COURSE CURRICULUM

The Integrated Resource Management diploma at Saskatchewan Polytechnic is a two-year, hands-on program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed for careers in sustainable forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and park management. In Semester 1, students build foundational knowledge in environmental science, ecology, forestry, soils, ecoregions, resource legislation, plant taxonomy, mapping and compassing, GPS, small motors, and workplace preparation, alongside Indigenous cultural awareness. Semester 2 advances this foundation through winter field camps, technical report writing, botany, wildland fire fundamentals, aquatic ecology, advanced forestry, wilderness survival, wildlife biology, anatomy, systematics, and statistics for resource managers. Semester 3 provides a dedicated work experience term, allowing students to apply their learning in real-world resource management settings. Semester 4 emphasizes field-based learning with aquatic and forestry surveys, wildlife field techniques, habitat assessment, forest health, forest access techniques, and introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In Semester 5, students focus on advanced environmental science, fisheries and wildlife management, urban forestry, park programs, remote sensing, Indigenous resource rights, applied research, and assessment of wildlife populations and physiological condition. Across all semesters, students gain extensive practical experience through labs, camps, and fieldwork, developing expertise in data collection and analysis, regulatory compliance, ecosystem management, and technical reporting. Graduates leave with the skills and accredited experience necessary to manage natural resources sustainably and responsibly.