Adventure Studies in the Bachelor of Tourism Management
The development of the adventure travel industry is paralleled by a growing need for capable adventure tourism managers. Local, national, and international governments, businesses, organizations, and communities require tourism experts to help develop, direct, and promote adventure experiences in their villages, cities, regions, and countries.
Adventure studies as a major or minor within the Bachelor of Tourism Management degree equip students for these opportunities by offering courses in the following topics:
- adventure and sport tourism marketing
- adventure tourism business management
- contemporary issues in adventure tourism
- eco and adventure tourism programming
- international adventure business and community development
- legal liability and risk management
- policy development and planning
To build upon students’ existing skills and competencies, credits completed from the Adventure Guide Diploma, Adventure Sports Certificate, Adventure Management Diploma, the Canadian Mountain and Ski Guide Certification Program, and tourism or recreation programs from other post-secondary institutions may be transferred into this degree. Students may study full- or part-time. Adventure Studies are offered as an Honours Degree, a Major, and Minors within the BTM degree.
To maximize exposure to adventure studies, it is recommended that students take the Adventure Management Diploma as the first two years of study in the BTM.
The unique combination of theory and practice produces competent graduates who quickly apply the skills they gained as students to their careers:
- as consultants to businesses, organizations, communities, and governments
- as research assistants
- as tourism product developers
- as tourism industry professionals
- as adventure tourism entrepreneurs and business managers
As part of their course work, students in the BTM in Adventure Studies participate in numerous projects for local and foreign agencies. An international field trip is offered every year to familiarize students with adventure tourism development abroad.
Entry into the BTM
Students who are planning on completing the BTM in Adventure Studies may complete their first two year lower-level course requirements in a variety of ways, including:
1. Completion of the Adventure Management Diploma as lower-level BTM course requirements. This is the most efficient path for completing lower-level BTM requirements because all 60 credits of this program transfer directly into the BTM. It is also the recommended route for students wishing to maximize the amount of adventure-related credits in their studies because 45 of the 60 lower-level credits are Adventure Studies Department course credits.
2. Completion of general tourism and business courses as lower-level BTM course requirements. This is an efficient path for completing lower-level BTM requirements because students can take 60 credits that may transfer directly into the BTM and meet all upper-level prerequisite requirements. However, there are only 12 elective credits available for lower-level Adventure Studies Department courses. For more information on this path please see the course requirements found at http://www.tru.ca/tourism/management/programoutlines/degree/btmprogramstructure.html.
3. Completion of the Adventure Guide Diploma as lower-level BTM course requirements. This is a less efficient path for completing lower-level BTM requirements because students may need to take additional courses to meet BTM requirements. This means that students who complete this path require an additional semester in order to complete the BTM.
4. Completion of the Adventure Sport Certificate as lower-level BTM course requirements. All 39 credits taken in the Adventure Sport Certificate transfer directly to the BTM. The additional 21 lower-level credits required for entry to the 3rd year of the BTM can be chosen from any of the three program paths described in #1-3 above.
5. Completion of transfer credits at other post-secondary institutions. Each year the BTM accepts large numbers of students who transfer from other post-secondary tourism, adventure tourism, and recreation programs around the world. The level of transfer credit given varies widely and students should contact the BTM Program Adviser for information.
Fees and Additional Costs
A breakdown of fees in the Bachelor of Tourism program can be found at http://www.tru.ca/admreg/fees/programcosts.html .
Students participating in the international field trip will incur extra costs for travel and study.
International Student Fees
International student fees are based on C$6,250 tuition per semester (as of 2006–2007), depending on the courses selected.
Program Advisor
Prospective Bachelor of Tourism Management in Adventure Studies students should contact the BTM Program Advisor, Jarita Heer, at jheer@tru.ca or telephone (250) 828-5366. Further information is also available on the BTM website.