This is an ARCHIVED version of the Kwantlen University College Calendar for
2004-2005 and is provided for historical reference only. See the current version of the
Calendar for updated information.
The on-line version of the University College Calendar is the Official version.
In the event of conflict between the printed version and the online version, the
on-line version will prevail.
Effective date of this course calendar information, unless otherwise indicated, is Sept. 1, 2004 to Aug. 31, 2005.
Environmental Protection
Technology
Offered at Richmond Campus
Full-time
Start date: September
Limited Enrolment
Description
Environmental protection technologists provide an invaluable
service to society by helping protect, and sustain, the long-term
health of our local and global ecosystems.
Environmental consultants, industry and government seek out
graduates from our Environmental Protection Technology
program. They do this because our graduates have developed the
skills needed to offer professional advice on a wide range of
subjects, including environmental impact assessment, hazardous
and non-hazardous waste management, waste reduction and reuse
strategies, air, soil and water pollution prevention and monitoring,
compliance auditing, and contaminated site investigation and
remediation. This skill set is based on an integrated, hands-on
training program that gives graduates a good working knowledge of
physical and life sciences, including general biology, ecology,
toxicology, chemistry, physics and statistics. Specific topics covered
by the program include:
Air, water and soil field sampling
Solid, liquid and air treatment methods
Waste minimization
Hazardous goods and waste handling methods
WHMIS implementation and compliance evaluation
Emergency planning and spill response methods
Recycling and waste minimization program design
Environmental issues analysis
Environmental law and ethics
Written and oral presentation skills
Computer software competency
Although graduates typically work within a team of professionals,
they must also be able to work independently and take initiative as
required - the program helps promote these attributes. Successful
completion of the two-year program will prepare graduates for
employment at the technology level within industry or government;
often with excellent potential for upward mobility as job experience
grows.Visit the department web page (www.kwantlen.ca/
environment)
Admission Requirements
Effective for the September 2004 intake of new students, in
addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must
have at least:
C+ or better in English 12 or Technical and Professional Communication 12
C+ or better in Principles of Mathematics 11 or Applications of Mathematics 12
C or better in Principles of Physics 11 or Applications of Physics 11
C+ or better in Chemistry 11
All applicants must attend an information session (normally
November and February) or, if from outside the Vancouver and
Fraser Valley area, must complete a telephone interview.
Content
Note: Revisions to the program take effect with the September 2004
new student intake. Students enrolled prior to September 2004
follow the old program.
The two-year program, which contains two four-month work
terms, consists of the following sequence:
Note: Students who have already completed Principles of Math 12
(or equivalent) with C+ or better do not need to take MATH 1117;
students who have already completed Chem 12 (or equivalent) with
C+ or better do not need to take CHEM 1105.
Note: Students with entrance requirements higher than the
minimum requirements listed above, or with university transfer
credits, will be assessed on a case-by-case status for advanced
standing on admission to the program.
Career Opportunities
An advisory committee works closely with the program to maintain
and update the curriculum and employment focus to ensure that
graduates are well prepared for the job market. This committee
consists of potential employers from the public and private sectors,
as well as several graduates of the program who are currently well
established in the field.
Graduates are employed with environmental consulting firms, with
federal, provincial or municipal departments, with industries
possessing their own environmental staff, or are self-employed.
Program graduates have experienced a high rate of employment in
the environmental field. They are currently employed with
government and industry in a variety of technology-level positions.
The Co-operative Education component of the program has
proved to be extremely valuable, with several of the graduates
obtaining positions with their co-op employers. Examples of the
type of work performed by Co-op students and graduates include:
air, water, and soil sampling; wastewater systems investigations;
contaminated sites assessments; contingency planning and spills
response; waste permitting and compliance investigations;
laboratory analysis; habitat evaluation; environmental auditing;
environmental policy and legislation; recycling; composting; solid
waste management; and public education.
Some technologists may wish to further their education towards a
Bachelor Degree, getting credit for their 2-year technology
diploma.
Co-operative Education
This program operates with two four-month Co-op work terms.
Kwantlen has been successful in arranging unique and challenging
placements with government agencies like Environment Canada,
with environmental consultants, and with industry through the
establishment of municipal and district partnerships. In some cases,
Kwantlen students have supervised high school students
performing their own job preparation requirements. Most
importantly, through these Co-op placements Environmental
Protection Technology students have solidified careers upon
graduation.
While successful completion of the two Co-op work terms is
regarded as a requirement to graduate, effective with the September
2004 intake of new students it may be possible to graduate without
one or both Co-op components. This would be regarded as an
exceptional circumstance, and is based on recommendation by the
Program Chair in consultation with the Co-op office.
Transfer
Graduates are able to enter, either directly or at a later stage in their
career, into upper levels of the following programs: Bachelor of
Science in Environmental Science at Royal Roads University,
Bachelor of Science at UNBC, Bachelor of General Studies at
Open University, Bachelor of Technology at BCIT (environmental
engineering and environmental health), and Bachelor of Business
Administration in Entrepreneurial Leadership at Kwantlen
University College.
Accreditation
The Association of Applied Science Technologists and Technicians
of British Columbia (ASTTBC) has accredited this program as
meeting the Canadian Technology Standards at the technology
level. ASTTBC, the professional association for the province's
technologists and technicians, is mandated with the role of
certifying technologists and technicians, as well as accrediting
technician and technology programs offered by the colleges and
institutes. Program accreditation provides assurance of high
educational standards through a review process that is nationally
and increasingly internationally recognized. Program accreditation
permits graduates to be certified as technologists in their
profession, a credential sought by many employers, and allows
instant recognition of qualification for positions across Canada, the
United States, and elsewhere.
Graduation
Upon successful completion of this program, including the Co-op
work component, students will be awarded a Diploma of
Technology in Environmental Protection.
Elective Courses for non-technology students
Environmental Protection also offers three courses to students
from other disciplines who wish to learn more about the
environment, and/or require it in their program of study.
ENVI 1112 is a lab course that teaches the basics of sampling and
gathering knowledge about the environment without requiring a
science background. It can count towards lab-science credits for
non-science students.
ENVI 3112 is a discussion course that studies the role the media,
the artistic community, business, and cultural groups play in
environmental disputes. Both courses qualify as Liberal Education
electives (view approved courses online at www.kwantlen.ca/
calendar/lbedelec.html) and ENVI 1112 qualifies as a science lab
elective.
ENVI 2305 is required for students who wish to take the
Environmental Toxicology program at SFU.
