This is an ARCHIVED version of the Kwantlen University College Calendar for
2003-2004 and is provided for historical reference only.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 program calendar information, unless otherwise indicated, is Sept. 1, 2003 to Aug. 31, 2004.
Note: All course changes and updates are shown in blue.
Environmental Protection
Technology
(Program edited November 2003)
Offered at Richmond Campus
Start date: September
Full-time
Description
Environmental protection technologists help protect our vulnerable planet from the impact of mankind's pollution through proactive intervention or through response to damage already caused. Graduates of the Environmental Protection Technology program are qualified to collect samples and gather information to conduct and offer professional direction and advice in the areas of environmental impact assessment; solid and hazardous waste management; waste minimization; recycling and management; air, soil and water pollution monitoring and control; compliance inspection; and contaminated site investigation, reduction or elimination. The program provides knowledge of physical and life sciences including general biology, ecology, toxicology, chemistry, physics and statistics, and training in the areas of:
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
Graduates must be able to work well with others, but also must be able to work independently and take considerable initiative as required. Upon successful completion of this two-year program, graduates will be prepared for employment at the technology level in industry or government positions to monitor, evaluate and reduce pollution and other impacts on the environment. Graduates or co-op students are valuable assets to conservation societies and environmental groups.
Graduates will be hands-on oriented. They need not be chemical technicians, but will have a broadly based background. The broad range of courses will enable them to assist with environmental management efforts that require a holistic approach. Graduates should have excellent presentation and interpersonal skills. They will be able to go out in the field and collect information regarding the presence and effects of pollutants in a wide variety of situations. They will have comprehensive knowledge of waste reduction and management methods and issues. Graduates will be capable of data handling and acquisition using commercially available computer software.
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.
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.
Note: Students who have already taken courses at Kwantlen or another post-secondary institution must be in good academic standing (minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better) at the time of admission to the Environmental Protection Technology program, or receive permission from the Program Chair.
Content
Note: Some revisions to the program will take effective with the September 2004 new student intake. The courses listed below show the new program for first year and both new and old programs for second year. Students admitted prior to September 2004 will follow the old program. Students admitted to Year 1 in September 2004 will follow the new program through to graduation.
The two-year program, which contains two four-month work terms, will consist of the following sequence:
Note: Students with entrance requirements higher than the minimum requirements listed above, or with comparative 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.
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, 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.
Environmental Protection Technology Faculty
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