Nature-Based Tourism Management (BA Program)

Ken Otter, Professor and Chair
Philip Mullins, Associate Professor
Lauren Harding, Assistant Professor
Jennifer Wigglesworth, Assistant Professor
John Shultis, Adjunct Professor
Pamela Wright, Adjunct 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, communities and tourism, or environment and society.

Major in Nature-Based Tourism Management (BA)
Area of Specialization - Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Area of Specialization - Outdoor Education and Leadership
Area of Specialization - Communities and Tourism
Area of Specialization - Environment and Society
BA Nature-Based Tourism Management (BA) (Diploma Completion)
Major in Nature-Based Tourism Management (BA Honours)
Minor in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management

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

BIOL 110-3 Introductory Ecology
COMM 100-3 Introduction to Canadian Business
ECON 100-3 Microeconomics
ENPL 104-3 Introduction to Planning
ORTM 100-3 Foundations of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

One of the following:

ENVS 101-3 Introduction to Environmental Citizenship
ENVS 210-3 Environmental Perspectives
FNST 100-3 The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
GEOG 101-3 Planet Earth
GEOG 102-3 Earth from Above

200 Level

COMM 240-3 Introduction to Marketing
ECON 205-3 Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences
     or STAT 240-3      Basic Statistics
ENVS 210-3 Environmental Perspectives
     or HIST 360-3      An Introduction to Environmental History
     or INTS 225-3      Global Environmental Change
     or NREM 225-3      Global Environmental Change: Sustainability
NREM 209-3 The Practice of Conservation
ORTM 200-3 Sustainable Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 202-3 Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism
ORTM 205-3 Outdoor Skills and Leadership
ORTM 206-3 Recreation and Leisure Programming

Upper-Division Requirement

300 Level

COMM 302-3 Entrepreneurship
FNST 304-3 Indigenous Environmental Philosophy
     or NREM 303-3 Aboriginal Perspectives on Land and Resource Management
ORTM 300-3 Recreation and Tourism Impacts
ORTM 307-3** Land Relations and Communities in Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 332-3 Outdoor, Environmental, and Experiential Education
ORTM 333-3 Field School

400 Level
Nine credit hours from the following:

ORTM 305-3 Protected Area Planning and Management
ORTM 400-3 Conservation Area Design and Management
ORTM 401-3** The Culture of Adventure
ORTM 405-3** Leadership Praxis
ORTM 409-3** Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities
ORTM 433-(1-6) Field School II
ORTM 440-(2-6) Internship
ORTM 498-(1-3) Special Topics
ORTM 499-(1-6) 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.

  1. Marketing and Entrepreneurship
  2. Outdoor Education and Leadership
  3. Communities and Tourism
  4. Environment and Society

Marketing and Entrepreneurship

COMM 210-3 Financial Accounting
COMM 342-3 Services Marketing
     or COMM 340-3      Marketing Communication

Two of the following:

COMM 340-3 Marketing Communication
COMM 343-3 Behavioural Marketing
COMM 346-3 Internet Marketing
COMM 441-3 International Marketing
COMM 442-3 Marketing Strategy

Two of the following:

COMM 230-3 Organizational Behaviour
COMM 300-3 Introduction to Business Law
COMM 303-3 Introduction to International Business
COMM 443-3 Marketing Research
ECON 305-3 Environmental Economics and Environmental Policy
ENPL 313-3 Rural Community Economic Development (CED)
GEOG 424-3 Northern Communities

Outdoor Education and Leadership

EDUC 101-3 Introduction to Education
EDUC 201-3 Education Theory and Practice
ENVS 101-3 Introduction to Environmental Citizenship
ORTM 405-3** Leadership Praxis
ORTM 409-3** Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities

One of the following:

ANTH 405-3 Landscapes, Place and Culture
BIOL 333-3 Field School
BIOL 350-3 Ethnobotany
HIST 421-(3-6) Topics in Environmental History
NREM 333-3 Field Applications in Resource Management

Communities and Tourism

FNST 100-3 The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
     or HIST 215-3      Global History of Indigenous People
FNST 203-3 Introduction to Traditional Environmental Knowledge
     or GEOG 206-3      Social Geography

One of the following:

ENPL 208-4 Land and Indigenous Reconciliation Studio
ENPL 313-3 Rural Community Economic Development (CED)
ENVS 210-3 Environmental Perspectives
FNST 217-3 Contemporary Challenges Facing Aboriginal Communities
GEOG 305-3 Political Ecology: Environmental Knowledge and Decision-Making
GEOG 306-3 Critical Development Geographies
GEOG 324-3 Community-Based Research

Two of the following:

BIOL 350-3 Ethnobotany
ENPL 301-3 Sustainable Communities: Structure and Sociology
ENPL 409-4 Indigenous Planning Studio
GEOG 403-3 Indigenous Geographies of Climate Resilience
GEOG 420-3 Environmental Justice
GEOG 424-3 Northern Communities
GEOG 426-3 Geographies of Culture, Rights and Power
HIST 390-3 History of Indigenous People of Canada 
INTS 240-3 Contemporary Circumpolar North
NORS 321-3 Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World 1
POLS 332-3 Community Development
WMST 209-3 Gender and Cultural Studies: An Introduction

One of the following:

ORTM 307-3** Land Relations and Communities in Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 405-3** Leadership Praxis

Environment and Society

ENPL 205-3 Environment and Society
or ENPL 208-4      Land and Indigenous Reconciliation Studio
or ENVS 210-3      Environmental Perspectives
ENVS 101-3 Introduction to Environmental Citizenship

One of the following:

GEOG 204-3 Introduction to GIS
GEOG 205-3 Cartography and Geomatics

One of the following:

ENPL 304-4 Community Engagement and Inclusion Studio
ENVS 326-3 Public Engagement for Sustainability
NREM 306-3 Society, Policy and Administration

Two of the following:

ANTH 405-3 Landscapes, Place and Culture
ENPL 301-3 Sustainable Communities: Structure and Sociology
ENVS 309-3 Gender, Environment and Sustainability
GEOG 305-3 Political Ecology: Environmental Knowledge and Decision-Making
GEOG 420-3 Environmental Justice
GEOG 424-3 Northern Communities
HIST 421-(3-6) Topics in Environmental History

**Note: Students should note that some senior-level ORTM classes are offered in alternating years.

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.

Degree requirements: Two-year Diploma in Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, Tourism, Sport or Recreation Studies, Commerce, 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)

BIOL 110-3 Introductory Ecology
COMM 100-3 Introduction to Canadian Business
ECON 100-3 Microeconomics
ORTM 100-3 Foundations of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 200-3 Sustainable Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 205-3 Outdoor Skills and Leadership
ORTM 206-3 Recreation and Leisure Programming

Upper-Division Requirement (21 credit hours)

FNST 304-3 Indigenous Environmental Policy
     or NREM 303-3      Aboriginal Perspectives on Land and Resource Management
ORTM 300-3 Recreation and Tourism Impacts
ORTM 333-3 Field School

Twelve credit hours of the following:

ORTM 305-3 Protected Area Planning and Management
ORTM 307-3* Land Relations and Communities in Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 332-3 Outdoor, Environmental, and Experiential Education
ORTM 400-3 Conservation Area Design and Management
ORTM 401-3* The Culture of Adventure
ORTM 405-3* Leadership Praxis
ORTM 409-3* Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities
ORTM 433-(1-6) Field School II
ORTM 440-(2-6) Internship
ORTM 498-(1-3) 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.

  1. Marketing and Entrepreneurship
  2. Outdoor Education and Leadership
  3. Communities and Tourism
  4. Environment and Society

Marketing and Entrepreneurship

COMM 210-3 Financial Accounting
COMM 342-3 Services Marketing
     or COMM 340-3      Marketing Communication

Two of the following:

COMM 340-3 Marketing Communication
COMM 343-3 Behavioural Marketing
COMM 346-3 Internet Marketing
COMM 441-3 International Marketing
COMM 442-3 Marketing Strategy

Two of the following:

COMM 230-3 Organizational Behaviour
COMM 300-3 Introduction to Business Law
COMM 303-3 Introduction to International Business
COMM 443-3 Marketing Research
ECON 305-3 Environmental Economics and Environmental Policy
ENPL 313-3 Rural Community Economic Development (CED)
GEOG 424-3 Northern Communities

Outdoor Education and Leadership

EDUC 101-3 Introduction to Education
EDUC 201-3 Education Theory and Practice
ENVS 101-3 Introduction to Environmental Citizenship
ORTM 405-3** Leadership Praxis
ORTM 409-3** Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities

One of the following:

ANTH 405-3 Landscapes, Place and Culture
BIOL 333-3 Field School
BIOL 350-3 Ethnobotany
HIST 421-(3-6) Topics in Environmental History
NREM 333-3 Field Applications in Resource Management

Communities and Tourism

FNST 100-3 The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
     or HIST 215-3      Global History of Indigenous People
FNST 203-3 Introduction to Traditional Environmental Knowledge
     or GEOG 206-3      Social Geography

One of the following:

ENPL 208-4 Land and Indigenous Reconciliation Studio
ENPL 313-3 Rural Community Economic Development (CED)
ENVS 210-3 Environmental Perspectives
FNST 217-3 Contemporary Challenges Facing Aboriginal Communities
GEOG 305-3 Political Ecology: Environmental Knowledge and Decision-Making
GEOG 306-3 Critical Development Geographies
GEOG 324-3 Community-Based Research

Two of the following:

BIOL 350-3 Ethnobotany
ENPL 301-3 Sustainable Communities: Structure and Sociology
ENPL 409-4 Indigenous Planning Studio
GEOG 403-3 Indigenous Geographies of Climate Resilience
GEOG 420-3 Environmental Justice
GEOG 424-3 Northern Communities
GEOG 426-3 Geographies of Culture, Rights and Power
HIST 390-3 History of Indigenous People of Canada 
INTS 240-3 Contemporary Circumpolar North
NORS 321-3 Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World 1
POLS 332-3 Community Development
WMST 209-3 Gender and Cultural Studies: An Introduction

One of the following:

ORTM 307-3** Land Relations and Communities in Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 405-3** Leadership Praxis

Environment and Society

ENPL 205-3 Environment and Society
or ENPL 208-4      Land and Indigenous Reconciliation Studio
or ENVS 210-3      Environmental Perspectives
ENVS 101-3 Introduction to Environmental Citizenship

One of the following:

GEOG 204-3 Introduction to GIS
GEOG 205-3 Cartography and Geomatics

One of the following:

ENPL 304-4 Community Engagement and Inclusion Studio
ENVS 326-3 Public Engagement for Sustainability
NREM 306-3 Society, Policy and Administration

Two of the following:

ANTH 405-3 Landscapes, Place and Culture
ENPL 301-3 Sustainable Communities: Structure and Sociology
ENVS 309-3 Gender, Environment and Sustainability
GEOG 305-3 Political Ecology: Environmental Knowledge and Decision-Making
GEOG 420-3 Environmental Justice
GEOG 424-3 Northern Communities
HIST 421-(3-6) Topics in Environmental History

**Note: Students should note that some senior-level ORTM classes are offered in alternating years.

Course Prerequisites

Students should review all proposed course selections in advance to make sure course prerequisites are taken where needed.

Electives and Academic Breadth

Students take electives at any level in any subject sufficient to ensure the completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours.  This includes taking any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).

BA Honours – Nature-Based Tourism Management

The Honours 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 does 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 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

ORTM 100-3 Foundations of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 300-3 Recreation and Tourism Impacts

One of the following:

ORTM 200-3 Sustainable Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 202-3 Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism
ORTM 205-3 Outdoor Skills and Leadership
ORTM 206-3 Recreation and Leisure Programming

Elective Courses

Nine credit hours from the following list, with a minimum of 6 credit hours at the 400 level:

ORTM 305-3 Protected Area Planning and Management
ORTM 307-3 Land Relations and Communities in Recreation and Tourism
ORTM 332-3 Outdoor, Environmental, and Experiential Education
ORTM 401-3 The Culture of Adventure
ORTM 405-3 Leadership Praxis
ORTM 409-3 Critical Approaches to Outdoor Recreation Activities

Updated: July 3, 2024