Bachelor of Arts -Geography and Environmental Studies (Major)

at Thompson Rivers University - Kamloops Campus Canada

Students in the Visual Arts at Thompson Rivers University can have the best of two worlds: courses can be counted toward a Certificate, a Diploma and toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Arts with a Minor in Visual Arts, or other university degrees at the same time. The Certificate gives students an introduction to current art practices, in 2D and 3D media, with emphasis on 2D design, drawing, painting, colour theory, printmaking, photography, 3D design, sculpture and ceramics. The Certificate is useful on a resume for job applications or entrance to academic programs that require some practical knowledge in visual arts.

The TRU Visual Arts Diploma program consists of 30 credits of first and second year Visual Arts studio classes, usually taken over 2 years, all of which may be taken singly, if desired.

Of interest to students who have a non-business degree, and who want to return to university for one or two years to acquire a specialty in a functional area of business or economics in order to enhance their employment opportunities. Students with a first degree in business, but who want to change their area of focus, may complete a post-baccalaureate diploma as well.

Developing the entrepreneurial abilities and spirit of Canadians is critical in generating a dynamic economy that can compete globally and provide a growing standard of living. The risks of owning a small business are significant and the hours are generally quite long, but there is no better feeling than that which comes from launching a successful new business venture and being respected by one’s fellow citizens for making a contribution to the local community. Opportunities for new venture creation in Canada are very good due to a vibrant economy, a stable political environment, and close proximity to the US market. For creative people with a strong work ethic and a lower aversion to risk, a career as an entrepreneur may be the right choice.

Entrepreneurship Majors will learn to research new business ideas, prepare formal business plans, secure initial financing, and manage small businesses on an on-going basis. After graduation, it is hoped that many students will start-up their own ventures after acquiring some valuable industry experience and saving needed equity capital. A few will also return home to work in the family firm with the hope of eventually taking over.

Learn from strong teaching and research expertise about sustainable urban and rural landscapes, environmental geography, economic geography, hydrology, climatology, geomorphology and emerging geomatic technologies, including Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

Train as a therapist specializing in cardiopulmonary disease prevention and education. Learn to assess and treat disorders of the lungs, heart, and vascular system in this professional medical program, the only one of its kind in BC. The three-year RT diploma program includes a one-year clinical at various hospitals.

Respiratory therapy is an allied health profession devoted to the scientific application of technology in order to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, management and care of patients with cardiopulmonary and associated disorders.

The Marketing Major is a challenging program that prepares students to assume many of the most important positions in business. Marketers, as they like to call themselves, are a company's creative force. Focusing on the marketing mix or four Ps of product, price, promotion, and place, they devise potentially profitable new product or service ideas that meet the needs of specific target markets, and then develop and execute the detailed plans needed for their implementation. Other employees in accounting, finance, or human resource management simply assist marketing professionals in this primary task and depend on them to generate the revenues needed for survival.

After graduation, students secure employment with many types of organizations such as advertising firms, consumer product companies, retail chains, wholesalers, media outlets like TV or radio stations, auto dealerships, tourist resorts, government ministries, and non-profits like hospitals. An increasing number have also been successful in starting their own small businesses, while a few have gone on to earn graduate degrees in hopes of pursuing careers in teaching or research at the college or university level.

Worldwide economic growth is rapid and there is an urgent demand for management practices that balance financial gains with sustainability. Businesses across the public and private sectors are increasingly incorporating these considerations into their planning. Managers who understand them will be at the forefront of leading change, and TRU’s master’s degrees in environmental economics and management prepare graduates to make major contributions to this growing field.

Thompson Rivers University's new master's degrees in environmental economics and management prepare graduates to make major contributions to the field of economic sustainable management.

Two program options: same core content, choose your specialization
Both two-year programs provide graduates with a broad knowledge of the business environment and specialized environmental economics and sustainability knowledge. In addition to the shared core content, each program offers a specialization:

• Master in Environmental Economics and Management (MEEM)
• Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management (MScEEM)

Program structure

• Both degrees are divided into two parts:
  • Year One: Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA)
  • Year Two: MEEM or MScEEM degree

Year 1 Graduate Diploma in Business Administration - two semesters
The purpose of the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA) is to ensure all students, regardless of their educational backgrounds, have the business knowledge and skills to successfully apply the economic sustainable management principles learned. Students must complete the six courses in the GDBA to be admitted to the masters degree, but may receive a course waiver for some or all of the GDBA courses based on their previous academic record. Applicants with a four-year business degree from an acceptable institution may be eligible to proceed directly to the masters degree.

Year 2 Master in Environmental Economics and Management (MEEM)
A course-based program that prepares graduates to make major contributions to the field of economic sustainable management. They acquire a broad understanding of the business environment, advanced management skills and specialized knowledge in the emerging area of sustainability.

One-year option

• If you’ve recently graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration or Bachelor of Commerce, you may be eligible to enter directly into the second year of the program and complete your graduate degree in 12 months.

Learn the basics of working in the field of tourism while developing skills for resort and hotel management. Topics include planning, marketing, and services, plus engagement with culture and the natural environment. Learn about hotel operations, information technology, event management and tourism entrepreneurship.

Post-baccalaureate diploma will be of interest to students who have a non-business degree, and who want to return to university for one or two years to acquire a specialty in a functional area of business in order to enhance their employment opportunities. Students with a first degree in business, but who want to change their area of focus, may complete a post-baccalaureate diploma as well.

Post-baccalaureate diplomas are also valuable to international students who wish to come to Canada to learn English, gain exposure to the culture, and study in a compressed format. Many who do so have already studied business in their own country and have received transfer credit that reduces the length of the program

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies is a two-year degree program which students generally enter after two years, or 60 credits, of undergraduate study. The program allows you to design your own customized curriculum.

Students who want a more flexible and varied learning experience in their university degree program, and those who are not yet sure of a career path, can complete a wide range of courses during their first two years of study before entering the BIS degree. This allows students to explore their interests, passions and potential career options without having to plan a specific major within an arts, science or business degree program.

The BIS degree is also designed to build on two-year diplomas and associate degrees offered across British Columbia and throughout Canada, and can normally be completed in four semesters of full-time study.