The Bachelor of Planning degree provides a broad education in environmental planning. The focus is on understanding the relationship between people and the environment and on reducing the environmental impact of human activities. The study of planning examines public processes that improve the quality of decisions affecting the environment. Responsible planning integrates various private and public interests and identifies viable, workable options. Planners play a vital role in decision-making processes concerning the future of human settlements, resource management, environmental protection, human health and well-being, economic development, and many other areas. Ultimately, the work of planners becomes part of, or a catalyst to, public policy. To achieve its purposes, Environmental Planning offers a comprehensive program of courses, such as environmental assessment, ecological design, economic development, First Nations planning, land use planning, and sustainable communities. Each course provides a creative and challenging learning environment for students to tackle today's most contentious issues such as sustainability, climate change, biodiversity, environmental stewardship, and urban sprawl. Environmental Planning offers unique perspectives on a rapidly evolving field of study and solutions for an increasingly complex world. Environmental Planning is dedicated to upholding professional standards of practice and is accredited by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC). Accreditation is a system for promoting national standards of education in planning and for recognizing educational institutions for a level of performance, integrity, and quality. Accreditation benefits students in Environmental Planning in three ways: Current students can apply for Student Membership in PIBC; Graduates are eligible for Full Membership in PIBC and CIP after only two years of professional planning experience; and Employers in the planning field look for students graduating from an accredited planning program, thus significantly improving graduates' job prospects. Three majors are available to students completing the Bachelor of Planning: Northern and Rural Community Planning First Nations Planning Natural Resources Planning Planning students complete a set of general program requirements totaling 69 credit hours in addition to completing specialized course requirements for each Major.

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