UBC Reports | Vol. 53 | No. 8 | Aug 9, 2007

New Vancouver Study Options

Forestry: Global Perspectives Major

By Brian Lin

Taking time to go abroad won’t be a problem for UBC Forestry students who choose the new Global Perspectives major in the Natural Resources Conservation (NRC) program -- in fact, it’s mandatory.

The undergraduate major, to be launched this fall, focuses on the conservation and management of renewable and non-renewable resources, policy formation and planning in the global context. Students are required to conduct international field work, co-op or internship, volunteer or study abroad at one of the Faculty of Forestry’s 25 partner universities in 18 countries.

International case studies are incorporated into a new fourth-year capstone course to give students hands-on experience in integrating various stakeholder considerations when it comes to resource sustainability. 

“The Science and Management major in the NRC, which focuses a great deal on regional case studies, is the largest and fastest growing program in the faculty, yet many NRC students were telling us how much they wanted more international experience” says NRC program director Prof. Scott Hinch.

“Resource management programs around the continent which incorporate international studies are thriving while those that don’t are facing low enrollments or worse. There is a clear market for students to work abroad or for global interests in Canada. We developed this new major based on what students, and the market work place, want.”

Land and Food Systems: Master of Food Science

By Han Nah Kim

The Faculty of Land and Food Systems’ new Master of Food Science (MFS) program will shine a new light on the increasing demand for expertise in the food industry.

The concern for quality control over food imports has been escalating due to recent crises such as the reported 4,000 cases of pet deaths in U.S. related to pet food imports from China, as well as human sickness and death linked to E. coli-contaminated spinach from California. With a new public focus on regulatory compliance and application of the latest technologies, there is a growing need for experts to help regulate and support the food industry.

The MFS program, a professional degree that can be completed within a 12-month period, aims to make a contribution to secure distribution of top-quality products. “The foremost objectives are to equip students with first-hand scientific knowledge of food safety as it is practiced in Canada, to provide experience in international food systems, and a global perspective on the food industry that will be invaluable to individuals wishing to pursue a career in this increasingly international industry,” says program director, UBC Prof. Tim Durance.

The MFS is a course-based, non-thesis degree designed for those wanting careers in government or industry. It is also appropriate for professionals already working in government, industry or private practices who want to upgrade their skills and knowledge.

In addition to food safety and quality control, students will also develop competencies related to the regulatory requirements for the production, processing and distribution of food.

The program will launch this September with 26 students, half of whom are international students from China and other countries.