Diploma in Environmental Studies
The Diploma in Environmental Studies offers an interdisciplinary opportunity to understand the physical principles governing the environment and the social and cultural aspects that influence human behaviour towards the environment. Students will gain a holistic knowledge of the environment through courses from the sciences, social sciences and humanities. The interdisciplinary model will equip students with the critical and analytical skills to think through the many complex factors that influence our understanding of the environment.
The diploma has four options: interdisciplinary environmental arts, environmental management, environmental science and geographic information science. Courses have university transfer credit providing students with the option of further study in either environmental studies or other disciplines. Students can also move directly into the workplace for there is a growing demand for labour in the environmental sector.
Prospective students should ensure that they have the prerequisites for the courses in the option that they wish to pursue.
Block Transfers: please see http://www.bctransferguide.ca/search/block and the GEOG/EESC department for details of the block transfer programs.
Admission Requirements
Regular Applicants: A regular applicant will be a secondary graduate or a secondary school student, or its equivalent, who has or who will complete the requirements for senior secondary graduation, or its equivalent, not less than one month prior to commencement of classes for the semester to which admission is sought - either fall or winter. The following minimum entrance requirements will apply to regular applicants:
Students with a passing grade of less than 60% in English 12, English 12 First Peoples or TPC 12 will be admissible to the first year of the Associate of Arts Degree, subject to the following conditions:
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Registration is restricted to courses for which the student satisfies the prerequisites. Registration in first-year English courses is, therefore, prohibited.
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Successful completion of the English entrance requirements within the first year of studies. This may be done in one of the following ways:
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Successful completion of English 12, English 12 First Peoples or TPC 12 or an equivalent course with a minimum grade of 60%. This may be done concurrently through the College's Adult Basic Education Program or by completing an equivalent course through a distance education program.
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Writing the LPI and obtaining a score of at least 24/40 (level 4).
The LPI Test is no longer being offered after July 31, 2020. Okanagan College will continue to accept LPI Test results for two years from the date an applicant tested. Approved alternatives are available. Please consult academic entrance requirements.
Mature Applicants: A mature applicant will be at least 19 years of age and will not have attended secondary school on a full-time basis for a minimum period of one year.
Secondary graduation is waived for mature applicants. The English entrance requirements, as stated above, must be satisfied prior to admission. Admission may be granted on the condition that the entrance requirements will be completed prior to the commencement of classes for the semester to which admission is sought - either fall or winter.
Interdisciplinary Environmental Arts Option Required Courses:
Year One
INDG 100 Introduction to Indigenous Studies
ANTH 121 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
GEOG 128 Human Geography: Space, Place and Community
GEOG 129 Human Geography: Resources, Development and Society
One of:
ENGL 150 Critical Writing and Reading: Poetry and Drama
ENGL 151 Critical Writing and Reading: Short Fiction and the Novel
ENGL 153 Critical Writing and Reading: Narrative
One of:
EESC 111 Earth and Environmental Science
GEOG 111 Introduction to Physical Geography: Climate & Vegetation
GEOG 121 Introduction to Physical Geography: Water & Landscapes
Year Two
GEOG 272 Introduction to Cartography, GIS and Remote Sensing
Two 200 level or higher GEOG or EESC courses
One of:
INDG 202 Okanagan Concepts and Frameworks
INDG 204 Indigenous Concepts and Frameworks
One of:
All 200 level or higher GEOG or EESC courses
ECON 271 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Environmental Management Option Required Courses:
Year One
GEOG 129 Human Geography: Resources, Development and Society
INDG 100 Introduction to Indigenous Studies
One of:
ENGL 150 Critical Writing and Reading: Poetry and Drama
ENGL 151 Critical Writing and Reading: Short Fiction and the Novel
ENGL 153 Critical Writing and Reading: Narrative
One of:
EESC 111 Earth and Environmental Science
GEOG 111 Introduction to Physical Geography: Climate & Vegetation
GEOG 121 Introduction to Physical Geography: Water & Landscapes
One of:
One of:
One of:
BIOL 122 Physiology of Multicellular Organisms
Year Two
ECON 271 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
GEOG 272 Introduction to Cartography, GIS and Remote Sensing
One 200 level or higher GEOG/EESC lab science course
One 200 level or higher GEOG/EESC course
One of:
INDG 202 Okanagan Concepts and Frameworks
INDG 204 Indigenous Concepts and Frameworks
One of:
All 200 level or higher GEOG or EESC courses
Environmental Science Option Required Courses:
Year One:
Open elective (3 credits)
One of:
ENGL 150 Critical Writing and Reading: Poetry and Drama
ENGL 151 Critical Writing and Reading: Short Fiction and the Novel
ENGL 153 Critical Writing and Reading: Narrative
One of:
EESC 111 Earth and Environmental Science
GEOG 111 Introduction to Physical Geography: Climate & Vegetation
GEOG 121 Introduction to Physical Geography: Water & Landscapes
One of:
One of:
Year Two:
GEOG 272 Introduction to Cartography, GIS and Remote Sensing
One 200 level or higher GEOG/EESC lab science course
One of:
INDG 202 Okanagan Concepts and Frameworks
INDG 204 Indigenous Concepts and Frameworks
One of:
One of:
ECON 271 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
GEOG 210 Introduction to Environmental Issues
Three of:
All 200 level or higher GEOG or EESC courses
Geographic Information Science Option
This option is under review and is not currently being offered.
Year One
GEOG 111 Introduction to Physical Geography: Climate & Vegetation
One of:
EESC 111 Earth and Environmental Science
GEOG 121 Introduction to Physical Geography: Water & Landscapes
One of:
ENGL 150 Critical Writing and Reading: Poetry and Drama
ENGL 151 Critical Writing and Reading: Short Fiction and the Novel
ENGL 153 Critical Writing and Reading: Narrative
One of:
ANTH 111 Introduction to Biological Anthropology
ANTH 121 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
One of:
Year Two
GEOG 272** Introduction to Cartography, GIS and Remote Sensing
GEOG 275 The Earth From Above: Remote Sensing of the Environment
GEOG 276** Geodatabases: Effective Data Management in a Spatial World
GEOG 277** Applied Geospatial Technology and Environmental Challenges
GEOG 278** Applied GIScience and Environmental Project Management
One of:
One of:
CMNS 235 Professional Writing and Communications
or
ENGL 235 Professional Writing and Communications
INDG 202 Okanagan Concepts and Frameworks
INDG 204 Indigenous Concepts and Frameworks
HIST 206 Indigenous Peoples and Colonization in Canada
Two of:
All 200 level or higher GEOG or EESC courses
ANTH 111 Introduction to Biological Anthropology
ANTH 121 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Graduation Requirements
The Diploma in Environmental Studies will be granted upon the successful completion of 60 prescribed credits, including at least eighteen (18) credits of 200-level courses as outlined below.