Fish and Wildlife professionals spend time each day communicating orally and in writing with their supervisors, colleagues, industry partners, and the public. As fisheries and wildlife management leaders in industry, you need to communicate quickly, clearly, and effectively. This course will teach you how to be a professional and efficient communicator at work. You will gather data in order to write effective business correspondence and deliver a formal oral presentation to your set. You will also build on your own reflective practice, based on your team processes and presentation experiences. The first term establishes the principles and basic patterns on which you will build more advanced applications in the second, third and fourth terms. The course consists of two 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour lab each week. The lectures provide the basic theory and demonstrations; the labs provide opportunities to apply the theory.

Covers measurement accuracy and precision, word problems, ratio, proportion and variation; mensuration including applications of geometry, trapezoidal and Simpson's rules; functions and graphs, quadratic, logarithmic and exponential functions, graphs on logarithmic scales. Prerequisite: Principles or Applications of MATH 11 C+.

Presents concepts of field measurement and basic surveying. Includes field note-taking, traverse calculations and plotting, sketching and mapping of topographic detail, horizontal and vertical measurement error corrections, differential leveling of roads and streams, latitude and departure calculations, measuring tree heights and calculating volume, browse surveys for wildlife and an introduction to defects in trees. Emphasis is on field labs with supporting lectures.

Introduces various computer applications in resource management. Students will be introduced to word processing related to report writing, spreadsheets, GPS, and digital mapping skills. Includes a review of computer hardware, software, and operating systems. A project will include a mapping component, and a brief report describing the procedures used to create the map.

This course provides a foundation for a safety work ethic both for the completion of studies at BCIT and when on the job as a field technologist. With a focus on safety oriented training for technologist working in remote outdoor settings, students will obtain 6 core safety certifications: 1) WCB Occupational First Aid, Level 1, 2) WCB Transportation Endorsement, 3) Chain Saw Safety, 4) S-100 Basic Fire Suppression and Safety, 5) Bear and Cougar Awareness and Safety, 6) WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System).

This course introduces mapping systems that are commonly used in the resource sector as well as other remote sensing applications. The course emphasizes the learning of skills required to use GPS, maps and aerial photography for field navigation, resource planning and management in BC.

This course presents the structure, taxonomy and uses of plants with emphasis on those having important biological, ecological indicator value and economic significance in British Columbia. Students will learn to recognize native BC plants in forest, rangeland and alpine habitats. Students will also be required to learn to identify selected invasive plant species that are of management concern in the province. Plant (emphasis on trees) reproduction, distribution and ecological significance will be covered. A plant collection of at least 60 species will be required.

Earth Science and Soils is an introduction to surficial geology, hydrology and soils. Topics include the geologic cycle; landforms; soil and surficial materials classification; soil formation; physical, chemical and biological properties of soils; forest humus; the hydrologic cycle; generation of streamflow; erosion; interpreting soil and terrain maps; soil mapping; soil sampling; land use impacts on soils and watersheds.

Renewable resource professionals spend time each day communicating orally and in writing with their supervisors, colleagues and clients, so they need to communicate quickly, clearly, and effectively. This course will build on the skills you learned in first term to be an efficient and professional communicator at work. You will learn how to conduct an effective job search, write a résumé and cover letter, and present yourself professionally during a job interview. You will also write effective reports, deliver a persuasive oral presentation, and participate effectively in meetings and group work. You will prepare a formal report and present it orally and in writing. The theme of sustainability will be integrated into course activities. The course consists of a one-hour lecture and a two-hour lab each week. The lectures provide the basic theory and demonstrations; the labs provide opportunities to apply the theory. You will be expected to demonstrate your understanding of both theory and applications in the labs, and in take-home and in-class assignments. Prerequisites: COMM 1145

An introductory level course in statistics. Includes descriptive statistics; measures of central tendency, variation and skewness; probability laws and distributions; inferences from one and two samples; correlation and regression; estimation of sample size; hypothesis tests from large and small samples; estimation of parameters from various sampling designs. These methods are applied to examples chosen from the Renewable Resources field. Prerequisites: MATH 1451

The course focuses on British Columbia's Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) and its applications. BEC is important to know because of its wide use in British Columbia and also because it serves as an integrator of scientific knowledge on plants, soils and other ecosystem components. General influences on ecosystem development, such as climate, organisms, topographic relief, parent materials and time, as well as more specific factors, such as fire, wind, and human disturbance, are emphasized. The importance of plant succession with respect to vegetation management (in silviculture, wildlife habitat management, and other disciplines) is discussed. Students learn to identify and interpret forest ecosystems using the Vancouver Forest Region guide as an example. Other regions are also studied. Prerequisites: RENR 1125 and RENR 1130

Introduces the latest versions of the ArcGIS software family and ArcGIS data models. Students use ArcMap, ArcCatalog and ArcToolbox to create and edit GIS data, and perform mapping. Successful completion of this course will give you a background in GIS concepts, help you to operate the basic components of ArcGIS software. Prerequisites: RENR 1111

This course demonstrates the fundamentals of field measurements and sampling procedures commonly used in resource management applications, with a focus on forest measurements as well as fish and wildlife inventories. The course introduces sampling techniques for vegetation, amphibians, small mammals, fish and bird populations. The course follows the measurement protocols of the Provincial “RISC” (Resource Information Standards Committee) system. Lecture material will be supported extensively with field applications and hands-on training. Prerequisites: RENR 1105 and RENR 1120 and RENR 1125 and MATH 1451

Students will collect field data using a combination of electronic field survey and GIS grade GPS equipment, and record and map the data in the field using data loggers and related software. Data will be collected in various vegetation and terrain conditions so students have experience in determining which combination of field equipment is most suitable for different project objectives. The course will also include instruction on the necessary planning steps and preparation of equipment before going put in the field, and the procedures for collecting supplemental field data. Prerequisites: RENR 1120 and RENR 1111 and RENR 1105

Introduces forests, grasslands, streams, lakes and estuaries as ecosystems. Describes ecosystem components, their work and interdependence in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the changing pattern of ecosystem structure in succession and its influence on ecosystem function. The course identifies common birds, mammals (both herbivores and carnivores) and salmonids, describes the characteristic features of their habitats, and where available, details their critical requirements. Prerequisites: RENR 2100

This course will cover general classification of the animal kingdom and basic vertebrate and invertebrate zoology. It will focus on the study of the vertebrate body, including the skeletal, muscular, digestive, circulatory, urogenital, endocrine, nervous and reproductive systems and comparing those systems to other animals. The lecture component will discuss each system separately as well as how various systems interact with one another. The lab will include dissections of a crayfish, fish, dogfish, bird and a mammal. It will also compare simple to complex animals from the protist to the vertebrate group.

This course provides practice in the communication skills needed for project work in the fish, wildlife and recreation field. Some of the assignments are based on the year-long project completed for an industry client. The course builds on skills learned in first year and helps you speed up your ability to communicate on the job by giving you more experience in identifying the communication needs of technical and non-technical audiences. You will research and write a literature review on an FWR issue. You will also practice oral skills and prepare various communications to keep your sponsor, BCIT supervisor, and client up-to-date on project work. Prerequisites: COMM 2253

Students develop an understanding of the basics of monitoring a variety of land development, resource extraction, and industrial activities, the legislation and policies required to assess the effects and their impact on the environment. Students become familiar with various aspects of land, water and air pollution, siltation control, bioassay techniques, environmental testing and sampling protocol. Prerequisite: Completion of first year of the FWR Program

Introduces parks and outdoor recreation management and covers many topics, including: management of areas designated as parks and protected areas; overview of outdoor recreation; history and organization of agencies providing recreational opportunities; park development, planning and design; practical exercises in site analysis, planning and design for specific uses; park and natural history interpretation; ecological integrity as it applies to different park agencies; park operation and administration; assessment and development of recreational areas and opportunities both within and outside of established parks; private and public programs in forest recreation; eco-tourism and commercial recreation in BC; visual resource management; summer and winter sports area development and management; water-oriented activities, trail design, avalanche safety and search and rescue. Prerequisite: First year of the program

Covers the principles and practice of wildlife ecology and management with particular emphasis on inventory protocols and species at risk in BC. Topics include: bioenergetics, biology and ecology of select wildlife species (amphibians, reptiles, birds and small mammals); methods of studying wildlife; capturing and handling of wildlife for study; research methods, RISC inventory fundamentals, and field exercises in bird surveys, live-trapping squirrels and small mammals, water fowl identification, tailed-frog surveys, vegetation surveys.

Covers the biology of B.C. fish including anatomy, taxonomy, physiology, behavior and ecology. Management of fisheries resources including population dynamics, habitat evaluation and improvement, harvesting, pollution and fishery regulations. Labs deal with methodology as it applies to the above and much of the training will be done in the field. Emphasis throughout is on the B.C. situation. Prerequisite: First year of the program.

Students conduct a supervised research project in fish, wildlife or recreation. Many of these projects are requested and sponsored by resource management agencies. The student selects a topic of interest and prepares a field-oriented study plan. The student conducts an extensive search of available literature and integrates the results in the progress reports and final report. Extensive field research is conducted by the student and the data collected is presented in both oral and written submissions. High quality of data and presentation is expected. Material from all other courses is integrated into the work of this course. Prerequisite: First year of the program.

Students develop a communication plan for an issue in fish, wildlife, or recreation. They write news releases, brochures, and materials for interpretive educational programs. Students write a proposal to a funding agency for a FWR public relations initiative, participate in an interview with a media reporter, and practice oral skills with school-age children. Students design and construct visual displays and give community briefings on controversial issues in FWR. Prerequisites: COMM 3353

Introduces students to the various legislative acts relating to management of Canada's and British Columbia's wildland resource, including the Fisheries Act, the Parks Act and the Wildlife Act. Deals with many practical aspects of interpretation and enforcement of the acts and provides a basis for further training in enforcement. It provides training for employment as a technologist in resource management fields rather than for immediate employment in enforcement.

Continues from RENR 3215. Prerequisite: RENR 3215 or instructor's approval.

RENR 4220 continues building on the learnings from RENR 3220 and further enhances knowledge and skills in wildlife biology and wildlife management techniques. This course will examine the identification, ecology, and distribution of carnivores, ungulates, and marine mammals. The course will examine how populations grow and contrast logistic growth and irruptive population growth. Students will learn to identify wildlife damage and how to manage for sustainable harvests of game species. In this course you will learn the use of radio telemetry; pellet plots surveys to monitor various wildlife species; wildlife tracks, track surveys, and plaster casts; and preparing museum specimens. Students will also examine how to manage for wildlife diversity. Finally, you will learn how to design an inventory protocol for a wildlife species of concern. Additional lectures will include an introduction to wildlife research and how to reduce bias in field surveys. Field study is used to support and extend lecture and lab material Prerequisites: RENR 3220

Continues from RENR 3225. Prerequisites: RENR 3225

Continues from RENR 3230. Prerequisites: RENR 3230