Nature-Based Tourism Management (BA Program)
Ken Otter, Professor and Acting Chair
Philip Mullins, Associate Professor
Pam Wright, Associate Professor
Website: www.unbc.ca/outdoor-recreation-tourism-management
Tourism has become the largest industry and employer in the world. One of the most important and fastest growing sectors in tourism is nature-based tourism, which comprises attractions, activities and experiences involving interaction with natural and cultural resources (e.g., ecotourism, adventure tourism, indigenous tourism). This degree examines the various components of the nature-based tourism system, giving emphasis to the entrepreneurial perspectives and sustainability issues in the industry. Reflecting the interdisciplinarity of the field, and related career directions, students select from the following Areas of Specialization: marketing and entrepreneurship, outdoor education and leadership, indigenous/cultural tourism, or environment and society.
Major in Nature-Based Tourism Management
Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours through (a) the common degree requirements, (b) the requirements of an Area of Specialization and (c) elective credit hours in any subject.
Common Degree Requirements
Lower Division Requirement
100 Level
One of the following:
Introductory Ecology
Introduction to Canadian Business
Microeconomics
Introduction to Planning
Field Skills
Foundations of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Introduction to Environmental Citizenship
The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
Planet Earth
Earth from Above
*Note: Applications for exemption from NREM 100-3 must be made within the first year of study in any Natural Resource Management major.
200 Level
Introduction to Marketing
Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences
Basic Statistics
The Practice of Conservation
Sustainable Recreation and Tourism
Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism
Outdoor Skills and Leadership
Upper Division Requirement
300 Level
Entrepreneurship
Indigenous Environmental Philosophy
Aboriginal Perspectives on Land and Resource Management
An Introduction to Environmental History
Recreation and Tourism Impacts
Indigenous Tourism and Recreation
Outdoor, Environmental and Experiential Education
Field School
400 Level
Nine credit hours from*:
Protected Areas Planning and Management
Conservation Area Design and Management
International Dimensions in Recreation and Tourism
Recreation, Tourism and Communities
The Psychology of Recreation and Tourism
Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities
Field School II
Internship
Special Topics
Independent Study
**Note: Students should note that some senior-level ORTM classes are offered in alternating years.
Area of Specialization
- Marketing and Entrepreneurship
- Outdoor Education and Leadership
- Indigenous Cultural Tourism
- Environment and Society
Financial Accounting
Services Marketing
Marketing Communication
Behavioural Marketing
Internet Marketing
International Marketing
Marketing Strategy
Organizational Behaviour
Introduction to Business Law
Introduction to International Business
Marketing Research
Environmental Economics and Environmental Policy
Northern Communities
Outdoor Education and Leadership
Introduction to Education
Education Theory and Practice
Introduction to Environmental Citizenship
The Psychology of Recreation and Tourism
Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities
One of the following:
Landscapes, Place and Culture
Field School
Ethnobotany
Human Ecology
Global Environmental Change: Science and Policy
Topics in Environmental History
Field Applications in Resource Management
Indigenous/Cultural Tourism
The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
Global History of Indigenous People
Introduction to Traditional Environmental Knowledge
One of the following:
First Nations Community and Environmental Planning
Contemporary Challenges Facing Aboriginal Communities
Two of the following:
Ethnobotany
Advanced First Nations Community and Environmental Planning
Cultural Geography
First Nations and Indigenous Geographies
Aboriginal People in Canada
Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World
Community Development
One of the following:
International Dimensions in Recreation and Tourism
Recreation, Tourism and Communities
Environment and Society
Introduction to Environmental Citizenship
Environment and Society
First Nations Community and Environmental Planning
One of the following:
Introduction to GIS
Cartography and Geomatics
One of the following:
Mediation, Negotiation and Public Participation
Natural Resources, Environmental Issues and Public Engagement
Society, Policy and Administration
Two of the following:
Landscapes, Place and Culture
Sustainable Communities: Structure and Sociology
Human Ecology
Gender and Environmental Studies
Political Ecology: Environmental Knowledge and Decision-Making
Environmental Justice
Northern Communities
Topics in Environmental History
Course Prerequisites
Students should review all proposed course selections in advance to make sure course prerequisites are taken where needed.
Electives
Electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours.
Major in Nature-Based Tourism Management (Diploma Completion)
Degree requirements: Two-year Diploma in Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, Tourism, Sport or Recreation Studies, Geography, or equivalent, with a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.00, plus (a) 42 credit hours of required courses; (b) 18 credit hours in an Area of Specialization; and (c) elective credit hours in any subject as necessary to ensure completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours (minimum 30 upper-division credit hours) at UNBC.
Curriculum:
Lower-Division Requirement (21 credit hours)
Introductory Ecology
Introduction to Canadian Business
Microeconomics
Field Skills
Foundations of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Sustainable Recreation and Tourism
Outdoor Skills and Leadership
Upper-Division Requirement (21 credit hours)
Indigenous Environmental Policy
Aboriginal Perspectives on Land and Resource Management
Recreation and Tourism Impacts
Field School
Twelve credit hours from the following:
Protected Area Planning and Management
Indigenous Tourism and Recreation
Outdoor, Environmental and Experiential Education
Conservation Area Design and Management
Recreation, Tourism and Communities
The Psychology of Recreation and Tourism
Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities
Field School II
Internship
Special Topics
Area of Specialization
- Marketing and Entrepreneurship
- Outdoor Education and Leadership
- Indigenous Cultural Tourism
- Environment and Society
Financial Accounting
Introduction to Marketing
Services Marketing
Organizational Behaviour
Introduction to Business Law
Introduction to International Business
Marketing Communication
Behavioural Marketing
Internet Marketing
International Marketing
Marketing Strategy
Marketing Research
Environmental Economics and Environmental Policy
Northern Communities
Outdoor Education and Leadership
Introduction to Education
Education Theory and Practice
Introduction to Environmental Citizenship
The Psychology of Recreation and Tourism
Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities
One of the following:
Landscapes, Place and Culture
Field School
Ethnobotany
Global Environmental Change: Sustainability
Human Ecology
Topics in Environmental History
Field Applications in Resource Management
Indigenous/Cultural Tourism
The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
Introduction to Traditional Environmental Knowledge
One of the following:
First Nations Community and Environmental Planning
Contemporary Challenges Facing Aboriginal Communities
Two of the following:
Ethnobotany
Advanced First Nations Community and Environmental Planning
Cultural Geography
First Nations and Indigenous Geography
Aboriginal People in Canada
Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World
Community Development
One of the following:
International Dimensions in Recreation and Tourism
Recreation, Tourism and Communities
Environment and Society
Introduction to Environmental Citizenship
Environment and Society
First Nations Community and Environmental Planning
One of the following:
Introduction to GIS
Cartography and Geomatics
One of the following:
Mediation, Negotiation and Public Participation
Natural Resources, Environmental Issues and Public Engagement
Society, Policy and Administration
Two of the following:
Landscapes, Place and Culture
Sustainable Communities: Structure and Sociology
Human Ecology
Gender and Environmental Studies
Political Ecology: Environmental Knowledge and Decision-Making
Environmental Justice
Northern Communities
Topics in Environmental History
Course Prerequisites
Students must ensure that all prerequisites are fulfilled prior to registering in any course.
Electives
Students take electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours. This includes taking any additional credits necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation 15).
BA Honours – Nature-Based Tourism Management
To enter the Honours Program, students must have completed 60 credit hours and obtained a minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.33. Attaining the minimum requirement will not guarantee entry into the Honours Program, which is at the discretion of the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Program. Maintenance of a Cumulative GPA of 3.33 is required to remain in the Honours Program.
Honours students must complete the degree requirements for the BA in the Nature-Based Tourism Management. In addition, each student must also complete an additional 6 credit hours in the form of an undergraduate thesis (NRES 430-6) under the supervision of a faculty member.
Note: Students are responsible to find their own undergraduate thesis research supervisor. Faculty members are under no obligation to supervise Honours students.
Minor in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management
The minor in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management is designed to afford students an opportunity to gain foundational knowledge in tourism and recreation while pursuing another major. The minor requires students to take a total of 18 credit hours. The minor has three required courses basic to the field of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management (9 credit hours) and a set of elective courses (minimum of 9 credit hours). A maximum of two courses (6 credit hours) used to fulfill program requirements for a major (or another minor) may also be used to fulfill requirements for this minor.
Required Courses
Foundations of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Recreation and Tourism Impacts
One of the following:
Sustainable Recreation and Tourism
Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism
Outdoor Skills and Leadership
Elective Courses
Nine credit hours from the following list with a minimum of 6 credit hours at the 400 level:
Protected Area Planning and Management
Indigenous Tourism and Recreation
Outdoor, Environmental, and Experiential Education
International Dimensions in Recreation and Tourism
Recreation, Tourism and Communities
The Psychology of Recreation and Tourism
Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities