Ontario College Diploma in Urban Forestry Technician (Co-op)
Start Dates:
September 2023
- Program Highlights
- University of New Brunswick Pathway
- Other University Pathways
- Work Experience
- Common First Semester
- Why Choose Fleming?
- Is this You?
- Career Opportunities
- Indigenous Perspectives Designation
- Related Programs
- Minimum Admission Requirements
- Mature Students
- Tuition and Fees Detail
- Transfer Agreements
With the unique Urban Forestry Technician program you can make a difference, focusing on the conservation and sustainability of our urban forests and green spaces.
Program Highlights
2 years at Fleming College + 2 years at the University of New Brunswick = 1 unique opportunity to earn a college diploma and a university degree in just 4 years. Or graduate after two years with your diploma and get a head start on your career.
Urban forestry focuses on the care, protection, and maintenance of trees, forests and green spaces in towns and cities. It's caring for "the green in the gray."
As an urban forestry technician, you will require technical, applied skills, but you will also need the ability to work with people and communities. Your work will involve balancing, integrating, and linking the social, economic, environmental, and conservation-related issues associated with the urban forest and community spaces.
This unique 2 + 2 program blends applied and multidisciplinary skills to prepare for the demands of this emerging field. Professionals are needed who can communicate effectively with the public, understand and interpret legislation and policies, and have a broad perspective on planning and conservation. Upon graduation, you will be able to:
- Identify and appraise a wide range of species in the urban forest
- Maintain safe and healthy trees by applying principles of tree anatomy and physiology
- Recommend appropriate arboriculture practices
- Use a range of GIS tools and spatial technologies to collect, analyze and model the characteristics of urban forests
- Understand soil characteristics, watershed dynamics, and wildlife habitats that contribute to urban forest ecosystems
- Safely operate, maintain and troubleshoot equipment
- Demonstrate and advocate for an integrated approach to urban forestry management
- Interpret legislation, regulation and policies relating to urban forestry
- Plan, budget and implement business practices associated with the urban forestry practitioner
- Apply practices and principles of urban forest management in an ethical and professional manner.
You will complete three university-level courses (Communications, Math and Introductory Chemistry) during your diploma program at Fleming College, providing an opportunity to determine if pursuing a degree in this field at university is the right choice for you.
University of New Brunswick Pathway
This program was developed in collaboration with University of New Brunswick (UNB). As a result of this special partnership, the Urban Forestry Technician program is a pathway to a university degree. Students can spend two years at Fleming College and two years at University of New Brunswick (UNB) earning both a college diploma in Urban Forestry and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree with an Urban Forestry major. Urban Forestry Technician courses that are eligible for transfer to UNB require a grade of 70% or higher.
Download the agreement for more details
Other University Pathways
Eligible graduates of the Fleming Urban Forestry Technician diploma also are able to complete the Bachelor of Urban Forestry degree at University of British Columbia, with three additional years of study at UBC.
Graduates who meet admission/agreement requirements can complete a Bachelor of Science in Forestry at Lakehead University with a four-week summer transition program, and two years of additional study.
Work Experience
Earn while you learn during the paid, summer co-op working in urban forestry between semester 2 and 3.
Please note: In addition to paying tuition and fees for 4 semesters of study, students pay a co-op fee (approximately $558.00) for administrative costs associated with the co-op placement.
Common First Semester
Students in our Urban Forestry Technician Co-op diploma program and Urban Forestry certificate program take the same courses for first semester. You will acquire a base of knowledge and fundamental skills in this first semester. Once you have successfully completed the common first semester, you have the flexibility to switch into the other program if you choose to do so, starting in semester two in January, provided there is space available.
Why Choose Fleming?
The college's Forestry Technician program is the largest in Canada, and has produced highly sought after grads for more than 45 years. The college was also the first to offer certificate programs in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry.
Fleming College is well known for its commitment to student success through personalized support, programs and pathways that ladder to higher learning.
Is this You?
- You want to make a difference - through involvement with conservation and sustainability in a growth area of the environmental sector
- You recognize the value of hands-on skills/ minds-on skills
- You enjoy working with people and working outdoors
- You are ready for a challenge.
Career Opportunities
Program graduates will qualify for a broad range of positions with increasing levels of responsibility in supervisory and management roles. There is very little specific career training in urban forestry at the degree level in Canada, although urban forestry jobs have continued to grow. Within the Fleming-UNB program, graduates are eligible to become Registered Professional Foresters, which is a requirement for many of the higher-level urban forestry jobs. Employment opportunities include work with:
- City, county, provincial, federal and other government agencies
- Municipal parks, recreation and/or planning departments
- Environmental consulting companies
- Arboreta, botanical gardens and tree research centres
- Hydro and utility companies
- Corporations with multiple urban properties and private lands
- Private landscaping and arboriculture industries
Indigenous Perspectives Designation
The Indigenous Perspectives Designation (IPD) is an option available to students studying in the Urban Forestry Technician Co-op program. To qualify for the IPD, students must take and successfully complete GNED49 - Introduction to Indigenous Studies and GNED128 - Indigenous Knowledges, along with a minimum of four approved co-curricular Indigenous events or experiences that will be incorporated into the final portfolio assignment in GNED128. The student's transcript will indicate the IPD designation. Upon graduation, students with an IPD will have a strong foundational basis in Indigenous Studies, and a designation that will be marketable in the employment sector.
Related Programs
If you haven't decided on which program to take at Fleming College, and want to work with trees, also consider the Arboriculture, Urban Forestry, Forestry Technician, or Urban Forestry Micro-credential programs.
Minimum Admission Requirements
Students applying to Urban Forestry Technician (Co-op) must meet the following requirements:
- OSSD including Gr 12 C English
OSSD with majority of courses at College (C ) or Open (O) unless otherwise stated.
Grade 12 C courses will be accepted where Gr 11 C course requirements are listed.
Where College level courses are listed, U and M courses will be accepted.
Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Skillsmarker to assess your eligibility for admission. Additional testing or academic upgrading may be necessary to meet specific course requirements for this program.
Tuition and Fees Detail
Tuition and ancillary fees are subject to change without notice. The fees presented below reflect Fall start programs only for the current academic year. For details about the fee differences for other program start dates please refer to the Tuition and Fees Details Chart below.
View complete tuition and fees details
Domestic Students
| Semester 1 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Academic Supports | $28.93 |
| Alumni Fee | $18.24 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $64.63 |
| Career Services | $14.25 |
| Frost Recreation Building Fund | $15.30 |
| Health & Counselling | $65.17 |
| Health Plan | $290.00 |
| Information Technology Fee | $105.93 |
| Lindsay Recreation Complex Fee | $66.30 |
| Program Supply Fee | $6.00 |
| Provincial Advocacy | $2.70 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $12.26 |
| Student Association Governance | $27.47 |
| Student Association Pub | $11.41 |
| Student Association Student Experience | $17.91 |
| Student Association Transition Fee | $2.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $59.50 |
| Student Building Fund | $44.70 |
| Student One Card Fee | $10.00 |
| Tuition | $1,290.38 |
| Total | $2,153.63 |
| Semester 4 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Academic Supports | $28.93 |
| Alumni Fee | $18.24 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $64.63 |
| Career Services | $14.25 |
| Frost Recreation Building Fund | $15.30 |
| Health & Counselling | $65.17 |
| Health Plan | $290.00 |
| Information Technology Fee | $105.93 |
| Lindsay Recreation Complex Fee | $66.30 |
| Provincial Advocacy | $2.70 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $12.26 |
| Student Association Governance | $27.47 |
| Student Association Pub | $11.41 |
| Student Association Student Experience | $17.91 |
| Student Association Transition Fee | $2.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $59.50 |
| Student Building Fund | $44.70 |
| Student One Card Fee | $10.00 |
| Tuition | $1,290.38 |
| Total | $2,147.63 |
International Students
| Semester 1 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Academic Supports | $28.93 |
| Alumni Fee | $18.24 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $64.63 |
| Career Services | $14.25 |
| Frost Recreation Building Fund | $15.30 |
| Health & Counselling | $65.17 |
| Information Technology Fee | $105.93 |
| International Health Plan | $880.74 |
| Lindsay Recreation Complex Fee | $66.30 |
| Program Supply Fee | $6.00 |
| Provincial Advocacy | $2.70 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $12.26 |
| Student Association Governance | $27.47 |
| Student Association Pub | $11.41 |
| Student Association Student Experience | $17.91 |
| Student Association Transition Fee | $2.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $59.50 |
| Student Building Fund | $44.70 |
| Student One Card Fee | $10.00 |
| Tuition | $7,048.71 |
| Total | $8,502.70 |
| Semester 4 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Academic Supports | $28.93 |
| Alumni Fee | $18.24 |
| Athletics and Recreation | $64.63 |
| Career Services | $14.25 |
| Frost Recreation Building Fund | $15.30 |
| Health & Counselling | $65.17 |
| Information Technology Fee | $105.93 |
| International Health Plan | $880.74 |
| Lindsay Recreation Complex Fee | $66.30 |
| Provincial Advocacy | $2.70 |
| Student Achievement & Records | $12.26 |
| Student Association Governance | $27.47 |
| Student Association Pub | $11.41 |
| Student Association Student Experience | $17.91 |
| Student Association Transition Fee | $2.55 |
| Student Building Fee | $59.50 |
| Student Building Fund | $44.70 |
| Student One Card Fee | $10.00 |
| Tuition | $7,048.71 |
| Total | $8,496.70 |
The fees above are for the current academic year for international students. Please note that the fees reflect the Health Plan and Integrated Transportation (Sutherland Programs only) charges for the fall entry point. These charges are applied up front and provide service coverage for a full year September to August. The charges for the winter and spring terms are as follows:
| Health Plan | Intergrated Transportation | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | $880.74 | $365.00 | September to December |
| Winter | $807.79 | $255.50 | January to August |
| Spring | $367.47 | $142.35 | May to August |
Transfer Agreements
You may be able to use credits obtained at Fleming College to continue your postsecondary education in pursuit of a degree. The articulation and credit transfer agreements with our partner institutions are summarized below.
Athabasca University
Requirement
- Completion of the program.
Transfer Credit
- 30 out of a 120 credit degree.
- Refer to the articulation statement for further details.
To apply please see the Apply Alberta website.
For more information
Requirement
- Completion of the program.
Transfer Credit
- 30 out of a 120 credit degree.
- Refer to the articulation statement for further details.
To apply please see the Apply Alberta website.
For more information
Requirement
- Completion of the program.
Transfer Credit
- 30 out of a 120 credit degree.
- Refer to the articulation statement for further details.
To apply please see the Apply Alberta website.
For more information
Requirement
- Completion of the program.
Transfer Credit
- 30 out of a 120 credit degree.
- Refer to the articulation statement for further details.
To apply please see the Apply Alberta website.
For more information
Lakehead University
Requirement
- Minimum 70% cumulative program average.
- Required to complete the Lakehead University summer transition program.
Transfer Credit
- 10 out of a 20 credit degree.
- Refer to the articulation agreement for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Requirement
- Minimum 70% cumulative program average.
- Required to complete the Lakehead University summer transition program.
Transfer Credit
- 10 out of a 20 credit degree.
- Refer to the articulation agreement for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Ontario Tech University
Requirement
- Minimum mid-70% cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- 60 out of a 120 credit degree.
- Refer to ONTransfer.ca for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Requirement
- Minimum mid-70% cumulative program average.
- Completion of the Ontario Tech Commerce Bridge.
Transfer Credit
- 45 out of a 120 credit degree.
- Refer to ONTransfer.ca for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Seneca College
Requirement
- Minimum 70% cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- Entry into 4th semester standing in an 8-semester program.
To apply please see the Ontario Colleges website.
For more information
Trent University
Requirement
- Minimum 75% cumulative program average.
- Commenced studies at Fleming College since Fall 2018.
Transfer Credit
- 7 out of a 20 credit degree.
- Refer to ONTransfer.ca for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Colleges website.
For more information
Requirement
- Minimum 75% cumulative program average.
- Commenced studies at Fleming College since Fall 2018.
Transfer Credit
- 7 out of a 20 credit degree.
- Refer to ONTransfer.ca for further details.
To apply please see the Ontario Colleges website.
For more information
University of British Columbia
Requirement
- Minimum 70% cumulative program average.
- Complete the Indigenous Perspective Designation.
Transfer Credit
- 45 out of a 126-credit degree.
- Refer to the articulation agreement for further details.
To apply please see the University of British Columbia's admission website.
For more information
University of New Brunswick
Requirement
- Minimum 70% cumulative program average.
- Minimum 60% in each course for the course to be eligible for transfer credit.
Transfer Credit
- 65 out of a 139 credit degree.
To apply please see the University of New Brunswick's admissions website.
For more information
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