Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology - Mechanical Design Option

at British Columbia Institute of Technology - Burnaby Campus Canada

Are you passionate about working outdoors and interested in the management of trees, vegetation & forest ecosystems? The Forest and Natural Areas Management (FNAM) program is a two-year diploma program with a focus on forestry, vegetation management, arboriculture for supporting sustainable community development in both rural and urban environments.

The program gives you a strong foundation in ecology, earth sciences, mapping, surveying & measurements. You will learn skills and training in silviculture, forest inventory, forest engineering, fire & forest health management, and urban forestry. Our programs unique focus natural areas in urban & interface environments provide you with skills in the management of trees, invasive species & soil resources. The breadth of technical and field-based skills you acquire also relevant to many other natural resource sectors.

Why is forest management important?
Management of forest resources in today’s world means managing forest ecosystems. Forestry practices must integrate field skills, scientific knowledge and technology in an ecological framework, to produce various goods and services. It involves assessing the health of forests with respect to insects and disease, planning revegetation strategies, and using technology to map and track forest inventories. But it is also about considering the interests of other resource users, while ensuring future generations can equally benefit from our forests. Forest ecosystems provide major economic, social & ecological benefits to communities, businesses & First Nations throughout British Columbia. Almost 60% of the land in British Columbia is forested – stewardship of these lands is no small feat. Are you up for the challenge?

What is natural areas management?
With increasing urbanization, forests and natural areas in and around our communities are growing in importance. People value natural areas for recreation, aesthetics and psychological well-being. But natural areas also provide important ecological services, like habitat for wildlife, promotion of biodiversity, storm-water flood mitigation & heat wave moderation. Whether you’re assessing urban trees, reducing wildfire risk around communities, or managing invasive plants, the role of a natural areas manager is diverse. It also requires an integration of skills, from community planning, to vegetation management & urban forestry.

What are some key skills FNAM students learn?

• Identify, describe, measure and interpret ecosystems and associated components including landforms, vegetation, soils, geomorphology, aquatic ecosystems, forest stand attributes and wildlife habitat
• Collect field data in both urban and rural environments and create technical reports, spreadsheets and digital maps using industry standard software (such as GIS & GPS) including the use of leading technology
• Apply vegetation management techniques for application in wildland and urban silviculture areas
• Analyze vegetation symptoms that relate to insects and diseases
• Design and implement sampling plans and techniques for resource inventories
• Assist in wildland and urban interface forest fire activities including suppression and hazard assessment
• Apply forest engineering principles to meet the objectives of operational plans and forest management objectives
• Communicate effectively in all aspects of natural resource management activities
• Apply principles of ethics and professionalism to day-to-day activities

The Telecommunications Systems Technician program emphasizes hands-on, practical training with equipment typically encountered in industry.
Telecommunications Systems Technician, Telecommunication Networks Option graduates install, maintain and repair telecommunications equipment. Through theoretical and practical study, this program will prepare you for a career in this exciting and dynamic industry. Skills in the telecommunications industry are in high demand. If you like working with computers and data transfer equipment, if you enjoy the challenge of always learning something new, and if you want to be part of a growing industry, the Telecommunications Systems Technician, Telecommunication Networks Option program can open the door to a variety of exciting careers.

Why BCIT?

• Great Faculty - Our instructors are committed to keeping their skills current, and are continuously upgrading their skills through advanced industry training, so that you will be ready to work on the latest equipment.
• Excellent Labs - You will work on the latest equipment, studying the theory and practical aspects of telephone, data, radio frequency (RF) and fibre optics communications systems gives you job-ready, practical skills.
• Fantastic Career Choices - Your BCIT diploma opens the door to an exciting career as a technician - a technical expert who works in a team to solve problems and is relied upon to install, maintain and repair telecommunications equipment.
• Degree Completion - With your BCIT diploma and two years of related work experience, you can enter the Bachelor of Technology Management degree program at BCIT. The Bachelor of Technology Management degree is a part-time program, so you can continue working while you further your education.

If you have completed a BCIT Accounting, Finance, or Financial Planning diploma, you can earn your Bachelor of Accounting (BAcc) at BCIT. This degree will provide you with an academic credential leading to a CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) designation, a MPAcc (Master of Professional Accounting), or an MBA program. Students completing this program will acquire the key technical, interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills demanded by employers.

The Bachelor of Accounting consists of eight Advanced Technical Specialty courses and 36 credits of General Education. Full-time students also have the option to complete a Workplace Education component.

Industrial Instrumentation and Process Control Technicians apply, install, repair, calibrate and tune those measurement and control instruments that are used in industrial manufacturing processes. Students will learn to program computerized control, programmable logic controllers, and microprocessor instrumentation and install and maintain all of the field instruments that these computerized controllers rely on. These job skills are essential for employment in instrumentation.

The Program
The Industrial Instrumentation and Process Control Technician program stresses practical, hands-on experience to complement theory. This program will appeal to learners who are interested in working with mechanical and electronic equipment.

Half of the students' time is spent performing hands-on activities using the same equipment that is found in industry. The result is a very job-ready graduate, who can step into a position in one of many related fields, or transition into an apprenticeship at an advanced level with an industry sponsor.

The BCIT Food Technology Diploma program trains students in the basics of food technology, including food processing, quality control, food testing, and analysis. Graduate with all the practical skills you need to start your career.
At BCIT, we believe in real life experience. In this program, you get to interact first-hand with industry sponsors who mentor and support students in getting relevant food technology skills.

Who it's for
This program is for individuals who:

• Enjoy working both individually and in a team environment
• Have a passion for food and the food industry
• Are interested in developing their critical thinking skills
• Have a high school diploma or higher level of education

Are you interested and excited about the field of marketing, but not sure in which option to specialize?
The first year undeclared option in Marketing Management allows students to explore a variety of marketing topics, gain a general business education, and attend industry events in Year 1 before deciding on a marketing concentration.

A very limited number of seats will be available for undecided students who will like to explore their first year in the marketing program prior to selecting one of four specializations: Entrepreneurship, Marketing Communications, Professional Sales, and Tourism Management.

Program Highlights

• One year option that leads directly into a Year 2 specialization: Marketing Communications, Tourism Management, Professional Sales, or Entrepreneurship
• Real-world learning with professional instructors
• Business consultant project and practicum provide hands-on experience
• After graduation, transition to the workforce or apply to complete your Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree at BCIT with full-time or part-time evening courses

Visit the Program Matrix to learn about the courses and the Program Entry page to start your marketing career today.

The Bachelor of Technology Construction Management (BTech CM) degree program equips students with the skills necessary to effectively manage construction projects of varying complexity and size. The program focuses on developing management, technical and interpersonal skills, while introducing practical tools and current approaches used in the industry to plan, manage and track construction projects from conception to completion.

The BTech CM program is a degree completion program – it provides years 3 and 4 of a 4-year bachelor’s degree. Students can enter the program through a few different pathways; including related or unrelated degree or diploma programs, trade certification and through demonstrated work experience in the construction industry. Students broaden their existing knowledge and skills through BCIT’s unique applied learning environment. Our approach, which includes collaboration with industry, ensures that the program is responsive and can adapt to emerging needs, trends, and industry issues.

The BTech CM program recognizes the wide range of roles available to construction managers in today’s competitive and technologically advancing construction industry. Graduates of the program are able to advance diverse career opportunities, coordinating and managing projects for general contractors, trade contractors, developers, owners, municipalities, public sector institutions and private clients, to name a few.

With the 3D Modeling, Art and Animation diploma program, you will develop the skills necessary to enter the game, film, and television industries as a 3D Artist. You will get hands on experience with the entire 3D workflow including modeling, animating, texturing, rigging, lighting, rendering, and compositing. You will be trained by working industry professionals from the game, film, and television industries providing the most up to date methods and techniques used today. In the last term, you will apply all of these learned skills, alongside direction and feedback from your instructors, to produce a marketable and appealing demo reel to get you a job in your chosen career path.

Mechanical Manufacturing is one of the three options in Mechanical Engineering Technology. The Mechanical Engineering Technology program is a two-year program designed to provide graduates with a solid understanding of the principles of mechanical engineering and to develop problem-solving skills. Following the completion of a common first year, students select one of four areas of specialization. All students in the program receive training in engineering design, computer applications, computer aided design (CAD), manufacturing processes, communications, materials science and applied mathematics in addition to their selected specialty courses.

Graduates of the mechanical engineering program possess a variety of skills that are valued by employers. Mechanical engineering technologists find employment in broad range of industries and a variety of roles. Graduates are employed in design, application engineering, technical sales, manufacturing, plant engineering, construction and inspection.

The option
Manufacturing requires knowledge of production technologies, process automation, and material properties as well as modern manufacturing management strategies such as Material Resource Planning (MRP). To stay competitive, modern manufacturers have to participate in “design for manufacture.” It is the role of the manufacturing technologist to be involved in the entire design and production cycle of a product. This program provides its graduates with the necessary knowledge to embark on a rewarding career in mechanical manufacturing.

Students participate in an industry-sponsored project in the second year of the program. The industry project is an integral program component required for completion and certification. Students may be required to participate in work experience activities at the industry sponsor’s regular place of business.

All mechanical engineering technology students receive some exposure to topics from each of the options. Enrolment into each second-year option may be limited to ensure optimal class sizes. Regardless of the option chosen, all graduates will possess sufficient knowledge and skills to pursue career opportunities over the wide range of industries covered by mechanical engineering technology.

The Telecommunications Systems Technician, Radio Systems Option program will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to work with radio frequency (RF) electronics equipment. It is the only program of its kind in British Columbia. Through theoretical and practical study, you will develop the skills needed to install, maintain and repair RF and related electronics equipment. The program emphasizes hands-on, practical training using equipment typically encountered in industry.

Skills in the wireless communications industry are in high demand. If you like working with computers and electronic equipment, if you have good analytical skills, and if you want to work in an exciting, dynamic industry, the Telecommunications Systems Technician, Radio Systems Option program can open the door to a variety of exciting careers.

A BCIT diploma shows potential employers that you are accomplished, focused, and serious about your chosen career path. Employers know that you have both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and that you can start contributing right away. Both graduates and employers say that BCIT was extremely helpful in preparing grads for work.

Why BCIT?

• Great Faculty - You will learn from experienced instructors with a demonstrated interest in teaching. Our instructors have worked in the industry and maintain solid local connections through student practicum placements and through the program advisory committee.
• Excellent Labs - Hands-on experience with up-to-date well equipped electronics labs helps you to understand the concepts that you learn and gives you job-ready, practical skills.
• Fantastic Career Choices - You could be working for an end-user of RF equipment doing bench testing, troubleshooting and repair of critical communications equipment. For example, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the RCMP have hired our graduates to keep their communication systems running. You could be working for a manufacturer of RF-related electronics equipment in a quality assurance or service technician role. You might work for a service provider, installing, configuring and maintaining voice and data communication systems, or entertainment systems based on cable and satellite communications.
• Degree Completion - With your BCIT diploma and two years of related work experience, you can enter the Bachelor of Technology Management degree program at BCIT. The Bachelor of Technology Management degree is a part-time program, so you can continue working while you further your education.