Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Major Courses
Location
Vermilion
Credential
Diploma
Program Length
2 years
Year 1 required courses
| BI 110 Ecology & Field Biology - 3 credits |
| This course introduces fundamental ecological principles and concepts. Interactions between organisms and their environments are emphasized throughout. Major themes include: the physical environment, natural selection, plant and animal adaptations, population dynamics, predator-prey systems, co evolutionary interactions, population genetics, and ecosystem productivity. Time is spent in the field studying biotic and abiotic relationships in local community types using standard ecological field methods. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| BI 205 Limnology: Lakes & Rivers - 3 credits |
| This course covers various physical, chemical, and biological properties of both standing and running freshwater systems. Students are introduced to various techniques used in the collection and analysis of limnological data, and how to use these data to assess the health of freshwater ecosystems. Prerequisite: none. Co-requisites: BI 110 |
| BO 120 Field Botany & Plant Taxonomy - 3 credits |
| Native plants and communities of Alberta are studied focusing on general and applied plant botany. Students obtain practical field experience in plant community relationships while identifying, collecting, and preserving plants for further study. Students spend considerable time learning to use plant keys for taxonomic classification and for identifying plant species and families. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| CO 166 Scientific Writing & Computer Applications - 3 credits |
| This course explores fundamental approaches to scientific writing. Considerable time is spent discussing what constitutes critical content and how that content is effectively organized for a variety of documents used in the scientific industry. Strategies for efficient technical writing are emphasized for discipline-specific applications. Students become familiar with common computer software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| MA 202 Statistics & Data Management - 3 credits |
| This course provides an introduction to the basic statistical procedures and data management techniques commonly used in the environmental sciences. Emphasis is placed on methods for organizing, storing, retrieving, analyzing, graphing and interpreting environmental data with database and spreadsheet software. Major analytical topics include measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability distributions, parametric and non-parametric hypothesis tests, correlation analysis, simple linear regression, and single-factor analysis of variance. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| SC 120 Maps, Air Photos & GPS - 3 credits |
| This course is an introduction to map reading, map contents, coordinate systems and the National Topographic System (NTS maps). Students practice map interpretation, measurement, and scale calculations, and learn to interpret contours and visualize relief. Compass use and basic field orienteering is taught. Aerial photography is introduced, with an emphasis on an understanding of annotation, scale, measurement, indexing and purchase of both print and digital products. Students practice stereo viewing, and learn to relate aerial photos to maps at different scales. Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments are used for navigation, and students learn to collect and upload differentially corrected field coordinate data. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| SC 200 Organic Chemistry - 3 credits |
| This course is a study of the structure, properties and reactions of the main classes of organic compounds and their relationship to living organisms and the environment. Laboratory techniques, including tests required for the assessment of environmental quality, are covered. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| SC 220 GIS & Remote Sensing - 3 credits |
| Concepts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and remote sensing are covered in this course. The first half of the course focuses on the fundamentals of GIS, including coordinate systems and map projections, data models, spatial analysis, and environmental applications of GIS. The second half of the course focuses on the principles of remote sensing, working with aerial and satellite imagery and introduces various applications of remote sensing in the environmental sciences. Students gain practical experience and introductory proficiency in GIS using the ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online platforms. Prerequisite: SC 120. Co-requisites: None |
| SO 210 Introductory Soil Science - 3 credits |
| This course provides an overview of soil formation processes and the fundamental morphological, physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil. Students gain knowledge of soils through lectures and hands on experience. Students become familiar with The Canadian System of Soil Classification to the Order level and the issues associated with ‘problem soils’. Prerequisites: None. Co-requisites: SC 200 |
There's a new optional work-integrated learning course for all Environmental Science majors! If taken in between year 1 and year 2, students can opt out of BI 210 or SC 301 in year 2.
EPR 200 Environmental Science Practicum - 3 credits |
| Outline under development. New optional course for all Environmental Science majors in Year 1. If taken, students can choose to opt out of BI 210 or SC 301. |
Year 2 required courses
| BI 210 Forest Ecology - 3 credits |
| This course is an introduction to forest ecology and ecological forest management. The impacts of industry and other land-use on forests are investigated at a landscape scale. Topics include dendrology, ecological disturbance, forest biodiversity, forest management techniques, approaches to forest restoration, and reclamation criteria for forested areas. Field trips and labs are used to develop field skills in tree and shrub identification, forest insect and disease identification, timber cruising, forest harvesting, stand assessment, and ecosystem classification. Prerequisites: BI 110 & BO 120. Co-requisites: None |
| SC 301 Applied Hydrology - 3 credits |
| This course focuses on the main components of the hydrologic cycle and how this impacts quantity, quality and distribution of water resources within a watershed basin. Precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, streamflow and groundwater flow are examined with reference to drought, flooding, erosion and sedimentation. Students are introduced to field techniques in stream discharge measurement, and geomorphic characterization of watersheds. Pre/co-requisites: None |
SC 481 Application of Environmental Regulations - 3 credits |
| This course focuses on the environmental legislations specific to regulatory requirements in industrial sectors in order to eliminate, or minimize, the negative environmental effects of development. Practices in environmental management including environmental assessment, permitting requirements, compliance inspections and strict liability offenses are also discussed. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| ZO 213 Fisheries Biology & Techniques - 3 credits |
| This course covers the ecology, anatomy, physiology, and behaviour of fish. Emphasis is on freshwater fish species. Students are also introduced to various techniques and equipment used in the collection of fish and fisheries data through lecture and the practical application of these techniques during labs conducted out in the field. Prerequisite: BI 205. Co-requisite: None |
| ZO 214 Ornithology - 3 credits |
| This course is an introduction to the biology, behaviour, conservation and natural history of birds that breed or migrate through the prairie provinces. During lecture and laboratory sessions students learn to identify birds, predominantly adult male birds, using plumage characteristics, size, shape, behaviour and habitat associations. Students additionally learn to identify selected birds, predominantly songbirds, using songs and acoustic displays. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| ZO 225 Aquatic Organisms - 3 credits |
| This course covers the identification, biology, ecology, physiology, and behaviour of freshwater invertebrates. Students are introduced to techniques and equipment used in the collection of invertebrate organisms from both lakes and rivers. Laboratory work emphasizes the identification of freshwater invertebrates using the appropriate taxonomic keys. Prerequisite: BI 205. Co-requisites: None |
| ZO 245 Wildlife Habitat Conservation - 3 credits |
| Wildlife habitat requirements, diets, distributions, and legal status designations are profiled for wildlife that range in the Prairie Provinces. Wildlife field signs are described and distinguished in the field. Field sampling technique and data collection protocols for habitat are introduced and practiced. Key concepts for conserving, managing and enhancing wildlife habitats for biodiversity and for mitigating disturbances are introduced. Prerequisites: BI 110 & BO 120. Co-requisites: None |
| ZO 250 Wildlife Ecology & Management - 3 credits |
| Topics covered include the history of wildlife management & conservation biology including examples of successes & failures, wildlife population dynamics & reproductive adaptations and seasons, predator-prey interactions & management, wildlife disease & parasite ecology and management, and problem wildlife management and compensation. Practical skills are developed for the identification of wildlife in the field by contrasting tracks & signs, for understanding standardized wildlife survey protocols, for distinguishing predator from scavengers, and the completion of a trail camera monitoring project including entry of monitoring data into an appropriate government database. Prerequisites: BI 110. Co-requisites: None |
| ZO 315 Wildlife Biology & Techniques - 3 credits |
| Students are introduced to some of the tools, techniques and recognized protocols for wildlife conservation and management. Topics include detailed field notes, techniques and protocols for animal capture, care and marking/tagging, animal behavior, the sex-age categorization of wildlife, remote tracking techniques, chronic wasting disease surveillance and management and safe firearm operation. Pre/co requisites: None |
| ZO 410 Fisheries Management - 3 credits |
| This course is designed to familiarize the student with theoretical and practical aspects of fisheries management. Emphasis is placed on freshwater fisheries management issues in Western Canada. Students are introduced to concepts and techniques used in studying fish, fish harvesting, commercial fish culture and fish habitat. Prerequisite: ZO 213. Co-requisites: None |