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

or STAT 240-3

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

or NREM 303-3

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

Students must choose one of the following Areas of Specialization. Courses used to fulfill common degree requirements above may not be used to satisfy an Area of Specialization requirement.

Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Outdoor Education and Leadership
Indigenous Cultural Tourism
Environment and Society

Marketing and Entrepreneurship

COMM 210-3

COMM 342-3

Financial Accounting

Services Marketing

Two of the following:

Marketing Communication

Behavioural Marketing

Internet Marketing

International Marketing

Marketing Strategy

Two of the following:

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

FNST 100-3

or HIST 215-3

FNST 203-3

The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

Global History of Indigenous People

Introduction to Traditional Environmental Knowledge

One of the following:

ENPL 208-3

FNST 217-3

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:

ORTM 403-3**

ORTM 407-3**

International Dimensions in Recreation and Tourism

Recreation, Tourism and Communities

Environment and Society

ENVS 101-3

ENPL 205-3

or ENPL 208-3

Introduction to Environmental Citizenship

Environment and Society

First Nations Community and Environmental Planning

One of the following:

GEOG 204-3

GEOG 205-3

Introduction to GIS

Cartography and Geomatics

One of the following:

ENPL 304-3

ENVS 326-3

NREM 306-3

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)

This 60-credit-hour program of study is available only to students with a 2-year diploma in Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, Tourism, Sport or Recreation Studies, Commerce, Geography, or equivalent, and a minimum of a 2.00 Cumulative GPA.

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)

FNST 304-3

or NREM 303-3

ORTM 300-3

ORTM 333-3

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

**Note: Some senior-level ORTM classes are offered in alternating years.

Area of Specialization

Students must choose one of the following Areas of Specialization. Courses used to fulfill common degree requirements above may not be used to satisfy an Area of Specialization requirement.

Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Outdoor Education and Leadership
Indigenous Cultural Tourism
Environment and Society

Marketing and Entrepreneurship

COMM 210-3

COMM 240-3

COMM 342-3

Financial Accounting

Introduction to Marketing

Services Marketing

Three of the following:

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

FNST 100-3

FNST 203-3

The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

Introduction to Traditional Environmental Knowledge

One of the following:

ENPL 208-3

FNST 217-3

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:

ORTM 403-3**

ORTM 407-3**

International Dimensions in Recreation and Tourism

Recreation, Tourism and Communities

Environment and Society

ENVS 101-3

ENPL 205-3

or ENPL 208-3

Introduction to Environmental Citizenship

Environment and Society

First Nations Community and Environmental Planning

One of the following:

GEOG 204-3

GEOG 205-3

Introduction to GIS

Cartography and Geomatics

One of the following:

ENPL 304-3

ENVS 326-3

NREM 306-3

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

The Honours Program in Nature-Based Tourism Management offers students a higher level of education and substantial research experience for proceeding to postgraduate studies.

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.