diploma is fashioned to meet the Yukon College Northern Studies requirements as well as the first- and second-year university transfer requirements to a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) degree program at major Canadian universities. The program presents an ideal continuing education opportunity and is useful for those seeking entry-level employment in justice related fields.

The School of Science offers university-transfer courses in mathematics and in the earth, life and physical sciences. Students can complete a one-year Certificate of Science, a two-year Diploma of Northern Science or a four-year Bachelor of Science degree.

The Diploma of Northern Science is designed for those who wish either to enter a scientific profession or to work in the North at the technical level. A wide choice of electives enables students to concentrate on a particular field of study or to construct a general science program with a strong northern focus.

In the first year, students have two options:

• Complete the Yukon College Certificate of Science (or equivalent) OR
• Complete a first-year program comprised of Chemistry, English and selected electives.

Building on this base, in their second year, students take the Northern Studies Core as well as northern-oriented science electives and develop practical expertise by attending the Northern Studies Field Camp.

Our Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) aims to create business leaders who will increase prosperity where they live and work.?Many northern rural and remote areas of Canada and the world are well positioned to expand, develop and provide rich and rewarding places to live and work.?This degree is created for those interested in making a difference in these places.?Students will be exposed to values, knowledge and skills that prepare them to work well and collaboratively within the business and governance context of the North.?

This BBA is distinctive in that it has been created from a de-colonial perspective.? The curriculum is rooted in the context of our unique identity and circumstances that are common to much of the world.? Our identity is closely tied to the land and wilderness, and to First Nations’ traditions and cultures. However, many of the circumstances that define us are not unique to Yukon; low population densities, vast distances and remoteness, higher costs, and operating environments that often require people to work independently while fulfilling broad roles are common beyond urban centres.?

The programs balance the academic rigor necessary for baccalaureate-level training while fostering communal growth through experiential learning and creating a supportive learning community.? Graduates leave prepared to create and sustain prosperity in places and circumstances akin to ours, but wherever they call home. 

Many courses are accessible on a part-time day or evening basis in Whitehorse. Several courses are available in outlying communities through the community campus network or by distance delivery.

The Liberal Arts programs are designed for students wishing to transfer to a university degree or related program such as:

• Arts
• Communications
• Education
• Educational or Clinical Psychology
• Environmental Policy and Management
• Literature and Letters
• Public History and Writing
• Public Policy and Research
• Recreation
• Social Services
• Social Work
• Tourism

Both Liberal Arts programs reflect the belief that degree-bound students ought to acquire solid critical thinking, research and communication skills through introductory study in a variety of social science and humanities disciplines. They also present an ideal opportunity for continuing education or for exploring various educational and career paths.

Geological technology programs in Canada have produced a class of highly-skilled workers whose knowledge base reflects an integral balance between classroom learning and practical skills.

The strong background in the physical sciences will enable students to succeed in an increasingly technical discipline, while the comprehensive introduction to field and laboratory techniques equips students with the practical skills needed to work efficiently in remote and industrial settings.

Program Pathways and Duration

The full Geological Technology diploma program consists of 29 courses delivered over regular academic semesters, plus 3 block field courses taught outside of the normal semester schedule. There are both two-year and three-year pathways through the diploma program to help match students’ timelines, schedules, and academic preparation.

• Standard Pathway (2-year completion; 4 semesters)
• Extended Pathway (3-year completion; 6 semesters)
• Extended Pathway with GeoTech Bridging Program (3-year completion, 6 semesters)

Combining theory and practice, the Heritage and Culture certificate (HCC) prepares students for work in the heritage and culture management field, with a specific focus on Yukon First Nations heritage and culture management.

Topics covered in the HCC include:

• Yukon First Nations history
• Public administration
• Archives and collections management
• Preservation of traditional knowledge
• Language and culture
• Anthropology

Students develop a foundation of professional ethics and values, self-awareness and critical thinking, and an understanding of heritage issues within their communities.