UNBC student in the forest looking at a compass

Natural Resources Planning

Engage with some of the key questions facing our society and economy. What are the challenges that come with how we use our natural resources? Who benefits? Who decides how they are used?

This major provides you with an understanding of the complexities of including the natural and cultural environment in planning decision-making and the knowledge to develop creative solutions.

Gain the skills and experience you need to help communities and regions to set priorities for our relationship with the natural world, and to help implement those priorities through decision-making.

Degree
Bachelor of Planning (BPl)
Campus
Prince George
Credits
120 credits,  4 Years,
Part-time available
Experiential Learning
Co-op
Honours Option
No
Intakes
Jan,  May,  Sep

Program Details

This program addresses both project-level and large-scale environmental planning issues that occur in developments that impact the natural environment. 

Learn about provincial land use planning, environmental assessment, watershed planning and integrated resource management. 

The geographic and cultural context of Prince George and northern British Columbia provides you with a living laboratory to explore concepts, exchange ideas and discover solutions. Simply by living in the region, your life experiences will inform what and how you learn about the lives of people living in northern communities and First Nations, the impacts of resource extraction on the landscape and these people, and the need for new approaches to addressing long-standing social and environmental issues.

In addition to classes offered through the School of Environmental Planning, you will develop an interdisciplinary understanding of the world we live in through courses in biology, geography, environmental science, First Nations studies, forestry, economics, international studies, and outdoor recreation and tourism management. 

Program Website Academic Calendar

Career Paths

  • Registered Professional Planner
  • Environmental planner
  • Sustainability planner
  • Project manager
  • Planning consultant
  • Local economic development professional
  • Provincial or federal civil service

Why at UNBC

  • Fast track your career as a Registered Professional Planner by earning a degree from British Columbia’s first accredited undergraduate planning program
  • Study in northern British Columbia, the centre of the province’s resource economy
  • Examine the multi-dimensional aspects of environmental planning and management, from differences in cultures and values to reconciling diverse communities' needs
  • Gain practical career skills by completing one or more internships and engaging in applied, skills-based learning
  • Gain valuable insight into the planning and decision-making processes in a variety of sectors
UNBC motto

'En Cha Huná

UNBC’s motto, from the Dakelh (Carrier) Elders, reminds us that all people have a voice and a viewpoint. Interpreted as “respecting all forms of life,” 'En Cha Huná encapsulates the spirit of academic freedom, respect for others, and willingness to recognize different perspectives.

Admission Requirements

High School  Requirements (applicable for B.C. and Yukon)

Overall average of 65% minimum in the following:

  • English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12
  • Approved Academic Grade 12 Course
  • Approved Academic Grade 12 Course
  • Approved Academic Grade 12 Course
  • Additional Grade 12 Course (Elective or Academic)

View the full list of Approved Academic Grade 12 Courses

More high school admission requirements (including out-of-province, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement)

Transfer Requirements

  • Have attempted at least 15 credit hours of post-secondary transferrable coursework from a recognized institution
  • Be in good academic standing at the transfer institution
  • Have a 2.0 GPA from the most recent 30 credits prior to transfer
  • For the purposes of verifying any outstanding first-year prerequisites, high school transcripts may be requested

Detailed transfer requirements

Tuition and Fees

Approximate Costs per Academic Year

(30 credit hours, 10 courses)

  Domestic International
Tuition* $5,870 $24,770
Student Fees* $1,185 $1,185
Books* $1,700 $1,700

* Tuition, fees and books are subject to change and vary among programs.

Tuition and Fees

Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards

View the hundreds of available scholarships, bursaries, and awards.

  • 1 in 4 students receive a UNBC financial award.
  • $3,500,000 in financial awards given each year.
Awards and Financial Aid Information for Indigenous Students