*Previously called Land and Water Resources Diploma.
The Environmental Restoration Diploma program prepares students to effectively assess, restore and rehabilitate terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Students will learn how they can support and contribute to sustainable resource management including the critical work of responsible environmental stewardship that includes healing and restoring the land.
This program focuses on restoring sites disrupted by natural resource development such as oil and gas operations, coal mining, forestry, and hydropower development. Through a combination of academic theory, applied projects and fieldwork, students learn about regulatory requirements and best practices for site restoration. Students will acquire the knowledge and practical skills necessary to assess environmental and wildlife impacts, plan restoration projects, and implement effective techniques that incorporate an understanding of the importance of traditional ecological knowledge.
This program equips graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the growing field of restoration and environmental stewardship in Northern British Columbia and beyond.
The information on this program page is a summary of the official Program Information and Completion Guide approved by NLC’s Education Council. (Download a PDF of the current Program Completion Guide).
Career Prospects
Employment opportunities include the following positions in government, industry, First Nation band offices, and consulting companies:
- Land Reclamation Technician
- Water Resource Technician
- Restoration Technician
- Drilling Waste Technician
- Research Technician
- Junior Environmental Professional
Details
Intakes
| Location | Starting | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fort St John | Fall* | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time |
* Full-Time intakes start in the fall of even-numbered years.
Length
65 credits (1057 hours), minimum.
This is a two year program taken over four semesters with minimum of 15 credits per semester. Part-time studies will take longer. Students in this program select course loads and course schedules that fit their needs and course availability. Registration is completed semester-by-semester.
Estimated Program Fees
Program fee type: Academic
Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.
Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional.
Domestic Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 3,726.30 | $ 154.18 | $ 51.36 | $ 3,931.84 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 3,800.83 | $ 157.26 | $ 52.39 | $ 4,010.48 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees | International Medical Insurance | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 13,991.00 | $ 162.42 | $ 51.36 | $ 289.80* | $ 14,494.58 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 14,690.55 | $ 170.54 | $ 51.36 | $ 14,912.45 |
*Per four months
Still have questions?
Contact:
- info@nlc.bc.ca if you are in Canada
- info@international.nlc.bc.ca if you are outside of Canada
- academic-chair@nlc.bc.ca if you are currently an NLC student
Admission Requirements
*A. Domestic students and students from countries that practice Standard Written English (see Appendix A) must have official transcripts demonstrating that they have met the English Requirements: One of the following with a “C” grade or higher: English 12 or English Literature 12 or English First Peoples 12, ENGL 050, or ENGL 099. Alternatively, any university-level English course with a “C” grade or higher. Students who do not meet one of the above English requirements must complete the NLC Writing Assessment for appropriate course placement.
B. International students who do not meet the requirement A. above, and domestic students who received their secondary education in French or another language, must show that they have met the NLC English requirement: see Appendix A (General Academic English Language Proficiency Requirements) OR must have received a minimum overall band of 6.0 on the IELTS exam, with no band less than 5.5.
plus,
C. Students must have official transcripts demonstrating the following Math Requirement: One of the following with a ‘C’ grade (60%) or higher: Pre-calculus 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, Foundations of Math 11, MATH 040, or equivalent. Alternatively, readiness for MATH 050 as determined by the CCP Math appraisal.
*Note that some University Arts and Sciences and related programs elective courses have specific prerequisites. Meeting the entrance requirements for the program does not ensure course prerequisites have been met for all available courses.
Post-Admission Requirements
Prior to starting Semester Three, students must:
- attend a Culture Camp through the Treaty 8 Tribal Association or other approved organization
Prior to starting LAND 290 students must submit certifications indicating completion of:
- H2S Alive
- Basic First Aid
- Pipeline Construction Safety Training
- WHMIS
Important Notes
- This program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit StudentAidBC to apply for financial assistance online. Note that dual credit students are not eligible for Student Aid.
- Student must provide personal equipment including hiking or safety boots, warm and waterproof clothing, clip board, and backpack. Personal safety gear will be available for students during the practicum activities, apart from protective footwear.
- Course transfer agreements allow students to receive course-by-course transfer to other colleges, universities, and institutes in BC, as indicated in the BC Transfer Guide.
Program Requirements
| Residency Requirement | 50% of all coursework must be completed at Northern Lights College |
|---|---|
| Minimum Grade Requirements | 2.00 program Grade Point Average (GPA); D grade (50%) minimum in all courses |
Year One
- CPSC 101 – Introduction to Computing (3.0 credits)
- BIOL 125 – Basic Ecology (3.0 credits)
- BIOL 127 – Botany Basics (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 110 – Introduction to Workplace Communications (3.0 credits)
- SOIL 117 – Introduction to Soil Science (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 230 – Technical Writing (3.0 credits)
- GEOG 112 – Physical Geography: Surface of the Earth (3.0 credits)
- LAND 241 – Petroleum Fundamentals (3.0 credits)
- LAND 245 – Inventory and Assessment Techniques (3.0 credits)
- WATR 250 – Introduction to Freshwater Resources (3.0 credits)
*Prior to the third semester, students are required to attend a Culture Camp through the Treaty 8 Tribal Association or other approved organization and submit a Certificate of Completion to the Registrar’s Office.
**Prior to the fourth semester, students are required to submit a certificate or evidence of completion of required safety tickets to the Registrar’s Office.
Year Two
- AGRI 223 – Introduction to Agriculture (3.0 credits)
- GEOG 250 – Cartography: Map and Airphoto Interpretation (3.0 credits)
- LAND 227 – Wildlife Habitat Conservation (3.0 credits)
- SOIL 230 – Soil Classification (3.0 credits)
- WATR 260 – Water Mensuration (4.0 credits)
- FNST 102 – Treaties and Aboriginal Rights (3.0 credits)
- FRST 225 – Forest Ecology (3.0 credits)
- GEOG 260 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3.0 credits)
- LAND 255 – Land Reclamation (4.0 credits)
- LAND 280 – Introduction to Contaminated Sites (3.0 credits)
- LAND 290 – Work Practicum (3.0 credits)
Credential
Diploma in Environmental Restoration