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Environmental Technology

CampusStart DateTuition/Fees
MiramichiSeptember 2020 Domestic | International
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Program Overview

Environmental Technologists work for nature. They focus on the conservation of natural resources (fish and wildlife, habitat and ecosystems, agriculture, etc.) and work to heal some of the damage caused by humans. You’ll learn how to operate laboratory, field and monitoring equipment in order to sample, evaluate and analyze data collected from air, water, groundwater and soil. Environmental Technology is a rapidly developing field, you’ll find meaningful work on field sites or in research and communications departments of government and business.

Duration

The requirements for this diploma program may be achieved within two years of full-time study.

Admission Requirements

    Profile I

  • High School Diploma or Adult High School Diploma or GED Diploma of High School Equivalency
    • Pre-calculus 110
      or
      Geometry and Applications in Mathematics 112 and Functions and Relations 112
      • Total of two (2) sciences, including at least one (1) from the following:
        • Biology 112 or 122
        • Chemistry 112 or 122
        • Physics 112 or 122

      (NB Francophone High School Math Equivalencies)

      Career Possibilities

      With evolving environmental legislation and the industry's expanding focus on environmental issues, employment opportunities in this field are growing, particularly within the private sector. Graduates may find employment with industry, the environmental consulting sector, federal or provincial governments, and other agencies or organizations involved with environmental issues.

      Find career possibilities related to this program in Career Coach

      Specific Considerations

      To achieve success in the Environmental Technology program, you should have a strong background in mathematics, science, and written communication. Applicants with a strong science background, especially in chemistry and biology, usually do well with the Environmental Technology curriculum. A considerable amount of training is in field work, so you should enjoy working outdoors.

      Program Courses

      This year's courses are still under development. Showing 2019's courses for reference.

      This course is designed to familiarize students with the organization and complexity of organisms and their diversity in the biosphere.

      This course is designed to introduce the students to the fundamentals of chemistry necessary in order to understand the role that chemistry plays in the environmental field. Students develop lab skills that reinforce the theory portion of the course and stress the importance of safety and accuracy in the laboratory.

      This course is designed to introduce the students to the fundamentals of organic chemistry in order to understand the environmental impacts and strategies for dealing with the potential harmful effects of organic chemical pollutants.

      Prerequisites:

      • CHEM1029

      Students will learn to write a variety of technical documents and business correspondence suitable to a specific audience and purpose as well as learn how to conduct research and document sources.

      This course prepares students to write a formal technical report on a technical topic with sufficient technical and communication quality as to be judged capable of meeting the certification requirements of such outside agencies as the New Brunswick Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists, federal government agencies such as Transport Canada, or any other accrediting body.

      This course teaches students how to create documents that are organized, unified, and coherent.

      This course is designed to introduce and familiarize students with the concepts and standards of environmental management systems (EMS). Students will learn to use and distinguish the different management system tools, including: environmental impact assessments (EIA), environmental site assessments (ESA), environmental risk assessments, and environmental audits.

      Prerequisites:

      • GEOL1000C
      • ENVI1003E

      This course helps students identify and assess man-made and natural degradation to the environment. Students learn restoration techniques and theory for correcting the negative impact on the environment in an ecologically sensitive manner. Particular focus is spent on the assessment and restoration techniques of aquatic ecosystems.

      Prerequisites:

      • HYDR1000C
      • ENVI1003E

      The course addresses the remedial approaches and treatment techniques used to clean up contaminated soils, bedrock, or groundwater. Remedial measures such as excavation, material removal, containment, and treatment (physical, chemical and biological) are discussed and methods identified.

      Prerequisites:

      • ENVI1003E
      • GEOL1000C

      This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to examine industrial process systems and their associated environmental impacts and control technologies.

      Prerequisites:

      • ENVI1001D
      • ENVI1003E

      This course provides an understanding of the interaction between organisms and their environments. Covered is the classification of ecosystems, conditions for life, and natural selection,. These principles are then applied to enable students to identify and investigate various biological indicator species in the environment through their presence, placement, and community structures.

      Prerequisites:

      • BIOL1027B

      Air Quality is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of air pollution and air quality monitoring and control. This course will consider both indoor and outdoor air quality as it pertains to the environmental technologist in both theory and sampling practices.

      Prerequisites:

      • CHEM1082

      Students are introduced to the techniques and methodologies used in the planning and conducting of representative sampling programs of various media (water, vapour, solids, biota, etc). An operational knowledge of various sampling equipment and instrumentation is gained. Various aspects of sample integrity, quality control, and data validity are studied.

      Prerequisites:

      • GEOL1001
      • CHEM1029
      • BIOL1027B
      • COMM1000

      The purpose of this course is to introduce students to physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water. Key ideas, concepts, and issues regarding water quality degradation, pollution indicators, Canadian Standards, and control measures are discussed.

      Prerequisites:

      • ENVI1002
      • CHEM1082
      • BIOL1027B

      This practicum is designed to provide students with an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in the Environmental Technology program.

      This course introduces students to environmental toxicology. The toxic effects of various substances acting from within the body (systemic effects) are explored.

      Prerequisites:

      • BIOL1027B

      This multidisciplinary course is designed to familiarize students with the broad range of issues applied to environmental education and stewardship. Topics include: sustainability and sustainable development; environmental stewardship; current issues and trends; local, national, and global issues, and educational strategies for understanding and resolving environmental issues.

      This course examines the use and management of organisms and their ecosystems beginning with the identification of organisms common to the Maritimes. This course focuses on management of those organisms within their community and ecosystem.

      Prerequisites:

      • BIOL1027B
      • ECOL1011B

      This course introduces students to ethical principles and codes of conduct applicable to professional practices. The subject of ethics is a requirement of many accredited programs. Therefore, successful completion of Professional Ethics is a graduation requirement for engineering technology programs.

      Students submit a formal, researched report and make a formal oral presentation on an approved technical topic related to their program of studies. The technical and communication quality may be judged on the basis of the certification requirements of outside agencies such as the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB), the New Brunswick Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (NBSCETT), a government department, or other accrediting body. This is primarily an independent study course allowing for consultations with academic and industry personnel.

      This course provides an introduction to groundwater geology. Subsurface influences on water occurrences and movement is covered and groundwater contaminant characterization, clean-up, and monitoring are discussed.

      Prerequisites:

      • GEOL1001

      Students are introduced to the geological sciences and gain an appreciation and understanding of fundamental geoscience principles.

      This course provides an overview of theory, concepts, and capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Through lectures and practical GIS exercises students will gain an appreciation of the capabilities of GIS software and its utility in decision making. Topics covered include the fundamentals of cartography, geo-referencing, data structures, database design, project planning, and basic spatial data analysis.

      Prerequisites:

      • MSSC1004

      This course is designed to familiarize students with the basic concepts of hydrology and the techniques of applied hydrology. Emphasis is on surface water hydrology. This course compliments other courses such as Hydrogeology, Air Quality, and Water Quality, where the related hydrological topics of groundwater, atmospheric hydrology, and water quality are more fully covered.

      Students are introduced to federal and provincial legislation pertinent to environmental concerns. The development of the legal and court systems is reviewed, including the classification of different types of law. The role of the environmental technologist relative to environmental laws and legal expectations is stressed.

      This course provides students with a sound mathematical foundation in preparation to higher level mathematics (calculus) and other technology courses.

      This course is designed to provide environmental technologists with the skills to orient themselves on the Earth. Navigating throughout the woods or on the water is an important part of the job. Map reading, basic compass work, and the standard technologies of global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) are reviewed.

      Students are introduced to physical oceanography. An appreciation is gained for the basic principles underlying marine phenomena and oceanic processes.

      This workshop introduces students to the process of finding employment. It explores the various strategies and resources available, and examines the role of social media.

      This course provides an introduction to the meaning of community service.  Students learn how community service can enhance a student’s educational experience, personal growth, employability, and civic responsibility. Students participate in one day of volunteering to enhance their understanding of civic responsibility and to help the New Brunswick Community College realize its vision of transforming lives and communities. 

      This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of physics as they apply to the environmental field.

      Prerequisites:

      • MATH1089

      This course is designed to introduce students to the practices and procedures of project management. An emphasis is placed on time, cost, personnel and communication aspects of project management.

      Prerequisites:

      • SAAL1502
      • MATH1089

      This course teaches students how to develop reports, spreadsheets, and presentations using computer applications, and to use the internet for basic research in a network environment. The course is instructor led in a classroom or lab environment and requires the completion of several assignments and tests. Students taking this course are expected to have prior knowledge and competence in using the basic functions of a personal computer and its operating system including the following: manage and organize files/directories/folders/email; copy, move and delete files/directories/folders/email and; demonstrate the ability to work with desktop icons and to manipulate windows.

      This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of soil science. It explores how humans interact with soils in various Canadian ecosystems. Students learn the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils.

      Prerequisites:

      • GEOL1001

      Students are introduced to basic field skills, problem solving and safety issues which can be encountered when working in remote locations. Topics include general survival skills, wilderness first aid, canoeing, safe boating practices, and other common tasks associated with field work.

      A safe and healthy workplace is the responsibility of the employer and the employee. This course introduces students to the importance of working safely and addresses how employers and employees can control the hazards and risks associated with the workplace. Students will also learn about the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders including WorkSafeNB, the employer and the employee in ensuring workplaces are safe.

      This course provides students with an overview of basic statistics. Students are introduced to and apply the rules of probability, sampling techniques, and regression analysis.

      Prerequisites:

      • MATH1089

      This course introduces students to the management of solid waste and wastewater. Specifically, the control of the generation, storage, collection, transport, separation, processing, recycling, recovery and disposal of solid wastes and the primary, secondary and tertiary treatment of leachate, wastewater and sanitary sewage.

      Prerequisites:

      • ENVI1003E

      NOC Codes

      2231 - Civil engineering technologists and technicians
      2263 - Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety

      Articulation Agreements

      Institution: Lakeland College
      Articulation Period:
      Information: Graduates of the Environmental Technology Diploma program are eligible for direct entry into the Monitoring and Environmental Protection major or the Reclamation and Remediation major of the BAppSc Degree, The degree can be completed within two years and includes an eight month practicum component which is normally paid.

      Institution: Royal Roads University
      Articulation Period:
      Information: Block Transfer from NBCC into the 3rd year of Royal Roads University's School of Environment and Sustainability programs. 
      Institution: Griffith University
      Articulation Period: No End Date
      Information: Griffith University will grant up to one and a half (1.5) years of advanced standing (i.e., entry into the fourth semester) of the Bachelor of Science (Environment) degree program on completion of the Environmental Technology NBCC Diploma.
      Institution: Saskatchewan Polytechnic
      Articulation Period:
      Information: Environmental Technology graduates after May 31, 2019 that complete approved bridging courses, if any, are admissible to the Sask Polytech BCM (Bachelor of Construction Management) Program.  NBCC students who graduated prior to May 31, 2019 will be considered for admission on an individual basis and advised of any additional courses required to meet admission requirements.
      Institution: UNB - Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management (FOREM)
      Articulation Period:
      Information: Environmental Technology graduates will be eligible for transfer credit, with the Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Natural Resources (BScENR) Water Resources Management Major program, provided they have earned a grade of 70% or higher in each course and are in good standing.

      External Certifications

      Environmental Technology graduates may have an opportunity to acquire the following external certifications upon meeting the external agencies certification requirements and paying any required fees to the external agency:

      Institution: NBSCETT - New Brunswick Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists
      External Certification: Engineering All
      Information: Certification by the New Brunswick Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists with two years of acceptable work experience.

       

      Disclaimer: This web copy provides guidance to prospective students, applicants, current students, faculty and staff. Although advice is readily available on request, the responsibility for program selection ultimately rests with the student. Programs, admission requirements and other related information is subject to change.

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