About this Program

Wetlands are highly productive, diverse environments that provide critical habitat for specialist plants and wildlife, mitigate flooding, remove excess nutrients from water and provide natural fire breaks in the landscape. Though wetlands are protected and regulated in Canada, the loss and degradation of wetland habitats have been extensive.

The Wetland Delineation and Assessment (WDA) non-credit, micro-credential courses address an urgent need for rigorous, unbiased training on the assessment and delineation of wetland boundaries, with topics including wetland classification, functions and values, impact assessment and wetland policy.

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Designed for

• Professionals with a university degree or college diploma in a science or engineering discipline
• Individuals seeking professional development (e.g., for a professional association or society)
• Practicing resource professionals: agrologists, biologists, engineers, hydrologists, industrial managers, foresters, technologists and planners
• Land managers employed in forestry, agriculture, fisheries, hydrology, water treatment, land development, and wildfire resiliency
• Different levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal, and Indigenous)
• Conservation organizations and agencies
• Individuals seeking employment in an environmental field
• Post-secondary students seeking to gain practical experience

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Program Structure and Delivery

The WDA micro-credential consists of online and in-person learning activities, delivered through the following two courses that stack to earn a credential:

• WDA 1: Fundamentals of Wetland Delineation and Assessment
  (Online)

  • Access to the online learning platform opens March 11, 2024 for participants to complete an orientation (1 hour) by April 5, 2024.
  • Optional pre-readings, including materials on hydrology, plants and soils can be completed between March 11 – April 5, 2024.
  • Online lectures will be delivered using Zoom web conferencing on:
    • April 8 – 10, 2024 | From 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Pacific
  • Additional online, asynchronous activities (3 hours) to be completed between April 11-19, 2024.

• WDA2: Wetland Delineation and Assessment Field Training and Capstone Project
  (In-Person)

  • Field sites are in Kelowna and Vernon
    • April 22 – 23, 2024 | From 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Pacific
    • If the April 22 – 23, 2024 field session doesn’t work for your schedule, please email us at cpe.ubco@ubc.ca to be added to the waitlist for a possible second field session on April 24 – 25, 2024
  • Additional online, asynchronous components are to be completed before and after the fieldwork:
    • A mandatory field safety module (2 hours) due April 18, 2024.
    • A graded capstone project (6-8 hours) due May 24, 2024

Participants must earn 76% or higher on all course components to pass. Course materials will be available through Canvas Catalog.

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Courses

WDA1: Fundamentals of Wetland Delineation and Assessment

This is the first course in the Wetland Delineation and Assessment program. Held in an online classroom environment, this course builds foundational knowledge that complements the hands-on experience that will take place in the Field Training course.

WDA2: Wetland Delineation and Assessment Field Training and Capstone Project

This is the second course in the Wetland Delineation and Assessment program and involves two days of fieldwork and a further 10 hours of coursework to complete an assessed capstone project.

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Credential Awarded

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, learners are awarded a UBC Okanagan Letter of Proficiency (a non-credit credential).

The credential is provided in paper format. Learners will also receive a verifiable digital badge (which has descriptive metadata about the learning achievement) for sharing through digital channels.

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Requirements

ADMISSION

• This non-credit learning opportunity has no prerequisites
• The content is designed for adult learners; participants must be 18 years or older
• Knowledge of plants, soils and ecology will be beneficial but is not required. Topics will be presented with no expectation of prior knowledge
• Fundamentals of Wetland Delineation and Assessment (WDA1) is a prerequisite for Field Training and Capstone Project (WDA2)
• The language of instruction is English

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Access to a computer with a recent operating system, web browser and updated version of Zoom
• High-speed internet connection
• Microphone, speakers and webcam

TRANSPORTATION

• Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the field sites

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Fees

PROGRAM FEE

Standard Fee | $1750

All instructional content required to complete the program is available through the course website. There are no additional fees for textbooks.

Refunds and Cancellations

Please note, upon registration, fees are non-refundable except if the program is cancelled by the University at its discretion.

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Additional Info

PROGRAM SURVEYS

Learners will be asked to take part in pre- and post-program surveys that include information regarding current employment status, educational background, professional goals, and an evaluation of subject matter knowledge prior to and following the learning experience. In particular, there will be a survey distributed 6 months after the completion of this program. This information will be collected privately and used solely for the purpose of understanding the impact of the program in meeting the professional development needs of participants.

CONTACT

This credential is offered by the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science at UBC Okanagan. Questions about department courses and programs should be submitted to eegs.cpd@ubc.ca.

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Last updated: 2024-04-15 04:20