The Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation (B.Sc. (Natural Resources Conservation)) is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for careers in the conservation of natural resources. The program provides students with a solid foundation across several disciplines including the natural and social sciences underlying the conservation and management of natural resources, an appreciation for the political and socioeconomic contexts that affect the design and outcomes of conservation and management strategies, and a working knowledge of technologically advanced tools and quantitative techniques available to renewable resources planners and managers. Throughout the program, emphasis is placed on developing communication skills, both oral and written, including approaches to public participation in natural resources planning.
Students must select one of two majors upon completion of second year:
- Science and Management
- Global Perspectives
The Science and Management Major focuses on the conservation and management of renewable natural resources, and landscape and local level planning for both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. A notable feature of this major is the Integrated Field School, a semester-long course divided into modules, each concentrating on a particular component of B.C.'s environment.
The Global Perspectives Major focuses on the conservation and management of renewable and non-renewable resources, policy formation, and planning within a global context. Two notable features of the major are the international education that students receive through term-long study abroad or through an intensive short-term international field school, and the global issues capstone course which uses case studies and modelling approaches to explore the effects of decision-making on resource sustainability.