Bachelor of Tourism Management
This degree program is designed for graduates of recognized two-year diploma programs in tourism management, hospitality administration and outdoor recreation, and for those with related programs and educational backgrounds. Industry experience is assumed. The degree forms an integral part of the BC Tourism Learning System.
Two-year diploma programs vary in their composition but generally satisfy most core or foundation course and elective requirements.
General education requirements can be taken before or after completion of the diploma program.
Upper-level tourism courses should be taken last.
Note: Various tourism/hospitality courses are also offered to part-time students via face-to-face or online delivery through the Thompson Rivers University School of Tourism (250.377.6146) and other BC post-secondary institutions, including Capilano College (604.984.4960) and Vancouver Island University (250.740.6396).
Certain courses may be available only by distance once a year or by special arrangement with the Thompson Rivers University School of Tourism. Hospitality Administration Stream courses may not be available by distance.
Admission Requirements (under review)
Graduation from a recognized two-year tourism/ hospitality program, with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.67 or higher, for the maximum block transfer toward the degree.
Students who have not completed a tourism or hospitality diploma but have considerable industry experience may apply for admission on completing a minimum of 60 credits of directly applicable coursework, preferably including core business and tourism or hospitality foundation courses.
Students who plan to complete a credential through TRU-OL must complete and submit a Program Admission/Transfer Credit form.
Residency Requirements
Minimum of 15 credits of TRU coursework (distance or on campus).
Degree Requirements (under review)
120 credits, 45 at the upper-level, with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 over all courses taken outside the block transfer, are required as follows:
General Education Requirements (21 credits)
(may be met with lower-level or upper-level university courses; refer to general education requirements for disciplines)
6 credits in English (university-level composition and literature, e.g. TRU-OL's
ENGL 1001 or
ENGL 1021 and
ENGL 1011 or
ENGL 1031)
3 credits in Statistics (e.g. STAT 1201)
3 credits in Humanities (other than English)
3 credits in Introductory Economics (e.g. ECON 1221 or ECON 1901)
3 credits in approved Geography (human, cultural or regional geography relevant to tourism, e.g. GEOG 1191)
3 credits in Natural Science
Core Business and Tourism/Hospitality Course Requirements (typically part of approved diploma programs) (30-33 credits)
Tourism Management Stream
Minimum of one course from six of the following seven areas:
Accounting (e.g. BBUS 2211)
Computer Applications (e.g. COMP 1509)
Marketing (e.g. BBUS 3431)
Entrepreneurship I
Business Communication (e.g. ENGL 1061, ENGL 1071 or BBUS 3631)
Human Resource Management (e.g. BBUS 3811)
Organizational Behaviour (e.g. BBUS 2721)
Minimum of one course from four of the following areas:
Introduction to Tourism (e.g. CONV 1010 from TRU School of Tourism or Vancouver Island University)
Tourism Business Law (e.g. BBUS 3931)
Co-op or Practicum (may be completed through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR))
Community and Cultural Issues (e.g. CONV 1030 from TRU School of Tourism or Vancouver Island University)
Environmental Studies: Sustainability (ENVS 3991)
Hospitality Administration Stream
Includes a minimum of one course from each of the following areas:
Accounting (e.g. BBUS 2211)
Computer Applications (e.g. COMP 1509)
Marketing (e.g. BBUS 3431)
Accommodations
Hospitality Marketing
Co-op or Practicum (may be completed through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR))
Business Communication (e.g.
ENGL 1061,
ENGL 1071 or
BBUS 3631)
Human Resource Management (e.g. BBUS 3811)
Organizational Behaviour (e.g. BBUS 2721)
Food and Beverage Service
Hospitality Law (CONV 1050 from TRU School of Tourism or Vancouver Island University)
Upper-level Requirements (24 credits)
Minimum of one course from each of the following areas:
Tourism Policy and Planning (e.g. SOCI 3169 or TRMT 470 from Vancouver Island University)
Financial Management for Tourism (e.g. BBUS 3121)
New Venture Creation (e.g. BBUS 4751)
Community and Cultural Issues II (e.g. BBUS 3031)
People Management/Human Relations (e.g. BBUS 3661)
Organizational Leadership (e.g. BBUS 4833)
Advanced Communication (e.g. BBUS 3631)
Graduating Seminar
- Please contact your program advisor for other alternative courses.
Upper-level Tourism or Hospitality Specialty Course Requirements (minimum 15 credits)
One course from the following four categories (3 credits)
Marketing Research (e.g. BBUS 3481)
Promotions Management (e.g. BBUS 4481)
Consumer Behaviour (e.g. BBUS 3471)
International Tourism Marketing (e.g. BBUS 4471 or TRMT 368 from Vancouver Island University)
And an additional four upper-level tourism, hospitality or closely related specialty courses approved by TRU-OL (e.g. refer to the above four categories and the 3000- and 4000-level courses listed below under “Other Elective Requirements”)
Other Elective Requirements (27–30 credits)
Generally, most or all of these are met through block transfer from recognized tourism management or hospitality administration diploma programs.
Potential electives available by distance may include but are not limited to the following:
TRU-OL Courses:
BBUS 2541, Management Accounting (recommended)
BBUS 3511, International Business
BBUS 3031, Business and Society
HART 4839, Museum Principles and Practices II: Programming, Exhibitions, and Management
HART 4859, Heritage Resource Conservation
HART 4869, Museum Principles and Practices I: Communities,
Curatorship, and Collections
HART 4879, Heritage Resource Management
MATH 1091,
Business Mathematics (recommended)
SOCI 3169, Tourism and Social Policy
TRU School of Tourism Courses and Vancouver Island University Courses:
CONV 1020, Introduction to Special Events Management
CONV 1040, Event Volunteer Management
CONV 1050, Legal Liability and Risk Management
CONV 1060, Event Marketing
Vancouver Island University Courses:
TRMT 359, Management of Parks and Protected Areas
TRMT 390B, Special Topics: Seniors
TRMT 430, Resort Management
TRMT 450, Volunteer Management
TRMT 475, Lifestyle Management
For information on TRU School of Tourism courses, contact bmcgregor@tru.ca
For information on Vancouver Island University courses, contact s-a.gajda@viu.ca
Students are responsible for consulting with their TRU-OL program advisor to ensure that courses selected are appropriate for the program of study or to meet future educational goals. Students require a Letter of Permission before registering in a course (not listed on the website) at any other post-secondary institution to complete the credential. Students who proceed without approval may find that a particular course does not meet requirements and may be subject to credit assessment fees.
Email Student Services for more information.