The major in Wildlife and Fisheries at UNBC is the only degree of its kind in Canada. It gives students the theoretical background they need to work as a biologist, but it also exposes students to extensive hands-on and practical labs and exercises. Consequently, a student graduating from this degree has a sound biological background for pursuing post-graduate studies as well as a degree that can lead them directly into the wildlife or fisheries profession. The relatively small class sizes in upper-division courses provide an ideal learning environment. Faculty teaching the courses for this degree are of extremely high calibre – many of them have won UNBC teaching and research awards. As a student in the degree, you benefit greatly from taking courses from faculty who are actively engaged in wildlife and fisheries research and who can bring examples and experience from their research to the classroom and lab.
To be able to work for the government (either employed by or as a consultant for) in British Columbia, everyone should be accredited as a Professional Biologist. Currently, a student taking all of the courses needed to complete the Wildlife and Fisheries Major at UNBC should meet the education requirements for eligibility as a Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio) in BC. Because the accreditation is done for individual applicants by British Columbia’s College of Applied Biology, and no degree or major at any university is accredited in advance by the College of Applied Biology, students must apply to the College of Applied Biology following their graduation.
Learning does not stop in the classroom. UNBC has one of only five Student Chapters of The Wildlife Society (TWS) in Canada (the only one in British Columbia), and the only one that emphasizes fisheries as well as wildlife. The TWS is the professional organization supporting wildlife biology and management in North America. The
UNBC Fish & Wildlife Student Chapter of TWS attempts to expose students to issues and activities related to wildlife and fisheries that go beyond course learning.
