Global Resource Systems

University of British Columbia

Canada, Vancouver

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University of British Columbia

Canada , Vancouver

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Application Fee

CAD 125

Campuses

Vancouver

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake Deadlines15-May-2023

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 4 year(s)

Tuition Fee

CAD 49,382 / year

Next Intake 15-May-2023

Global Resource Systems

About

You can study intense specialization in a single field.

The Global Resource Systems (GRS) program recognizes that solving complex resource problems requires a wide range of skills, as well as a global and interdisciplinary approach. GRS is designed to equip you with a sophisticated international understanding, well-developed problem solving skills, and the confidence to bring your knowledge and insights to bear on the international stage.

You'll enter the program after completing your first year in Land and Food Systems, Arts, or Sciences. In the third and fourth years of the program, you'll select a resource area and a region of the world as the focus of your studies. In this self-directed program, you'll focus on local and international resource issues and build your own degree path through a combination of science, humanities, and social science courses offered at faculties across UBC.

Experiential learning and research

Language and cultural training, and experiential learning, are requirements of the program. As part of a mandatory international field study, you'll spend one or two semesters studying or volunteering abroad, usually in the region of your specialization. The destination, duration, and activity are flexible " your focus will be on learning and working in a different community and culture, developing your cross-cultural sensitivity and understanding.

The international experiences are offered through UBC's Go Global Student Exchange program as well as through GRS-specific exchanges, including the popular field studies program in Kenya. The program received the 2002 Award for Excellence in Internationalization, sponsored by Scotiabank and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, and the Alfred Scow Award in 2007 for contribution to student development.

Explore solutions to complex resource problems as you delve into global food systems and their link to human and environmental health, agrifood systems, and more. You'll have the opportunity to design your own degree and travel to other countries as you prepare for a career on the international stage.

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4

LFS 100 - Introduction to Land, Food and Community
Orientation to the programs, learning environment and core values of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems; career programs; survey of professional opportunities and requirements.
BIOL 121 - Genetics, Evolution and Ecology
Principles of storage and transmission of genetic variation; origin and evolution of species and their ecological interactions.
CHEM 121 - Structure and Bonding in Chemistry
Fundamentals of bonding theories and structural chemistry, with applications relevant to modern society.
MATH 100 - Differential Calculus with Applications
Derivatives of elementary functions. Applications and modelling: graphing, optimization.
SPAN 207 - Conversational Spanish II
Builds on communication skills through discussion, debate, and presentations; exploration of cultural topics through discussion of written texts and other media. May include experiential learning projects involving native speakers from the Hispanic community.

LFS 250 - Land, Food and Community I: Introduction to Food Systems and Sustainability
Managed systems and concepts of sustainability; economic, ecological and social components; managed landscapes, agri-food systems, and communities; urban and rural systems; the land, food, nutrition and human health continuum.
LFS 252 - Land, Food, and Community: Quantitative Data Analysis
Introduction to tools needed for data analysis of the economic, ecological, health, and scientific components of land and food systems.
GRS 290 - Global Issues in Cultural Context
Students interact face-to-face and on-line as a community of learners to discuss global issues in agriculture, food, and natural resources in cultural context. Typically taken prior to studying abroad.

GRS 390 - Global Issues in Cultural Context
Students interact face-to-face and on-line as a community of learners to discuss global issues in agriculture, food, and natural resources in cultural context. Typically taken while studying abroad.
LFS 350 - Land, Food, and Community II: Principles and Practice of Community Food Security
Project-based application of the principles and processes of community food security. Emphasis on developing skills required to address economic, ecological, social, and technological components of managed landscapes, agri-food systems, and communities comprising the land, food, nutrition and health continuum.
LFS 340 - First Nations Health and the Traditional Role of Plants
This Interprofessional Health and Human Service (IHHS) course covers the First Nations medical systems and medicinal plants. Bridging the traditional with modern sciences.
CHEM 302 - Atmospheric Environmental Chemistry
Introduction to structure, composition and chemical processes occurring in Earth's atmosphere, including interactions with solar radiation, stratospheric ozone layer, photochemical smog and acid rain.
GEOG 350 - Urban Worlds
City systems and theories of urban location; internal spatial structure of the city; commercial and industrial location; social areas; neighbourhood and land use change; urban trends and public policy.

LFS 400 - Audio Storytelling
Adopts a journalistic framework to communicate powerful stories and present academic content in new ways through the use of audio technology.
LFS 450 - Land, Food, and Community III: Leadership in Campus Food System Sustainability
Design, analysis, recommendation or implementation of solutions in response to a food sustainability issue faced by community partners. Emphasis is on professional communication, leadership development, project management and decision-making skills.
GRS 490 - Global Issues in Cultural Context
Students interact face-to-face and on-line as a community of learners to discuss global issues in agriculture, food, and natural resources in cultural context. Typically taken after studying abroad.
FNH 455 - Applied International Nutrition
Applying nutrition concepts and principles in addressing problems of malnutrition and food insecurity in international settings. Basics of developing culturally acceptable, sustainable nutrition intervention programs.

Disciplines

Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Graduation from a university-preparatory program at a senior secondary school: General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi). Certificates must be official. Photocopies are acceptable if certified by school principal, head, or counsellor. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Career

A GRS degree gives you a resource specialization and sets it within a specific global regional context, creating a depth and specificity of knowledge that is very valuable for employers in those sectors. Pursue a career in local, regional, national government; work in the private sector or with non-governmental organizations (NGOs); stay in Vancouver, work in your home region, or go abroad; focus on fresh water resource management or forestry, food security in remote communities, or large-scale, sustainable agriculture. The choice is truly yours: do what you want with your degree, make it your own, and the opportunities will be endless.

UBC stories

"One summer, I worked as an English teacher at a primary school in Ankara, Turkey. This past year, in Germany, I was part of the operations team at Tech Open Air, the biggest interdisciplinary technology conference in Europe. My internship in Nepal, with Kathmandu Living Labs, was the most connected to what I studied at UBC. It introduced me to the concepts of open data and open-source technologies and had a great impact on my future plans."
Sara Amadi, Global Resource Systems Read the full story

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Fee Information

Tuition Fee

CAD 49,382

Application Fee

CAD 125

How to Apply

As you complete the online application, keep the following tips in mind:

Start early and take your time. Once you begin the application, you will be able to save it and return to it later – but only up until the deadline. Once you have submitted your application to UBC, you will not be able to edit it. Since the online application can sometimes time out if left open for too long, we recommend working on your personal profile questions outside of the application (where you can run them through a spell-checker) then copy and paste them into your application.
Let the online application guide you. You’ll be asked to provide only the information we need based on your degree choice(s), your previous education, and other factors.
Tell us your full academic history. It’s important to include all of the high schools, colleges, and/or universities you have attended. Don’t leave anything out!
Be accurate. UBC has a number of methods in place to authenticate information provided in the application. These methods include, but are not limited to, contacting references, verifying academic records, and requesting additional documentation to verify your personal profile. If an application is found to contain untrue or incomplete information, UBC may, at its discretion: withdraw an offer of admission; require you to withdraw from UBC; subject you to academic discipline; or share the information provided with other post-secondary institutions, law enforcement agencies, or other third parties.
Use an email address you check frequently. Once you have submitted your application, UBC will communicate with you primarily by email.
Note your UBC student number. Write down your UBC student number somewhere safe. You’ll need it in future correspondence with UBC.