Passionate about climate change, water conservation and sustainability? Take action!
Turn your passion for the environment into a career that protects and restores our natural surroundings. Gain the technical skills and practical field experience to identify, measure, and record environmental variables within the air, water, soil, and living organisms. You’ll use state-of-the-art equipment to evaluate and monitor contaminated ecosystems. You’ll develop your technical writing skills to analyze, interpret, and evaluate field data while building your knowledge of environmental regulations and policies.
With a focus on monitoring industrial activities, you’ll explore air quality issues, land restoration, and water conservation, preparing you for careers with industries required to comply with environmental regulations.
Program highlights
- Analyze, interpret, and evaluate air, water, soil, and ecological field data
- Develop your technical writing skills
- Potential to earn National Green Check certification
- Real-world experience during a four-week internship
- Prepare to write the Ministry’s Operator-in-Training (OIT) certification test for water treatment and distribution
Program of study for 2025-26 Academic Year
Students are required to successfully complete an online Lab Safety course (in Moodle) when starting their program at Cambrian. This course must be completed prior to entering the labs (as identified in the table below) in the Schools of Skills Training, Engineering Technology and Environmental Studies.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ECO 1000 | Principles of Ecology 1 | 3 |
| ENV 1007 | Biodiversity Fundamentals 1 | 3 |
| ENV 1008 | Water Properties and Monitoring 1 | 3 |
| CMP 1011 | Computer Applications | 3 |
| MTH 1003 | Math I | 3 |
| CHM 1005 | Chemistry Fundamentals 1 | 3 |
| ENG 1002 | College Communications | 3 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENV 1013 | Principles of Natural Resources Management | 3 |
| ENV 1015 | Environmental Microbiology & Toxicology 1 | 3 |
| ENV 1018 | Data Management | 4 |
| INT 1009 | Intro to Instrumentation 1 | 4 |
| TEC 1000 | Technical Reporting | 2 |
| One General Education Course. 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 19 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| ENV 1009 | Air Properties and Monitoring 1 | 3 |
| ENV 1011 | Soil Science 1 | 3 |
| CAD 1100 | Computer-Aided Drafting I | 2 |
| CHM 1012 | Environmental Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| ECO 1002 | Solid Waste Management | 3 |
| WTR 1000 | Water Remediation Techniques | 3 |
| One General Education course. 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 20 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| GIS 1000 | GIS Applications | 3 |
| ECO 1001 | Ecosystem Restoration 1 | 3 |
| ENV 1028 | Advanced Air Monitoring 1 | 3 |
| ENV 1126 | Industrial Env Applications | 3 |
| WHS 1000 | Environmental Workplace Safety | 3 |
| One General Education Course. 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| ENV 1019 | Field Placement | 4 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 82 | |
- 1
Course with Lab Component.
- 2
For more information regarding General Education courses, click here.
Admission requirements
For graduates of the new curriculum (OSS): Ontario Secondary School Diploma (30 credits) or equivalent or mature student status, including:
- Any grade 12 English (C) or (U)
- Any grade 11 mathematics (C), (U), or (M)
Additional admission requirements
Recommendations
-
Any grade 11 chemistry (U) or grade 12 chemistry (U) or (C) or any grade 11 biology (U) or (C) or grade 12 biology (U)
Program delivery
2025-2026
Fall term start
SEMESTER 1: Fall 2025
SEMESTER 2: Winter 2026
SEMESTER 3: Fall 2026
SEMESTER 4: Winter 2027
SEMESTER 5: Spring 2027
Specific program pathways
Algoma University – advanced standing opportunity
Graduates of this program meeting a 3.0 GPA requirement will receive 45 transfer credits towards the Bachelor of Arts in Geography degree program at Algoma University.
Atlantic Technological University (Ireland) – advanced standing opportunity
Graduates of this program meeting a 2.0 GPA requirement will be eligible to enter into third year of the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Protection degree program, with the opportunity to progress into the Honours Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science program at the Atlantic Technological University in Ireland.
College or university degree opportunities
If you are a graduate of this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian's college and university agreement details for further information.
Employment opportunities
Graduates can work in a variety of industrial, governmental, municipal, and private consulting organizations as:
- Environmental monitoring technicians
- Natural resource technicians
- Environmental consultants
- Environmental laboratory technicians
- Field research assistants
Please note: Cambrian College strives to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website. Please note that the academic curriculum is continually reviewed and revised to ensure that Cambrian's programs and courses remain relevant. The College reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any course or program, fee, procedure, or campus location at any time.
