Chair of the Natural Science and Environmental Studies Graduate Committee:  Dr. Joselito M. Arocena

 

Geography
Kevin Hall, Professor (Geography)
Greg Halseth, Professor, and Canada Research Chair, Rural and Small Town Studies (Geography)
James Randall, Professor (International Studies)
Gail Fondahl, Associate Professor (Geography)

Neil Hanlon, Associate Professor (Geography)

Debra Straussfogel, Associate Professor (Geography)
Roger Wheate, Associate Professor (Geography)
Catherine Nolin, Assistant Professor (Geography)
Jueyi Sui, Assistant Professor (Environmental Engineering)
Orland Wilkerson, Assistant Professor (Environmental Planning)

Deborah Thien, Adjunct Professor

 

Environmental Studies
Kevin Hall, Professor (Geography)
Annie Booth, Associate Professor (Environmental Arts)
John Curry, Associate Professor (Environmental Planning)

Gail Fondahl, Associate Professor (Geography)

Neil Hanlon, Associate Professor (Geography)

Loraine Lavalee, Assistant Professor (Psychology)

Eric Rapaport, Assistant Professor (Environmental Planning)

Jueyi Sui, Assistant Professor (Environmental Engineering)

Orland Wilkerson, Assistant Professor (Environmental Planning)

Ray Chipeniuk, Adjunct Professor (Environmental Planning) 

Deborah Thien, Adjunct Professor (Geography) 

 

Tourism
John Shultis, Associate Professor (Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management)
Pamela Wright, Associate Professor (Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management)
Anne Hardy, Assistant Professor (Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management)

Website: http://www.unbc.ca/nres

The Master of Arts in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies [MA(NRES)] offers students the opportunity to pursue studies of the social dimensions of human-environment interactions from a community-based or regional perspective. The degree is distinguished by its focus on human perspectives on historical and contemporary resource and environmental issues. It encourages the study of the social, cultural, ethical, economic and political dynamics of resource and land use, and environmental change in northern ecosystems.

Students must choose from the following areas of study:

• Environmental Studies
  
• Geography
• Tourism

All students must participate in a graduate seminar course (NRES 704-1.5) at least twice during their course of studies, and complete a research design and methods course (NRES 705-3).These required courses will provide students with an informed, integrated base for understanding multi-faceted resource and environmental issues. Elective courses will provide students with the option to pursue their specialized interests.

Candidates must complete a minimum of 9 elective credit hours at graduate level (i.e., at or above the 600 level) that emphasize the human dimensions of resource or environmental issues. A maximum of 3 credits from independent studies can be counted towards the elective requirement. Specific details of course work will be determined by the research area undertaken by each student. The supervisory committee will ensure the appropriate selection of elective courses, and may require a student to complete more than 9 credits if weaknesses in the student's background exist (including undergraduate prerequisites for graduate courses) or if additional courses are required for professional accreditation.

The MA(NRES) degree also requires the writing and defense of an independent research thesis (NRES 794-12).

Summary:

Core Courses	6 credits
Elective Courses	9 credits
MA Thesis	12 credits
Total Required	27 credits

Recommended Progression

The normal time for completion of the MA(NRES) is two academic years. While this is the recommended time line, it may be adjusted at the discretion of the supervisory committee to suit a particular student's research and program needs.

The Research Design and Methods course (NRES 705-3) will be offered annually in the September Semester. Students will normally enrol in the Research Design and Methods course in Year I of their program.

This timing will allow students to pursue their area of specialization with elective courses during the September Semester, in order to develop an interest-specific framework within which to pose methodological questions for the thesis proposal. It will also allow those students lacking a sufficient background in statistics to meet the course prerequisite.

The Graduate Seminar (NRES 704-1.5) will be offered during all September and January Semesters. Students will take NRES 704-1.5 at least twice.

Electives may be taken at any time during Years I and II. The sequencing of electives will be determined by the student in discussion with the supervisory committee. Over the September and January Semesters of Year I, the student, under the direction of the supervisory committee, will develop a thesis proposal. By the end of the second semester, the student should have successfully defended the thesis proposal to the supervisory committee. This will allow the student to undertake the collection of data during the Summer of Year I. It is expected that the student will have successfully defended the thesis by the end of Year II.

Admission, Regulations and Committee Structures

Admission Requirements

In addition to the admission application requirements outlined in Section 1.0 of the Graduate Academic Calendar, acceptance to the MA program will be contingent upon the prospective student finding a member of the faculty to serve as her/his supervisor. Applicants must also provide a completed Teaching Assistantship Application and a completed Funding Worksheet. Both forms are included with the application material for this program. Normally, at least two of the three letters of recommendation, exclusive of any letter provided by an intended supervisor, must be from individuals who are able to comment on the applicant's academic and research potential.

 

Application deadlines are found in this calendar under "Semester Dates" or online at: www.unbc.ca/calendar/graduate, also under "Semester Dates." The Natural Resources and Environmental Studies MA Program accepts students for the September and January Semesters.

For additional information about graduate admissions or to download application materials, go to the Graduate Programs website at www.unbc.ca/graduateprograms.

 

Transfer Students

On the recommendation of the program concerned, the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs may accept courses taken at other institutions for credit toward a UNBC graduate program.

Normal Time Required for Completion

Normally, the degree should be completed in two years. Part-time students would usually take longer to complete the degree depending on their personal circumstances, and the nature of their research involvement.

Committee Structure

Students will be advised by a supervisory committee consisting of at least three members, including the academic supervisor who will serve as the chair of the committee. To ensure multi-disciplinarity, at least one of the committee members must come from outside the supervisor's program. The committee will be struck during the student's first term of study.