Since 1969, the Fish, Wildlife and Recreation program has been preparing students for rewarding careers in the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, parks, and outdoor recreation. The program is designed to give students a broad range of applied skills, experiences, and knowledge.
A significant amount of learning is done in the field where students learn to identify, inventory, and monitor BC’s fish and wildlife species, the habitats they use, and the natural areas set aside for conservation and recreation. Students in the program will also learn how parks and protected areas are established, designed, and managed. Upon completion of the FWR program, graduates will be ready to work in the dynamic and diverse field of resource management.
The FWR program provides students with relevant and practical hands-on learning through field labs and classroom experiences. Learning outcomes are aligned with current needs of government, the conservation and stewardship community and private industry. Faculty liaisons and partnerships with industry, and input from the FWR Program Advisory Committee, ensure that learning outcomes reflect the needs for managing natural renewable resources in urban, rural, and wild land environments.
In Year One (first and second terms), the program provides students with a solid academic foundation and basic field skills for careers in renewable resources. The overall objective of course content and assignments in the first year is to create an understanding of the ecosystems in BC, renewable resource assessment, management, and inventory methods and standards.
This sets the foundation for Year Two (third and fourth terms) where students focus primarily on fish, wildlife, natural landscapes and parks and outdoor recreation management. During this second year, students spend as much time in the field as they do in the classroom.
