Northern College's Natural Resource Technician Program provides students with a high quality learning experience. This program is suited to students who possess a keen sense of curiosity about the natural environment, enjoy being outdoors, and want to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career in fields related to ecology and environmental science. These include traditional careers in fish and wildlife management and forestry, as well as non-traditional natural resource-based careers such as ecotourism and reclamation and remediation of contaminated sites. This program is also the starting point for a career in fish and wildlife enforcement.

The program provides a unique blend of hands-on field experience, class-room based curricula and a student work placement for the development of skill sets. The program starts with introductory courses to cover fundamentals and progresses to more advanced and applied content. Graduates can not only plan and conduct field exercises to obtain data to answer scientific questions about our environment and the natural world, they can evaluate data collected, summarize results, package information and make effective presentations to administrators or to the public. Graduates are versant with traditional technology (includes compass and map work) and new technology (includes GPS and geographic information systems).

In addition to teaching the skills and knowledge specific to natural resources management, the program equips graduates with a valuable tool kit of interpersonal and communications skills. Employers place a high value on these abilities, which are taught both in specific courses and as part of the background of the curriculum.

This program is delivered in a compressed format, and this makes it possible for students to complete studies equivalent to a two year technician diploma in one calendar year. The compressed format offers the opportunity for field laboratories and learning experiences in all months of the year

Program Contact:
Richard Kallio
Tel: (705) 567-9291 ext 3705
kallior@northern.on.ca

Employment Opportunities

Graduates may find employment in fish and wildlife management/enforcement, forestry, habitat inventory, environmental assessment, environmental site assessment, remediation, parks management, interpretation.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Grade 12 English (C, U)
Grade 12 Math (C, U) (MCT4C preferred; MAP4C is accepted with a minimum GPA of 60%)
Grade 11 Biology recommended
Grade 12 Chemistry (recommended)

Or equivalent.

Or mature student status (an applicant who does not have a high school diploma or equivalent, and will have reached the age of 19 years on or before the start of the program). Mature students must undergo academic testing prior to admission into a program. Call the Admissions Office at 705-235-7222 for more details.

Note: Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading. Refer to the Post-Secondary Preparation section in this calendar for more details.

Program of Studies

Semester 1
Technical Communications I
Animal and Plant Biology
Computer Applications
Environment and Job Search Strategies
Resource Calculations I
Dendrology and Plant Identification
Outdoor Skills
Environmental Science
Wildlife Identification, Ecology and Inventory I
Resource Law and Regulations

Semester 2
Chemistry
Technical Communications II
Equipment Operation and Maintenance
Wildlife Identification, Ecology and Inventory II
Resource Calculations II
Silviculture
Geographic Information Systems
Environmental Assessment
Reclamation and Remediation

Semester 3
Student Work Placement
Resource Management Project
Soils and Hydrology
Advanced Field Techniques
Parks Management and Interpretation
Experimental Design and Analysis
Human Relations and First Nations Resource Management
Forest Management Planning
Forest Protection

Additional: 2 General Education courses