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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, collecting and identifying samples of rocks and minerals, prospecting and more for 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
Put your skills to work by joining the optional Co-operative Education Program, which alternates semesters of study with paid, full-time work in your field. You’ll earn money while gaining experience, building your resume and getting an employer reference, all before you graduate. To participate in Co-op you need to plan two semesters in advance, so we strongly recommend contacting the Co-op Office at the start of your program.
Further studies
If you decide you want to complete a geology degree, or a degree in a related field, such as geography, geophysics, geochemistry or engineering, you can transfer your (60) credits to SFU or another research university in B.C.
Qualify for professional geoscience status
In order to become a geologist or geoscientist, you must earn a designation with the Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Your two years in the Geological Resources program will get you started on the academic requirements for this designation, which you would complete once you have transferred to university and completed a four-year degree.
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 & 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.
Career opportunities include: