April 10, 2006 - 5:00pm
The new Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection at Malaspina University-College is set to help grads get even better jobs protecting our fish and wildlife resources.
The applied degree program starts this September and will add to the already popular two-year Resource Management Officer Technology Diploma program.
Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo is the only institution in BC to offer the new specialized degree in natural resource law enforcement and only one of two to offer it in Western Canada. Before, Malaspina grads who wanted to go further than a diploma had to move to Lethbridge, Alberta, said Dr. John Morgan, Resource Management Officer Technology chair and professor.
Max McDonald can’t wait to put his name on the list for September. McDonald graduated from Malaspina’s Resource Management Officer Technology Diploma program in 2003 and has been working ever since. Right now he’s working as a Back Country Ranger in Strathcona Provincial Park. As part of his job he patrols the more than 250,000 hectares of wilderness, protecting the wildlife and helping campers and hikers stay safe.
"It’s a pretty amazing job and the diploma helped me get it," said McDonald, who grew up in the Comox Valley.
While he loves what he does, McDonald would like more. He has found over the past few years several federal and provincial government departments are now asking for a minimum of a degree for many of their full-time permanent jobs.
"It will open a lot more doors," said McDonald of the new degree program.
"It is a competitive field and while a diploma is great for entry-level jobs in Parks, it may not translate into promotional opportunities down the road."
"Recently the education requirements have been going up, a diploma is good for everything but National Park Warden, which requires a Bachelor Degree," agreed Morgan.
"A lot of our students are interested in working for National Parks and we weren’t meeting their needs anymore."
Degree grads will be able to work in a range of natural resource protection areas including Park Rangers, Park Wardens, Conservation Officers, Fishery Officers, Fisheries Inspectors, Forestry Compliance and Enforcement Officers and Environmental Inspectors, among others.
"All our students have two things in common – they love the outdoors and they want to protect it," said Morgan.
The first intake into the third year of the degree is for September 2006. Morgan hopes to have 18 students to start and he’s confident he’ll meet that mark. Recent graduates, like McDonald, and present diploma students have already expressed an interest in the new program.
The two-year Resource Management Officer Technology Diploma started at Malaspina in 1987. It features a two-week practicum and a lot of hands-on activities. The Bachelor program will be an additional two years and will include a longer-term field practicum and self-directed projects.
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