Please visit the International application deadline page to find out when applications may be available.
Get the skills needed to work in mining and mineral exploration as a geological technician with the two-year Geological Resources Diploma.
Geological technicians work outdoors in some of the most beautiful and remote places on Earth, carrying out field work such as rock and soil sampling, drill core logging, prospecting, and mapping in support of the mining and mineral exploration industries.
Get practical experience while you study
The program is a combination of academic knowledge and applied learning. You’ll do two hands-on fieldwork components, which give you the chance to do the work of a geological technician, as well as go on field trips to mines and exploration operations to see how they work. Once you graduate, you’ll have the knowledge and training to find work immediately.
Get paid, full-time work experience during your studies
The Geological Resources program helps you find paid summer positions in mineral exploration, a popular way to earn excellent wages while gaining hands-on field experience. Companies typically cover travel to site as well as accommodation and meals while on site, so your take-home pay goes further. These positions let you put your training to work in the field, strengthening both your geological knowledge and your career prospects. Students who pursue this route often return to the same companies in subsequent summers.
You can also gain work experience through the optional Co-operative Education Program, which alternates semesters of study with paid, full-time work in your field. Co-op helps you build your resume and secure an employer reference before you graduate. To participate, plan two semesters in advance and contact the Co-op Office at the start of your program.
Further studies
If you decide to continue your education, the credits you earn in this program can transfer toward a BSc. in geology or a related field such as geography, geophysics, geochemistry or engineering at universities across BC.
Qualify for professional geoscience status
In BC, geologists and geoscientists must be registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC to practice professionally. Your two years in the Geological Resources program will get you started on the academic requirements for registration. After transferring to university and completing a four-year degree, you can register as a Geoscientist-in-Training (GIT), and with sufficient work experience, progress to full registration as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.). Achieving registration as a P.Geo. opens doors to greater responsibility, higher earning potential, and the ability to sign off on geological reports and lead major projects.
Applicants to the Geological Resources Diploma Program must meet the following to receive admission to the program and priority registration:
Successful applicants must meet individual course prerequisites upon registering. For students who haven't completed Precalculus 12 (with a B or higher) or Chemistry 12 (with a C+ or higher) or Physics 11 (with a C or higher), additional courses may be required to satisfy pre-requisites for required courses in the program.
Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition and fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more.
For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts.
Graduation Requirements:
Course Requirements (see note 1):
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|
Select one course from the following options: |
||
|
Business Communication |
3.00 |
|
|
ENGL UT (see note 2) |
Select one UT ENGL course |
3.00 |
|
Select one course from the following two options: |
||
|
Precalculus |
4.00 |
|
|
Calculus I |
3.00 |
|
|
Select one course from the following two options: |
||
|
Introductory General Physics I |
5.00 |
|
|
Mechanics |
5.00 |
|
|
Select one course from the following two options: |
||
|
Introduction to Earth Sciences |
3.00 |
|
| Introduction to Earth Sciences |
4.00 |
|
| Required Courses: | ||
|
The Structure of Matter |
4.00 |
|
|
History of the Earth |
3.00 |
|
|
Field Methods 1 |
4.00 |
|
|
Resources from the Earth |
3.00 |
|
|
Sedimentology & Stratigraphy |
4.00 |
|
|
Introduction to Mineralogy |
4.00 |
|
|
Introduction to Petrology |
4.00 |
|
|
Field Methods 2 |
4.00 |
|
|
Structural Geology |
4.00 |
|
|
EAES 2805 (see note 3) |
Resource Deposits and Maps |
4.00 |
| EAES 2855 (see note 4) |
Geological Information Systems | 4.00 |
| EAES 2905 (see note 5) |
Exploration and Mining | 4.00 |
|
Total Credits |
|
60.00 |
NOTES:
1. Course offerings are limited, and some courses are offered only once per year or once per two years. Students should therefore plan their courses carefully before registration and in consultation with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Students should be aware that achieving a specified minimum grade is required for all courses that are pre-requisites.
2. A University Transferable English (ENGL) course is a course that transfers as English credit to one of the Research Universities - SFU, UBC (UBCV or UBCO), UNBC, or UVIC in the BC Transfer Guide.
3. Students who have completed EAES 2800 and EAES 2810 prior to Fall 2024 can substitute these courses for EAES 2805 until January 2032.
4. Students who have completed GEOG 2270 and EAES 2851 prior to Fall 2024 can substitute these courses for EAES 2855 until January 2032.
5. Students who have completed EAES 2900 and EAES 2910 prior to Fall 2024 can substitute these courses for EAES 2905 until January 2032.
Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
The Geological Resources diploma is a two-year, career-focused credential designed to prepare you for work as a geological technician. It emphasizes practical field skills, hands-on lab work and industry-relevant tools. A geology degree takes four years, provides deeper theoretical training and is required for professional registration as a P.Geo. Many students use this diploma as a stepping stone, entering the workforce as a technician while deciding whether to continue to a degree.
Applications are accepted starting 12 months before the start of a semester. This program has three intakes per year: Fall, Winter, and Summer. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as offers are made on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis.
Please see the Becoming a Student section of the website for further application information.
Yes. You may apply to Douglas College in order to complete the prerequisite courses, and can apply to the program while working toward the entrance requirements.
Contact the Geological Resources Diploma Coordinator for advice on entrance requirements.
No prior experience is required. The admission requirements for this program are:
Mathematics 11 (Pre-Calculus or Foundations of Mathematics) with a C or better
Chemistry 11 with a C or better
Yes, field work is a core part of the program. Most courses include day field trips to local destinations. In addition, there are two intensive field schools, one after first year and one after second year, each approximately two weeks long. These involve overnight trips to the interior of BC where students develop and practice field skills in a real geological setting.
Students learn to use industry-standard software including ArcGIS Pro, Leapfrog, and Google Earth Pro for spatial data analysis, geological modelling and mapping.
Graduates work across the mineral exploration, mining, geotechnical and environmental sectors. Common entry-level roles include geological technician, mineral exploration field technician, core logging technician, geotechnical field technician and GIS technician, among others. Many graduates find work in BC, but opportunities exist across Canada and internationally.
Yes, in two ways. The program helps students find paid summer positions in mineral exploration, where companies typically cover travel to site as well as accommodation and meals while on site. Students can also participate in the optional Co-operative Education Program, which alternates semesters of study with paid, full-time work in their field.
Yes. The credits you earn in this program can transfer toward a BSc. in geology or a related field such as geography, geophysics, geochemistry or engineering at universities across BC.
A BSc. in Geology or Earth Sciences is the most direct pathway, but credits may also transfer toward degrees in geography, geophysics and geochemistry. The program aligns well with the Geology and Environmental Geoscience degrees at SFU, the Geology degree at UBC, the Earth Sciences degree at UVic, and the Geosciences degree at VIU.
This program is not available online due to the hands-on nature of the labs and field trips.
Part-time study is possible, though it will extend the time needed to complete the program. Full-time students typically take four to five courses per semester and complete the program in two years. Part-time students take one to two courses per semester.
There are no scholarships specific to this program, but Douglas College offers a range of awards, bursaries, and scholarships for eligible students.
Career opportunities include:
Mineral Exploration & Mining
Geological Technician
Mineral Exploration Field Technician
Core Logging Technician
Mine Geology Technician
Junior Field Geologist
Sampling and Assay Technician
Geotechnical
Geotechnical Field Technician
Soils and Materials Testing Technician
Aggregate and Quarry Technician
Environmental & Regulatory
Environmental Field Technician
Contaminated Sites Technician
Land Reclamation Technician
Government, Consulting & Data
Geological Survey Field Assistant
GIS Technician
Spatial Data Technician