Environmental Sciences Diploma: Renewable Resource Reclamation Major

Location(s): Main Campus (Vermilion), Face-to-Face (F2F)

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Even renewable energy can have an environmental footprint. Learn how you can lessen that impact with Lakeland’s renewable resource reclamation major. First, you’ll build science-based reclamation knowledge and skills. Those are in-demand industry skills Lakeland College has provided its graduates for over a half century. Included are how to recognize, manage and decrease soil, water and other disturbances related to building energy infrastructure; manage soils, vegetation, and water on disturbed sites. This unique diploma also gives you insight into the basics of renewable energy. You’ll also explore 2 of these specific introductory courses in wind energy, solar energy, geoenergy exchange installation or biofuels. Most courses are face-toface; however, the 3 renewable energy courses are online. They are part of our sustainable energy technician diploma program. Between 1st and 2nd year you have the option of doing a workplace practicum. It’s a chance to put your knowledge and job skills to use in industry. As a program grad your role in industry can be in planning and reclaiming solar, wind and geothermal projects.

Graduation Requirements:

Students completing requirements with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 will be awarded an Environmental Sciences: Renewable Resources Reclamation major diploma.

Curriculum:

Year I Required Courses

BI 110 - Ecology & Field Biology 3 Credits
BI 205 - Limnology: Lakes & Rivers 3 Credits
BI 270 - Managing Rangeland Ecosystems 3 Credits
BO 120 - Field Botany & Plant Taxonomy 3 Credits
CO 166 - Scientific Writing & Computer Applications 3 Credits
MA 202 - Statistics & Data Management 3 Credits
SC 110 - Inorganic Chemistry 3 Credits
SC 125 - Environmental Mapping & GIS 3 Credits
SC 200 - Organic Chemistry 3 Credits
SO 210 - Introductory Soil Science 3 Credits

Total: 30 Credits

Year II Required Courses

*choose either RC 204 or RC 205

ESC 423 - Fundamentals of Remediation 3 Credits
RC 204 - Introduction to Wind Energy 3 Credits *
RC 205 - Introduction to Solar Energy 3 Credits *
SC 281 - Invasive Plant Ecology and Management 3 Credits
SC 301 - Applied Hydrology 3 Credits
SC 307 - Environmental Site Assessment 3 Credits
SC 311 - Resource Industries 3 Credits
SO 320 - Soil Conservation 3 Credits
SO 340 - Soil Classification and Landforms 3 Credits
SO 350 - Soil Health & Fertility 3 Credits

Total: 30 Credits

Optional Course Offered Between Year 1 and 2

*If taken, students can choose to opt out of SC 301 in year 2.

EPR 200 - Environmental Science Practicum 3 Credits

Notes:

Applied Skills:

Hands-on learning is emphasized through training in the field and labs class and laboratory activities focused primarily on grassland, forested, and aquatic systems.

Soil Identification and Classification
Soil Conservation practices
Wellsite Reclamation Criteria
ArcMap GIS & GPS operation
Map reading & aerial photography interpretation
Chemical analysis
Plant identification & keying
Weed identification & management techniques
Rangeland ecology & management
Phase I & II site assessments
Risk assessment
Drilling waste management
Technical writing & statistical literacy
Policy related to renewable energy development
Knowledge of renewable energy systems
Wind and solar energy potential

EP Certification:

Lakeland College’s Environmental Sciences Diploma is nationally accredited through the Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada). Upon registration, each of our graduates is recognized as an Environmental Professional in training (EPt) by the Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board (CECAB) of ECO Canada. Because our program is one of a select group of accredited programs, graduates can apply for full EP designation after just four years of relevant Canadian environmental experience.

Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA) Certification:

Graduates of this program may qualify for membership in the AIA and are eligible to article as a Registered Technologist in Agrology (RT(Ag)).

ECO Canada Certification

This program provides preparation for you to become an Environmental Professional (EP) with ECO Canada. As a diploma graduate you are eligible to apply to be an Environmental Professional in Training (Ept) and can upgrade to an EP after you have completed 5 years of relevant experience.

Career Opportunities:

Your career path could be planning or reclaiming a renewable energy site. For example, your role could be with a company hired to do the reclamation or with government or organizations that oversee the process.

Specific jobs could include:

reclamation consultant
industry reclamation specialist
renewable resource development consultant
environmental inspector
government auditor and approver

While your major focuses on renewable resource reclamation, the skills you learn could be applied in reclamation activities related to oil and gas, mining, agriculture and forestry as well as government or environmental agencies.

Opportunities for Further Study

Transfers to other programs are in the process of negotiations and will currently be supported on a case by case basis.