Natural Resources and Forest Technology

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Length
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Courses

Required courses

NRFT-101
Indigenous Plants
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-101L
Description
The purpose of this course is to identify key indigenous plants and native trees in British Columbia and understand the autecology and the cultural uses for plants associated with various First Nations and other groups. Students also learn the indicator role these indigenous plants play in the classification of forest sites and other land management activities.
ENGL-103
Composition & Style
Typical Offerings
Timing All Terms, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
A study of grammar, composition, and style. A vigorous program of essay-writing plus a variety of writing assignments or exercises dealing with specific problems in essay-writing. Strongly recommended for students who wish to improve their writing skills.
NRFT-103
Introduction to Forest Soils
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-103L
Description
The course is basic to an understanding of forest productivity and the side effects resulting from various forestry practices, with applications in silviculture, watershed management, and engineering. Topics covered are landforms and soil formation, physical and chemical properties of soils, description of profiles, the Canadian System of Soil Classification, site productivity and soil disturbance. Field exercise will emphasize sampling description and classification of soils.
NRFT-105
Ornithology and Mammology
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-105L
Description
NRFT 105 is focused on studying birds and mammals that live in British Columbia and the habitat that is required to sustain them. Besides studying anatomy, physiology, reproductive, and behavioural characteristics the course will focus on learning how to correctly identify the birds and mammals by their sound, their appearance, colouration, and the type of habitat they are found in. Students will also study the population status and current health of the environment in which these birds and mammals live.
NRFT-108
Map and Spatial Data
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Required Support Lab: NRFT-108L
Description
An introductory course focusing on the applications of maps and spatial data in natural resource management. Topics include: mapping systems, topographic and thematic maps, measurements from maps and aerial photographs, image interpretation, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), and Global Positioning System (GPS). The applications of satellite remote sensing will also be explored.
NRFT-111
Forest Measurements I
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-111L
Description
A field-oriented course that introduces the theory and practice of all aspects of forest measurements and surveying. Students will receive a thorough exposure to timber cruising and basic forest surveying instruments.
NRFT-121
Silvics and Dendrology
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Corequisite: NRFT-202
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-121L
Description
The purpose of this course is to learn the autecology, silvical, and physiological characteristics of coniferous and broad-leaved trees native to British Columbia.
NRFT-123
Fire Management
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-123L
Description
Wildfire is an ever-present component of the coniferous forests of Canada and represents a significant danger to effective forest management and community protection. The principal emphasis in this course is on forest wildfire management with an emphasis on prevention and control. Successful participants will know their responsibilities under the current Wildfire Act and related regulations, will understand wildfire management, and will be prepared to take basic steps in wildland fire suppression. Wildfire related safety will be stressed throughout the course.
NRFT-125
Introduction to Earth Science
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-125L
Description
An introductory course to the physical geology with emphasis on the geologic processes that have shaped the Earth. Topics include minerals, rocks, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanic activities, various geological processes and landforms, natural hazards, mineral and energy resources. Labs and field trip are used to enhance the learning in the lecture.
NRFT-128
Geomatics and Cartography
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Corequisite: NRFT-131
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-128L
Description
Geomatics involves the gathering, storing, processing and delivering of geographic information and Cartography is the art and science of graphically representing a geographical area. This course provides students with knowledge and skills in field data collection, data evaluation, map design and editing, and map production. Topics include cartographic principles, map projections, coordinate systems, data sources, thematic mapping, evaluation and interpretation of maps. The field data sets and resource management activities in other program studies will be used for mapping project.
NRFT-131
Forest Measurements II
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: NRFT-111, MATH-195 minimum D
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-131L
Description
NRFT 131 is a continuation of NRFT 111. The intent is to provide the student with sufficient knowledge and field training to be able to sample the forest resource to the standards established by the B.C. Forest Service. Forest statistics and its applications in analysing sample data and controlling sampling error is studied in detail throughout the semester.
MATH-195
Mathematics for Technologies
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: FOM-11, PREC-11, MATH-045, MATH-043, or equivalent minimum C
Description
This is a course is an introduction to the basic theory, techniques, and applications of algebra and geometry as used in various technologies. Topics include number systems and their algebra, synthetic and analytic geometry, functions and graphs, and trigonometry. The course will emphasize applications to environmental and forest technologies.
NRFT-201
Nat Res Policy and Practice
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-103, NRFT-121, NRFT-123, NRFT-128, NRFT-131, NRFT-202 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-201L
Description
This course covers the history and legal basis for natural resource management of Crown forest land in British Columbia. Emphasis is placed on the Forest Act and Forest and Range Practices Act, Land Act, Oil and Gas Activities Act, Mines Act and related Provincial and Federal Acts and their associated regulations. Inventory, biodiversity, and planning concepts are introduced.
NRFT-202
Forest Ecology
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: NRFT-101, NRFT-103 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-202L
  • Corequisite: NRFT-121
Description
This course will provide an introduction to global ecosytems and climatic controls, energy flow, productivity, biogechemical cycling, climate and the physical environment, ecosystem stability, disturbance, and succession. It will also introduce the Biogeoclimatic Classification System of BC and consider indigenous perspectives.
NRFT-205
Habitat Management
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-103, NRFT-121, NRFT-123, NRFT-128, NRFT-131, NRFT-202 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-205L
Description
A course designed to give natural resource students an understanding of the diversity of native fish and wildlife in North Central B.C. and the range of habitats used. The course will focus on forest biodiversity, with emphasis on the role of fish and wildlife in a healthy forest. Students will also study forest practices and management techniques that seek to harmonize biodiversity objectives with forest activities.
NRFT-207
Silviculture I
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-103, NRFT-121, NRFT-123, NRFT-128, NRFT-131, NRFT-202 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-207L
Description
Silviculture is the application of basic tree biology and forest ecology to the growing, harvesting, and regeneration of trees. The participants in this course will apply their knowledge of forest soils, forest ecology, photo interpretation, silvics, and forest measurements with an aim to developing strategies for forest regeneration success. Studies focus on the application of ecological description and classification, determination of site potential and limitation, and management of forest cover to meet a defined objective.
NRFT-210
Natural Resources Seminar I
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-103, NRFT-121, NRFT-123, NRFT-128, NRFT-131, NRFT-202, minimum C
  • Corequisite: ENGL-229
Description
Early in the course, students will focus on laying the groundwork for planning and collecting field data in support of an applied research report that will complete in the following NRFT 251 Applied Research course. Later in the course, the focus will turn to topics focused on safety systems and organizations associated with the resource sector.
NRFT-211
Forest Measurements III
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-103, NRFT-121, NRFT-123, NRFT-128, NRFT-131, NRFT-202 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-211L
Description
This course is a continuation of NRFT 131 and covers the practical application of timber cruising in compliance with the government Cruising Manual. Students use class field data taken from NRFT 131 and compile the data into a comprehensive cruise report to provide an understanding of the compilation procedures. The course will also cover decay, waste, and breakage. Introduction of the BC Metric Log Scaling and grading system, and weight scaling procedures will also be covered.
NRFT-213
Forest Engineering I
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-103, NRFT-121, NRFT-123, NRFT-128, NRFT-131, NRFT-202 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-213L
Description
This course provides the student with a basic knowledge of forest engineering practice in the field of forest road design, construction, maintenance, and deactivation. Other topics include soil classification, watershed assessment, survey and design of drainage structure, and Forest and Range Practices Act and associated regulations. Emphasis is placed on field procedures and microcomputer design applications.
NRFT-221
Natural Resource Finance
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-103, NRFT-121, NRFT-123, NRFT-128, NRFT-131, NRFT-202 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-221L
Description
This course introduces the students to the fundamentals of business and finance related to natural resource land management. Topics include business ownership, methods of financing businesses, financial statements and analysis, loans and interest calculations, break-even analysis, resource valuation and contract administration.
NRFT-223
Forest Health
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: NRFT-202 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-223L
Description
This course examines the role of forest health factors in ecosystem structure and function and their impacts on forest resources and values. Identification, recognition, impacts, ecological role, economic importance and evaluation/management techniques for provincially significant diseases, insects, mammal damage, and abiotic injuries are studied.
NRFT-225
Geographic Information Systems
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-103, NRFT-121, NRFT-123, NRFT-128, NRFT-131, NRFT-202 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-225L
Description
A computer based course exploring the principles and practices of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Emphasis is given to the processes involved in the digital mapping and spatial analysis with GIS. Topics include georeferencing, data acquisition and input, data analysis and processing, digital terrain model, and data output. Laboratory exercises will complement the theory presented in the lectures.
NRFT-227
Silviculture II
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: NRFT 207 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-227L
Description
A continuation of the study of silviculture. This course starts with a focus on building silviculture prescriptions based on an understanding of management objectives. Considerations of each step in prescribing basic silviculture activities are covered. Silviculture surveys used to determine basic free growing outcomes to a provincial government standard will be studied. Standards of due diligence and ethical practice will be emphasized.
ENGL-229
Prof Bus and Tech Commun
Typical Offerings
Timing All Terms, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-103 or ENGL 113 minimum C
Description
This course includes both the theory and practice of writing for the workplace. Students will first learn the rules and guidelines of professional communication and then will move beyond them, investigating the underlying theory, ethics and social factors that contribute to the challenges of work writing. This course introduces strategies for communicating effectively to a variety of audiences in a variety of workplace genres. Students work both individually and in collaboration, completing both written and oral projects that are relevant to their professional goals and the requirements of the business, technical, and professional communities. Prerequisites: ENGL 103 Note: Natural Resource and Environmental Technology (NRES) students will be admitted with successful completion of ENGL 103 and completion of all first-year courses.
NRFT-230
Natural Resources Seminar II
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This course consists of a series of seminars covering a wide range of topics dealing with the role various groups and organizations have in regard to natural resource management in BC. The course will explore how these groups and organizations approach and address natural resource management in BC. Participants will learn about their options for continuing educational and professional organization membership. Professional organizations will be reviewed and the obligations for professional practice will be outlined.
NRFT-233
Forest Engineering II
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: NRFT-213 minimum C
  • Required Supporting Lab: NRFT-233L
Description
This course provides the student with an introduction to the common harvesting systems and methods used in British Columbia. The topics include the principles of sustainable development in forest practice, evaluation of site and recommendation of harvesting system, harvesting planning, harvesting budget, log transportation, and safety management.
NRFT-251L
Applied Research Project
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: NRFT-210 minimum C
  • Corequisite: ENGL-252
Description
A capstone course focusing on applied research and communication, showcasing skills that are developed across the program curriculum. Students will undertake an exercise in basic applied research, developing a hypothesis, collecting data to test a hypothesis, completing an analysis and finally drawing conclusions. Real world situations will be explored with a focus on natural resources.
ENGL-252
Tech Writing & Communications
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: ENGL-229 minimum C
Description
This course builds on the skills learned in ENGL 229. Students will plan and write a progress report and a formal report for an industry-sponsored project, as well as any related documentation for the project as needed. Students will also design and create a static display and present the project orally with professional visuals. Students will also prepare a professional resume and letter of application.
NRFT-261
Extended Nat Res Field Studies
Typical Offerings
Timing Spring Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
  • Prerequisite: NRFT-201, NRFT-203, NRFT-205, NRFT-207, NRFT-210, NRFT-211, NRFT-213 minimum C
Description
This course is an intensive one-week (including weekends) field exercise in which students are exposed to a range of forestry practices and activities in different parts of BC from the interior to the BC lower coast. Field activities will involve exercises, observation, and analysis of research facilities, forestry operations and manufacturing facilities.

Required course

NRFT-109L
Introduction to Computers
Typical Offerings
Timing Fall Only, Every Year
Locations
Requisites
Description
This course provides an introduction to computing using Windows-based computer applications. Natural resource industry applications including professional word-processing, database management, spreadsheets and presentation software tools will be the primary focus of this course. A foundation for NRFT program writing standards will be established.

Entry Requirements

While it wasn’t always easy combining classroom time and field trips on top of the hours for studying and homework, it’s been great to gain so much hands-on experience during the courses.

Michelle Lindemann
Civil Engineering Technology

I like the problem-solving nature of millwrighting. I love how diverse the trade is. There’s always something new and different to work on.

Dusty Cathcart 2026
Vanderhoof Industrial Mechanic

This program gives you the ability to have a lot of hands-on time in the clinic where you can practice the skills you are learning and get a bit of an idea of what it is like to be a dental assistant.

Jordyn Karl
Dental Assistant Certificate Student

Taking this program is one of the most exciting things I could've done. It helped me grow into a professional, while also growing personally. I have carried my knowledge forward and will always hold the program and faculty close to my heart.

Janessa Sigurdson 2025
Accounting and Finance

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