British Columbia Institute of Technology
AC-4: Graduate Program

This is Canada’s first master’s program specializing in Ecological Restoration and is offered as a joint program between BCIT and Simon Fraser University (SFU). The M.Sc. in Ecological Restoration combines the strong technical and applied (experiential) knowledge at BCIT with SFU’s fundamental (contextual) basic science and community engagement expertise. The product is a unique joint-degree program that will fundamentally advance both the practice and science of ecological restoration.

Through experiential learning, Ecological Restoration graduate students integrate and apply theories, concepts, and observations firsthand. Students will experience the variability and uniqueness of ecosystems, and the difficulty of applying the same concepts to all sites.

A case-based learning methodology will also be used throughout the program to provide students exposure to restoring ecosystems in other areas of the world. Case studies will illustrate how concepts can be integrated and applied to complex ecological systems. Students will be actively engaged in discussion of specific problems in complex, real-world situations. This method is student-centered and involves the exchange of ideas among participants. The instructor’s role will be that of a facilitator, while students address problems collaboratively.

A key component of the Ecological Restoration degree will be the field visits to active restoration projects in the Lower Mainland and other parts of British Columbia. The extensive ecological disturbance and damage that has occurred throughout the Lower Mainland provides real-world opportunities to apply skills in a broad range of restoration activities. Real-world scenarios in ecological restoration will be presented through assignments and team-based projects within courses. These projects will allow students to apply their knowledge from classroom and lab sessions.

The Building Science Graduate Program has a unique, interdisciplinary approach that combines the theory and practical skills needed to deliver durable, healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient buildings. For students interested in sustainability and innovations in building technologies. The Master of Engineering in Building Science degree combines an intensive set of courses with an applied research project, to be completed in 16 months on a full-time basis.

The program is designed to provide students from various engineering disciplines with advanced knowledge and skills to achieve a holistic understanding of building performance through a core course component, which is composed of a fundamental technical cluster, and an applied technical cluster. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of a specialty area through focused elective technical courses and a supervised research project.

The Master of Applied Science in Building Engineering/Building Science also combines the theory and practical skills needed to deliver durable, healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient buildings. This degree requires a smaller set of courses and a more in-depth research thesis than the Building Science, Master of Engineering and can be completed in a minimum of 24 months on a full-time basis. Both degrees can also be taken on a part-time basis to be completed within 3 to 5 years.

The MASc degree will provide students with the capabilities to independently conduct rigorous, innovative research and publish, present and defend those research outcomes to expert peers. A core course component teaches advanced knowledge and skills leading to a holistic understanding of building performance. Specialized elective technical courses prepare students with in-depth knowledge to enable them to conduct research in their particular area. A well-structured research component is included in the program to enable students to develop research skills.