Career Opportunities

Graduates of our program work in a wide variety of settings, including:

• Conservation Officer
• Fishery Officer
• Park Patrol Officer
• Park Ranger
• Environmental Investigator/Inspector
• Municipal Police Officer
• RCMP Officer
• Fish and Wildlife Officer
• Wildlife Investigator
• Pollution Control Officer
• Resource Management Officer

Admissions

New third-year students, or transfer students with advance standing through completion of a related diploma, are accepted into the program in September of each year for on-campus study. Qualified applicants may be admitted into programs outside of normal intakes. Interested applicants are considered on an individual basis by the Chair for acceptance into the program in an alternative or modified format.

Academic Requirements
Students who have completed a Natural Resource Compliance Diploma from Lethbridge College will be accepted directly into the Conservation Enforcement - Bachelor of Applied Science. A minimum GPA of 2.50 or equivalent or permission of the Chair is required for admission.

Transfer students are required to have a diploma in natural resource management or equivalent, or a related bachelor’s degree In an area such as resource management, biology, environmental studies or a similar area of study. Transfer students with related credentials will be accepted into the program after being assessed on an individual basis to determine whether they are required to take bridging courses to meet degree outcomes. A minimum GPA of 2.50 or equivalent or permission of the Chair is required for admission. Applicants with post-secondary credentials and significant work experience may apply to have their skills assessed for transfer credit or prior learning credit. It is the student’s responsibility to provide faculty with all necessary documentation (course outlines, certificates, transcripts, etc.) for evaluation. Students are strongly encouraged to do this at the time of application or during their first term on campus.

Transfer students entering the Conservation Enforcement - Bachelor of Applied Science who have received advance credit must complete Lethbridge
College’s minimum residency requirements. Students may not receive advance credit for work completed at another institution(s) in excess of 75% of the total credits required for graduation from Lethbridge College.

Employability

• Natural Resource Law Enforcement Officer positions have very specific physical requirements such as vision, hearing and weight. The specific requirements differ with each agency. It is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm that they meet the physical requirements of the agencies with which they hope to work.
• Persons with a criminal record may have difficulty competing for jobs as Conservation Enforcement Officers in Canada.
• Employers often require that students hold a valid Standard First Aid or Wilderness First Aid Certificate and/or a CPR Certificate to be eligible for seasonal and/or permanent employment. Students are encouraged to obtain these certificates either prior to entering the program or during the first term.
• A number of workshops and short courses sponsored by various agencies are available on evenings and weekends. Students are encouraged to attend these sessions to enhance their credentials for employment.

Applicants who lack the required academic admission requirements can apply to the College and University Preparatory Program to upgrade for your program.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
If you have experience working in this field of study, you may be eligible for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Please direct your inquiries to the Program Chair.

Your Investment

Fees vary from program to program. To view fee information for your selected program, see the Academic Year Cost Sheet and Fees and Financial Information.

Students are responsible for the cost of the field trips relating to this program.

Supplies for Field Studies
Students on field studies are expected to provide their own equipment and supplies. This includes: warm sleeping bag, ground sheet and pad, tent may be required (notification will be given at orientation), back pack for gear, adequate clothing for cold/wet weather, hiking boots, work gloves, cooking and eating gear (may be shared), food, binoculars, digital camera (standard feature), orienteering compass, field equipment vest (recommended), “write-in-the-rain” treated field notebook/surveyors book, water bottle, sunscreen, safety glasses (3rd year), 30 cm metric steel ruler.

Field studies schedules are dependent on many variables and may require students to participate on weekends. All program field studies require mandatory attendance.

Other Required Supplies
Available from Lethbridge College Bookstore: Lab coat, safety glasses, Douglas protractor, “write-in-the-rain” treated field notebook/surveyors book, 16X hand lens, dissection kit, metric triangular scale with 1:20, 1:25, 1:50, 1:75, 1:100 and 1:125 graduations.

Available From Sporting, Hardware, and Office Supply Stores: Nexus Type 115 or Silva Ranger compass (with declination adjustment screw), clipboard, 4 GB or higher USB memory stick, chest waders, scientific calculator ($15 - $30 range), 12 or more coloured pencils (pencil crayons), binoculars (8 X 40 or 10 X 50 magnification), 30 cm metric steel ruler.

For additional information concerning supplies, contact David Haight at 403.320.3202, Extension 5594.

Curriculum

For full course description information, please click here.

*Indicates field studies

Year IV
Students are eligible to register in Directed Field Studies courses after successful completion of year three. Students must complete a Summer and a Fall term of Directed Field Studies earning a minimum of 29 credits through completion of the following courses:

* Indicates field studies

DL indicates courses available through Distributed Learning.

Special note about field studies
Special note about field studies: Students are off-campus completing field studies during most of September and April. It is extremely difficult to take Year I and Year II courses simultaneously. Students are advised to complete all Year I courses before proceeding to Year II, and all Year II courses before enrolling in Year III courses (for related post-diploma certificate or degree programs). In the Fall term, field studies are in September, while in the Winter term, field studies are scheduled in April.

Graduation

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Bachelor of Applied Science in Conservation Enforcement degree.