Integrated Resource Management

Saskatchewan’s natural resources are rich and varied—fisheries, forests, wildlife and park areas. Integrated resource management (IRM) takes a balanced approach to managing these resources. The focus is on sustainability and stewardship.

Integrated resource management practitioners are analytic thinkers who combine a knack for science with a love of the outdoors. It’s an excellent career choice if you want to play a role in sustainable silviculture (forestry management), fisheries, wildlife or park management.

Integrated Resource Management is a two-year diploma program that gives you a unique perspective on balancing the environmental, economic and social factors of natural resource development. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through labs, camps, field exercises and work experience. You’ll learn how to collect and analyze data, enforce regulations and monitor resource use. You’ll develop knowledge and skill in:

• applying Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to resource management situations
• applying statistics to resource management problems
• fish, wildlife, forestry and parks management
• implementing quality control
• mapping, compassing and remote sensing
• operating and maintaining chainsaws, boats and trailers
• plant and wildlife identification
• research design, analysis and technical reporting
• surviving in the wilderness

You’ll graduate with hands-on experience from a North American Wildlife Technology Association (NAWTA) accredited program.

Get Your Feet Wet and Hands Dirty

Field camps are a popular part of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Natural Resources programs. We have our own outdoor camp on the north side of Candle Lake, the Hannin Creek Education and Applied Research Centre. You’ll spend three weeks here in the fall learning a variety of hands-on skills. You’ll return for winter camp to learn about winter ecology and outdoor survival. 

Diploma to Degree

Ladder your Integrated Resource Management diploma into a degree at the University of Regina (Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology), Lakeland College (Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Management) or University of Regina/First Nations University of Canada (Bachelor of Arts in Resource and Environmental Studies).

Bachelor of Applied Management

Leverage your diploma into the Bachelor of Applied Management degree at Saskatchewan Polytechnic with only two years of additional study. Remote classes and part-time options are available.

Your Career

Career choices for Integrated Resource Management graduates are excellent. You could work as a fish and wildlife technician, forestry technician, plant specialist or park ranger across Western and Northern Canada. You might work for conservation authorities, First Nation communities, forestry companies, exploration and resource companies, government agencies, municipalities, private contractors and many more.

Potential Careers

Fall

• Prince Albert

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12
• Minimum 65% average in English Language Arts A30 and English Language Arts B30 (combined)
• Minimum 60% in Workplace and Apprenticeship Math 30 or 60% in Foundations of Math 30 or 60% in Pre-Calculus 30*
• English Language Requirement

*Previous Saskatchewan mathematics requirement also accepted:

• Minimum combined average of 60% in Math A30 and B30

Note:

• It is recommended that students entering the program have basic skills in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• For employment purposes, graduates may be required to obtain First Aid certification. Students will be offered the First Aid course FAID 1001 at the beginning of their program.

Alternative Admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

• 250 Arithmetic
• 254 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics
• 253 Reading
• 247 Writing

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission Method

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

2022/23 Academic Year

Year 1 - $9,925
Year 2 - $9,330

International Students

View tuition rates for international students.

Semester 1

CLTR 119

Indigenous Cultural Awareness

2

ENVR 101

Environmental Science and Technology 1

2

EQPT 401

Small Motors

1

FORE 102

Introduction to Forestry

2

GPS 110

Basics of Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

4

MAPS 101

Introduction to Mapping and Compassing

2

RLAW 104

Introduction to Resource Legislation

3

RSRC 101

Elements of Ecology

1

RSRC 102

Landscape, Soils and Ecoregions

3

TAXO 100

Plant Taxonomy and Identification

4

WORK 126

Work Preparation

2

Semester 2

CAMP 102

Winter Camp

1

CAMP 305

Winter Aquatic Surveys

1

COM 106

Technical Report Writing

2

FEMT 301

Botany

3

FIRE 101

Wildland Fire Fundamentals

3

FISH 301

Aquatic Ecology

3

FORE 400

Advanced Forestry

3

GIS 101

Geographic Information Systems 1

2

SFTY 106

Wilderness Survival

1

STAT 122

Introductory Statistics

1

WILD 101

Ecology, Biology and Management of Saskatchewan Wildlife

2

WILD 301

Wildlife Anatomy and Systematics

4

Semester 3

WORK 403

Work Experience

0

Semester 4

CAMP 412

Aquatic Field Surveys

2

CAMP 415

Natural Resources Field Technician-Forestry

1

CAMP 416

Natural Resources Field Technician-Wildlife

2

FISH 402

Aquatic Surveys

3

FISH 403

Advanced Aquatic Surveys

3

FORE 200

Forest Health

3

FORE 405

Forest Access Techniques

3

STAT 403

Statistics and Statistical Software for Resource Managers

2

WILD 404

Wildlife Management Field Techniques

4

WILD 409

Wildlife Habitat Assessment

3

Semester 5

ENVR 401

Environmental Science and Technology 2

3

FISH 404

Fisheries Management

3

FISH 405

Current Topics in Fisheries

1

HORT 400

Urban Forestry

3

PARK 400

Park Programs

3

PROJ 401

Applied Research in Resource Management

2

RLAW 105

Indigenous Resource Rights

3

SYST 401

Remote Sensing 1

2

WILD 405

Wildlife Population Assessment and Regulation

3

WILD 406

Assessment of Wildlife Physiological Condition

2

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

• Candidate Guide
• Candidate Guide (Department of Arts and Sciences courses)
  • communications, mathematics, sciences, social sciences
• More about PLAR

Transfer Credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Transfer credit options vary over time; this information is subject to change. Transfer credit options for this program include:

Credit toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Biology, University of Regina (this joint diploma/degree requires five additional semesters of university study in Biology and Environmental Studies). If you would like to complete this joint diploma/degree, you: 

• may enrol in the University of Regina portion first and then transfer to Saskatchewan Polytechnic, or enrol in this program first and then transfer to the University of Regina
• must register with both Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina at the onset of your program (to ensure minimal delay when transferring between the two institutions)

For more information about the joint Integrated Resource Management diploma and degree program, contact Scott Lipsit at Saskatchewan Polytechnic (telephone: 306-765-1635) or Dr. Mark Brigham at the University of Regina (telephone: 306-585-4255). 

As well, graduates may be eligible to obtain 33 credits toward a Bachelor of Science in Forestry or a Bachelor of Science in Forest Business Management at the University of Alberta. 

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

More about scholarships

Our program is the only one in Saskatchewan accredited by the North American Wildlife Technologist Association (NAWTA). When you graduate, you’re recognized by NAWTA as an accredited practitioner in fish and wildlife management procedures.

• Women in Trades and Technology

• Civil Engineering Technologies
• Environmental Engineering Technology
• Geographic Information Science
• Resource and Environmental Law