- Program Length4 Years
- CredentialBachelor Degree
Are you passionate about the outdoors, and see yourself in a future career protecting Canada’s rich natural environment and wildlife? The Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection at VIU is for environmental stewards who are ready to turn their passion for nature conservation, nature protection and natural resource management into a career.
The program is the only one of its kind in British Columbia, and offers small classes and expert instruction. Students benefit from experiential learning in a four-month practicum in the industry.
Graduates find jobs in a wide range of career paths such as wildlife biology and management, wildlife conservationist, range management, conservation officers, teaching, forestry, interpretation and guiding.
The Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection Program
The degree program builds on the existing two-year Resource Management Officer Technology (RMOT) diploma program. The Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection will enable RMOT diploma graduates to receive an undergraduate degree after an additional two years of course work. This degree has been designed to provide an advanced credential for other career opportunities in the natural resource conservation and protection field.
VIU is the only academic institution in BC to offer this specialized degree, and only one of two to offer a comparable degree in Western Canada. In addition to advanced courses in natural resource management and law enforcement, there is a four month field practicum in the fall of fourth year. In this practicum, students are able to choose an off-campus field placement with either an enforcement or a resource management agency.
Year 3
|
Fall Semester |
Credits |
|---|---|
|
ANTH 430 - (Forensic Anthropology) |
3 |
|
RMOT 305 - (Advanced Field Skills) |
3 |
|
RMOT 306 - (Environmental Monitoring) |
3 |
|
RMOT 397 - (Natural Resource Forensic Investigations) |
3 |
|
Elective* |
3 |
|
Semester Credits |
15 |
|
Spring Semester |
|
|
ENGL 204 - (Business and Technical Writing) (effective September 2012) or, |
3 |
|
GEOG 328 - (Geographic Information Systems) |
3 |
|
RMOT 357 - (Research Methods in Natural Resource Management) |
3 |
|
RMOT 395 - (Advanced Investigative Procedures) |
3 |
|
Elective* |
3 |
|
Semester Credits |
15 |
|
Total Credits |
30 |
Year 4
|
Fall Semester |
Credits |
|---|---|
|
RMOT 470 - (Advanced Field Practicum in Natural Resource Protection) |
15 |
|
Semester Credits |
15 |
|
Spring Semester |
|
|
RMOT 498 - (Special Investigations: Habitat and Pollution Prosecutions) |
3 |
|
RMOT 400 - (Fisheries Conservation and Management) |
3 |
|
RMOT 401 - (Wildlife Management) |
3 |
|
RMOT 496 - (Resource Management and Aboriginal Right) |
3 |
|
Elective* |
3 |
|
Semester Credits |
15 |
|
Total Credits |
30 |
* Students must obtain permission from their program advisor for elective course selections. Please check the specific course descriptions in the online calendar to ensure you have the prerequisites for the courses selected.
- Students may apply to the third year of the degree program after successful completion of the Resource Management Officer Technology diploma with a minimum grade point average of 2.33 (“C+”).
Notes on Admission
- Admission to the third year of the degree program is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program. Depending on the number of applications received, applicants will be prioritized by overall Grade Point Average. A waitlist will be created, if required.
Notes on Progression
- Students enrolled in the Bachelor Natural Resource Protection degree must satisfactorily complete all course and elective courses, with a minimum "C-" grade in all third year courses.
- Students must also maintain a minimum "C" average in upper level courses, and have an overall GPA of at least 2.0 ("C") in order to be eligible for graduation.
- Students who fail to maintain these standards will be asked to withdraw from the program for a minimum of one academic year. The student may apply for probationary re-instatement after the withdrawal period, subject to available space in the program.
Transfer Credit
Students are required to satisfy the institutional residency requirement by completing a minimum of 42 upper level credits (third and fourth year courses numbered 300 or higher), at Vancouver Island University. Transfer credit for third and fourth year courses into the degree program must be approved beforehand by the degree advisor.
Diploma graduates from similar fish, wildlife and recreation programs taken at other institutions (e.g. BCIT, Selkirk College), may block-transfer into the Spring semester of the second year of the RMOT diploma program, and apply to the degree program the following year.
Students that graduate with the Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection will be able to find employment in many different fields of natural resource management and protection. This includes National Park Wardens, Park Rangers, Conservation Officers, Fishery Officers, Fisheries Inspectors, Forestry Compliance and Enforcement Officers, Environmental Inspectors, Environmental consultants, Fish and Wildlife technicians and biologists, among others. A degree may also be beneficial for promotion to management positions within these agencies.
Domestic Fees | International Fees
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
Fees for One Year* |
Amount |
|---|---|
|
Tuition (30 credits x $166.40 per credit) |
4,992.00 |
|
Student Activity fee (4% of tuition) |
199.68 |
|
Student Services fee (30 credits x $7.35 per credit) |
220.50 |
|
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) |
220.80 |
|
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) |
265.00 |
|
Books and supplies per year (approximate costs) |
1,500.00 |
|
Other expenses (field trips, etc.) (approximate costs) |
950.00 |
|
Total |
8,347.98 |
* The above table is based on ten 3-credit courses taken over two semesters.
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
Science and Technology courses with a compulsory lab have a lab fee of $23.43 per course.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
International Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
Fees for One Year* |
Amount |
|---|---|
|
Tuition (2 semesters x $11996.55 per semester) |
23,993.10 |
|
Ancillary Fee (2 semesters x $463.40 per semester) |
926.80 |
|
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) |
220.80 |
|
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) |
265.00 |
|
Books and supplies per year (approximate costs) |
1,500.00 |
|
Other expenses (field trips, etc.) (approximate costs) |
950.00 |
|
Total |
27,855.70 |
Tuition in the above table is based on $776.48 per credit, up to a maximum of $10,870.72 per semester for 15 credits; $776.48 per credit beyond 15 credits. Ancillary Fees in the above table are based on $33.10 per credit, up to a maximum of $463.40 per semester for 15 credits; $33.10 per credit beyond 15 credits.
* The above table is based on ten 3-credit courses taken over two semesters.
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
Science and Technology courses with a compulsory lab have a lab fee of $23.43 per course.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
UpdatedDomestic (Canadian)
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2025 |
Oct 1, 2024 to Mar 31, 2025
|
||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 2, 2025
Next Intake(s)
Application Fee
$45.16
Admissions Assistant
Name: Melanie Cousins Chair Contact
Name: Liz Gillis Documentation Deadline
March 31 Comments
|
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Further information on this program can be found on the Department website.
Previous versions of this program can be found in the Program Archive.
You must have a Natural Resource Management Diploma (or equivalent) to apply to this program. If you have only completed high school, you cannot apply to this program.