Course overview
Regenerative agriculture courses at TRU combine hands-on farm training with
applied learning in sustainable agriculture and business management. Students
gain practical experience in soil health, biodiversity, grazing systems and riparian
management, while also building essential agriculture business skills in marketing,
finance, human resources and enterprise planning.
Each course runs over three weeks and includes weekly seminars or field visits,
connecting students with experienced farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and subject
matter experts. Instead of traditional exams, students complete real-world
assignments that contribute to a final business and operations plan, presented at
the program’s signature Bull’s Den event.
Earn a certificate with 33 credits or a diploma with 63 credits. Diploma graduates
with a qualifying GPA can ladder into the third year of Olds College’s Bachelor of
Applied Science in Agribusiness. Credits may also transfer into TRU’s Bachelor of
Natural Resource Science or Bachelor of General Studies. This structure is ideal for
international students and career changers passionate about land management,
food security or sustainability.
First Year Courses
RGEN 1010A
Course description coming soon.
RGEN 1060 Food Crop Diversification
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
This course surveys the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils. Topics include soil formation, classification, use and conservation.
Note: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 1070 Livestock Diversification
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students will choose three pasture-based livestock enterprises to focus on. For each of these they will develop an enterprise analysis, complete with a gross margin and return on investment calculation.
Prerequisite: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 1040 Applied Skills, Farm Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
In this skills-based course, students explore a variety of techniques commonly used in ranch operations. Students apply skills related to humane animal care, stockmanship and dog training, equipment preventative maintenance, safe operating procedures, and fencing techniques. Additionally, students examine opportunities for diversification, including key success factors and production and income benchmarks for a number of alternative agriculture enterprises.
Note: Students will only receive credit for one of ASUR 1040 and RGEN 1040. Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 1050 On Farm Demonstration Research I
Credits: 2 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students will learn how to design a on-farm demonstration research project. Students will install, collect, analyze and interpret data collected on their farm.
Note: Individuals courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 1080 Strategic Management and Leadership
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students will learn the key components of building a business strategy and a strategic plan and will develop a business level strategy and strategic plan for their organization. Students will also identify the key features of balancing farm/ranch enterprises and family life including the components of a succession plan.
Note: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 1020 Sustainable Business Enterprise
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Within this course students develop a financial and finance plan for their agriculture and agri-tourism enterprises.
Note: Students can only receive credit for one of ASUR 1020 or RGEN 1020. Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 1090 Marketing, Communications, Conflict Resolution and Crisis Management
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
From the foundation skills learned in this course, students will build a strategic marketing plan based on market research, segmentation, target market identification, positioning, and finally implementation of the 4 Ps. Students will also learn skills in conflict resolution, and build a communications plan for their agriculture operation, with an apology statement in the event of a crisis.
Note: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 1030 Biodiversity, Invasive Species & Watersheds & Riparian Systems
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students will become familiar with the importance of farm diversity and riparian health. Students will learn approaches to improving farm diversity, the process of developing a farm level management plans and measurements and techniques for supporting healthy riparian systems.
Note: Students will only receive credit for one of ASUR 1030 and RGEN 1030. Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 1140
Course description coming soon.
RGEN 1130
Introduction to Soils and Soil Health
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
This course surveys the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils. Topics include soil formation, classification, use and conservation.
Note: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 2090 Tkumne7iple7tens re Secwepemeu’lecw (Secwepemc Laws of the Land)
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students will gain an understanding of the history of the Secwepemc people, the issues facing them today and how as future land managers, they can be part of the healing process on the land. Students will learn about range plants that are used by Secwepemc people and how to help preserve these areas while out on the land. The use of cultural burning will also be examined.
Note: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
Second Year Courses
RGEN 2010 Beef Nutrition and Herd Health
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students develop skills related to beef cattle nutrition and how to balance the nutrition needs of the herd through the seasons, with the resources they have at hand. Students will learn through the seminar presentation, the key components of a year-round herd health and parasitology program for a beef cattle operation.
Note: Students will only receive credit for one of ASUR 2010 and RGEN 2010. Individual courses may be taken my non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 2060 Beef Genetics and Technology in Agriculture
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students will develop skills related to beef cattle genetics, including sire and replacement heifer selection, heifer development and appropriate culling techniques to maximize efficiency and gross margin. They will also learn mapping tools and apply these to forage production and carrying capacity calculations over large areas. Various emerging agriculture technologies will be introduced, along with their potential value under various regenerative ranching systems.
Note: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 2020 Sheep Production, Flock Health and Nutrition
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students develop skills related to sheep husbandry and nutrition and learn to balance the nutrition needs of the flock/herd through the seasons, with the resources they have on hand. They will also learn the key components of a year-round flock health program for a sheep production enterprise and the best management practices for maintaining flock/herd health.
Note: Students will only receive credit for one of ASUR 2020 and RGEN 2020. Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 2030 Winter Forage Production
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students will learn the role of forages in sustainable food production, forage management and harvesting options and the principles of irrigation design, systems and management. The key concepts of plant physiology, plant identification, species & variety features will be examined as well as their adaptation and their roles in forage stands and production. Students will learn management approaches that include cover crops, perennial species mixtures, potential cropping rotations and other considerations relating to maintaining or improving soil health while achieving farm/ranch objectives.
Note: Students will only receive credit for one of ASUR 2030 and RGEN 2030. Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 2040 Introduction to Tourism, Marketing, and Product Development
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students explore the soft adventure and agri-tourism industry at a global and local level. Historical, geographical and cultural contexts will be examined in relation to the development of product and service opportunities.
Note: Students will only receive credit for one of ASUR 2040 and RGEN 2040. Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 2070 Regenerative Agri-Tourism Business Strategy and Applied Project
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students build on the foundations established in RGEN 2040 by continuing to explore the soft adventure and agri-tourism industry at a global and local level. Historical, geographical and cultural contexts in the evolution of sustainable tourism and regenerative tourism will be examined in relation to the planning and management of tourism strategy, business operations, as well as developing an agri-tourism business marketing plan.
Note: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 2080 Food Sovereignty
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students explore and apply the community development approach to food sovereignty and develop applied skills in vegetable and greenhouse production using regenerative agriculture principles.
Note: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 1110 Human Resource Management and Land Resources
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Students will learn the governance framework of agriculture resources within BC and identify the regulatory system and land interests to which it applies. They will also be introduced to the main government programs for risk management, research, extension, and innovation.
Note: Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission
For more information, search for this course here.
RGEN 2050 Comprehensive Business and Operations Plan (21,24,0)
Credits: 3 credits
Delivery: Campus
Utilizing the skills they have acquired through the Regenerative Agriculture program, students will build a comprehensive business and operations plan for their ranch, farm, or tourism operation.
Note: Students will only receive credit for one of ASUR 2050 and RGEN 2050. Individual courses may be taken by non-program students where capacity exists and with instructor permission.
For more information, search for this course here.
