Ontario College Diploma in Urban Forestry Technician Co-op
Start Dates:
September 2020
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
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 Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission. Additional testing or academic upgrading may be necessary to meet specific course requirements for this program.
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
- Successful completion of 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
- Successful completion of 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
- Successful completion of 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
- Successful completion of 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 attend and successfully complete a 4-week 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 attend and successfully complete a 4-week 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.
- Successful completion of the Ontario Tech Commerce Bridge program.
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
Requirement
- Minimum mid-70% cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- 18 credit diploma.
- Note: No transfer credits awarded.
To apply please see the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website.
For more information
Trent University
Requirement
- Minimum 75% cumulative program average.
- Must have commenced studies 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.
- Must have commenced studies 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 60% in all credits attempted.
- Minimum 65% cumulative program average.
Transfer Credit
- 42 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.
Transfer Credit
- 67 out of a 145 credit degree.
To apply please see the University of New Brunswick's admissions website.
For more information
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