Natural Resources Technician Diploma

Program Details

Program Phone Number

780-623-6578

Program Description

The Natural Resources Technician Diploma is the second year of the Natural Resources program. This program blends theory and applied science skills that are valuable to forestry, oil/gas/mining exploration, utilities sectors, municipalities, parks. Learners will be valuable to any organization that develops, explores, researches or protects our forests and natural resources. Graduates are the people physically on the ground actively collecting data, summarizing and analyzing, reporting results, and implementing and enforcing environmental standards. The Natural Resources Program is designed to prepare students for lifetime engagement with the major environmental challenges facing society. This program prepares learners for increasingly diverse career opportunities in the private sector, in government, and in non-governmental organizations. The program emphasizes the importance of stewardship of the natural resources that involves cooperative planning and management of environmental resources with communities and organizations to engage in the prevention of loss of habitat and facilitate its recovery in the interest of long term sustainability. The program explores the integration of ecological knowledge with an understanding of social institutions and policies in ways that support biodiversity, the practice of sustainable resource management, and the careful management of other ecological and environmental systems. These courses expand upon the Natural Resources Certif

Credential

Diploma

Admission Requirements

- Natural Resources Technician Certificate.
- High school diploma with at least ELA 30-1 or English 30, ELA30-2 or English 33, Biology 30 or Chemistry 30, Math 30 or 33.
- Must be in good physical health.

Please refer to the following link for minimum technical requirements at our Moodle Site.

Practicum

N/A

Career Potential

Graduates will find employment with governmental agencies, research assistants, and private industries in oil and gas and forestry. Duties could range from pre-site assessments, dealing with environmental issues during disturbance, reclamation activities, vegetation reestablishment and environmental monitoring.

Transferability

N/A

Program Schedule, Fees & Locations:

Please refer to the link below for current schedule and fees.

Program Schedule & Fees 2011 - 2012

Program Schedule & Fees 2012 - 2013

Course List

• BIOL208 - PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY

  Course ID: BIOL208

  Name: PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY

  Hours: 90

  Credits: 3

  This course examines how genes function at chromosomal, molecular, and evolutionary levels, and how they are repaired, regulated and transmitted. The course also examines how genes regulate development in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Also covered is the development of genetics from Mendelian transmission through gene mapping, molecular methods, isolation of individual genes, sequencing, genome projects, and beyond. This course will involve carrying out gene mapping, transformation, and other experiments with established genetic model organisms during the lab component. Prerequisite – BIOL 101 or equivalent.

  
  
• EASC101 - INTRO TO EARTH SCIENCE: GEOLOGY & GEOMORPHOLOGY

  Course ID: EASC101

  Name: INTRO TO EARTH SCIENCE: GEOLOGY & GEOMORPHOLOGY

  Hours: 70

  Credits: 3

  This course offers an introduction to geology including minerals and rocks, plate tectonics, structural geology, and an introduction to geomorphology and surface processes covering river, glacier, and marine environments. This course includes a lab component. Prerequisite – None

  
  
• FTEC030 - FOREST MANAGEMENT

  Course ID: FTEC030

  Name: FOREST MANAGEMENT

  Hours: 15

  Credits: 1

  This course focuses on standard forest management practices with emphasis on sustainable forestry, integrated resource management, land management, and ecosystem management. The Forest Act Regulations, forest ethics, and forest practice codes will be discussed.

  
  
• FTEC031 - PETROLEUM LAND MANAGEMENT

  Course ID: FTEC031

  Name: PETROLEUM LAND MANAGEMENT

  Hours: 24

  Credits: 1

  This course is an introduction to petroleum land management in Alberta. Instruction will focus on land management as it pertains to the petroleum industry in Alberta. Brief introductions will be made in petroleum history and geology as well as roles of various government agencies, submission and reporting procedures, and acts and regulations that govern the petroleum industry in Alberta.

  
  
• FTEC036 - ADVANCED WILDERNESS SURVIVAL

  Course ID: FTEC036

  Name: ADVANCED WILDERNESS SURVIVAL

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  This course gives students a chance to improve their wilderness survival skills. Students will be placed in a survival situation to gain confidence and experience to cope with a real survival situation.

  
  
• NRES210 - RECLAMATION

  Course ID: NRES210

  Name: RECLAMATION

  Hours: 60

  Credits: 2

  In this course, students will become familiar with provincial regulations governing the reclamation industry, and will be able to identify the terms used in reclamation. Students will demonstrate the skills required to conduct a preliminary site assessment, as well as planning and cost estimates for an oil lease or pipelines sites. The learner will also develop the skills necessary to become proficient communicators.

  
  
• NRES211 - POLLUTION ABATEMENT

  Course ID: NRES211

  Name: POLLUTION ABATEMENT

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  Environmentally harmful materials are stored in various amounts across Alberta in locations including residential, construction and industrial sites. Secondary containment of hazardous material can significantly reduce or eliminate the effects of this material if accidently released. Classification of hazardous material, proper storage protocols, temporary storage facilities, proper containment and charcoal filters will be discussed.

  
  
• NRES212 - SITE ASSESSMENT/CHARACTERIZATION

  Course ID: NRES212

  Name: SITE ASSESSMENT/CHARACTERIZATION

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  Students will learn about Alberta’s Natural Regions and Subregions, and how to perform various site assessments. This course will combine knowledge from soils, vegetation, wetland, wildlife, remote sensing, and other first-year courses to properly perform ecosite assessments, vegetation surveys, and range plant community type assessments. Students will also use their field and remote sensing skills to select and navigate to plots, and will practice these skills in the boreal, foothills, and parkland regions. Detection and identification of rare plant communities will also be covered.

  
  
• NRES213 - SPILL RESPONSE

  Course ID: NRES213

  Name: SPILL RESPONSE

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  The course covers the information that is necessary for responders to recognize what constitutes a spill: volume of release, substance released, and location of release. The course demonstrates how to conduct safe and effective clean-up operations and to develop and implement cost-effective remediation and reclamation plans for the spill. Students will collect representative samples of waste material and classify waste material. The learner will have a working knowledge of collecting and proper handling of hazardous waste material. Topics covered include spill preparedness, hazard assessment and site safety, containment and recovery techniques, remediation and reclamation assessment, sampling and analysis, evaluating remediation and reclamation options, developing plans for same and, the legal reporting requirements for releases of various substances.

  
  
• NRES215 - NURSERY OPERATIONS

  Course ID: NRES215

  Name: NURSERY OPERATIONS

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  This course focuses on all aspects of greenhouse nursery operations. Stock procurement, growing medium, irrigation water quality, fertilizers, growing temperatures, pest control, hardening-off of plants and storage issues will be discussed.

  
  
• NRES216 - WETLAND PLANTS

  Course ID: NRES216

  Name: WETLAND PLANTS

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  This course will provide the Natural Resource Student with a good knowledge of the wetland plant flora of Alberta, with an emphasis on boreal and parkland species. Trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses, rushes, bryophytes, and lichens will be covered. As well, students will learn some of the unique challenges faced by wetland plants and the features that help them overcome these challenges.

  
  
• NRES217 - ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS (PHASE 1, 2 & 3)

  Course ID: NRES217

  Name: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS (PHASE 1, 2 & 3)

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  In today’s world every commercial real estate transaction must include an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). Students will learn how to properly collect and compile the data, perform the interviews, complete the physical site inspection required for a Phase I ESA. Students will also learn how to plan and supervise a Phase II ESA, including common contaminants and their migration patterns, sampling methodologies, and interpretation of laboratory results. Introductory aspects of Phase III ESA’s will also be discussed.

  
  
• NRES218 - EROSION CONTROL

  Course ID: NRES218

  Name: EROSION CONTROL

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  Many construction activities remove vegetation from the soil leaving soil venerable to erosion through wind and water movement. Many control measures have been developed and are acceptable methods for minimize soil erosion during post construction years. Different erosion processes will be discussed and effectiveness examined.

  
  
• NRES219 - ORNITHOLOGY

  Course ID: NRES219

  Name: ORNITHOLOGY

  Hours: 45

  Credits: 2

  This course will cover the basics of field ornithology, emphasizing bird identification and survey techniques. The focus of the course will be the identification of Alberta’s boreal and parkland birds based on sight and bird calls. As well, surveying for bird presence, owl surveys, raptor baiting, and nesting site surveys will be discussed.

  
  
• NRES220 - AIR QUALITY

  Course ID: NRES220

  Name: AIR QUALITY

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  This course covers the four major air parameters of NOx, SOx, Particulate Matter and Ozone and their affects on human and environmental health. The students will get involved in classroom discussions on air quality and discover the next technology in stack emissions cleaning and reduction targets. Students will tour two facilities and see firsthand the collection and monitoring equipment. Students will also experiment with collection equipment collecting data at different points in and around Lac La Biche.

  
  
• NRES221 - ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

  Course ID: NRES221

  Name: ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 2

  Natural Resource Technologist will develop an understanding of the process and information required to complete an application for a new development or project. Completing an application form, the processes for development while taking into consideration all aspects of the environment including route selection, water crossings, vegetation management, potential erosions issues and pollution abatement controls will be discussed.

  
  
• NRES222 - ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

  Course ID: NRES222

  Name: ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 2

  This course will provide the Natural Resource student with an introduction to legal concepts and how they apply to environmental practitioners. We will learn about Private, Public, and International Law, thematically covering federal and provincial acts, strategies, and frameworks governing the environmental aspects of industry operations and development.

  
  
• NRES223 - ADVANCED GPS GIS

  Course ID: NRES223

  Name: ADVANCED GPS GIS

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  Using GIS software, students will perform a range of GIS tasks including data management, data editing, map query, map production, and geographic analysis.

  
  
• NRES224 - DRILLING WASTE MANAGEMENT

  Course ID: NRES224

  Name: DRILLING WASTE MANAGEMENT

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  This course focuses on drilling waste management in Alberta, identifying accepted drilling waste disposal methods, demonstrating proper sampling and laboratory testing procedures, recognizing potential hazards when sampling drilling waste, and identifying the documentation licensees need to maintain and the notification procedures they must follow in order to demonstrate compliance.

  
  
• NRES225 - ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

  Course ID: NRES225

  Name: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  This course covers the identification of renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy. Instruction focuses on alternative sources of energy including biomass, biofuel, geothermal energy, hydroelectric, solar energy, wind energy, fuel cells, and ocean source with emphasis on alternative energy sources used in Alberta. The advantages and disadvantages of conventional and alternative energy sources will be discussed.

  
  
• NRES226 - SAND & GRAVEL MINING & RECLAMATION

  Course ID: NRES226

  Name: SAND & GRAVEL MINING & RECLAMATION

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  Students will become knowledgeable in the processes of exploration, mapping, estimate volume calculations, mining and reclamations process. The Alberta Protection Guidelines for the operations of open pits extraction of sand and gravel will be examined in both the white and green zones of Alberta.

  
  
• NRES227 - WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

  Course ID: NRES227

  Name: WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  Many wildlife species, including animals, plants, and other organisms, are under the threat of extinction. This course focuses on the importance of biodiversity, and the various threats that species face, with an emphasis on Alberta species. A large component of the course will include an analysis of various mitigation measures available to consultants and industry that help to minimize impacts to wildlife. Student will also learn and apply some of the most common techniques used for assessing wildlife populations.

  
  
• NRES228 - INTEGRATED LAND MANAGEMENT

  Course ID: NRES228

  Name: INTEGRATED LAND MANAGEMENT

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  This course covers Integrated Land Management planning on Public Lands within Alberta. Instruction focuses on history of land management in Alberta, strategic planning and cooperation of resource based industries, reducing human-caused footprint on public land, the Alberta Land-Use Framework, and provincial and local examples of ILM.

  
  
• NRES229 - PROBLEM WILDLIFE

  Course ID: NRES229

  Name: PROBLEM WILDLIFE

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  Wildlife is typically not a problem until they upset the daily routine of humans, then they become problem wildlife. Animal control in urban areas is becoming more of an issue as some wildlife become less frightened of humans. As humans continue develop the north more unwanted animal encounters can be expected. Students will learn safe and effective capture and release techniques of various animals.

  
  
• NRES230 - GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

  Course ID: NRES230

  Name: GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

  Hours: 30

  Credits: 1

  There are many ways in which humans are impacting the environment in today’s world. These range from local- to global-scale impacts. This course will provide an overview of some of the major environmental issues that are recognized today, such as global warming, ozone depletion, air and water pollution, deforestation, overfishing, urbanization, overuse of natural resources, exotic species introduction, genetic engineering, and overpopulation.

  
  
• NRES231 - STATISTICS

  Course ID: NRES231

  Name: STATISTICS

  Hours: 45

  Credits: 2

  This course is an introduction to basic statistical concepts used for natural resource management including graphical and numerical analysis. It will cover data collection, presentation, descriptive statistics, parametric and non-parametric tests. Topics covered include uses and misuses of statistics, methods of sampling, probability theory and distributions, data collection, measures of average and variation, sampling distributions of means and proportions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, correlations, and regression.