Bachelor of Ecotourism

The Bachelor of Ecotourism requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time) and the honours program an additional year (or the equivalent part-time). The course is offered by the School of Biological Sciences, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study
  
  

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Course aims

The course aims to produce multidisciplinary graduates suited to careers as development officers, wildlife carers, operators, guides or planners in sustainable tourism. Students will understand the key issues in biodiversity and conservation, will have skills to analyse and evaluate business and science data, and can apply their communication and business skills to create interpretive material for the sustainable tourism industry. Graduates have:

• a grounding in the natural sciences and related areas such as geography and environmental studies in addition to an introduction to Aboriginal studies
• business management and marketing skills necessary for the industry
• good communication skills
• at least eight weeks&##39; experience working in the industry.

Learning outcomes

On completion of their degree students will be able to:

• interpret and clarify the patterns and processes that generate biodiversity and current threats to conservation
• identify and explain the role of sustainable tourism development for conservation
• use a business framework to plan and implement sustainable tourism
• demonstrate a comprehensive and well-founded knowledge in their science discipline and a range of transferable professional skills.

Subject knowledge

Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:

• demonstrate specialist skills in the natural sciences and use scientific knowledge to explain and interpret nature
• understand the role of ecotourism for sustainable development
• apply relevant business management and marketing skills to implement, maintain, and promote sustainable tourism.

Transferable professional skills

Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:

• employ scientific methodologies such as experimental design and data analysis
• communicate and present information clearly and fluently in both written and spoken forms
• interact effectively as part of a team in order to work towards a common outcome
• work and learn independently
• reason critically and logically and make independent judgements
• engage effectively with information and communication technologies
• demonstrate research skills appropriate for further study and employment
• appreciate the need for continuing professional development.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Ecotourism, a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 108 units for the degree.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

 AUST1004  An Introduction to Aboriginal Studies  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1101  Evolution of Biological Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BUSN1011  Accounting For Managers  (4.5 units)
 BUSN1012  Business Communication  (4.5 units)
 EASC1101  Earth and Environmental Sciences  (4.5 units)
 ECOT1101  Ecotourism 1  (4.5 units)
 ENVS1702  Environment, Economy and Culture  (4.5 units)

One of:

 BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1112  Biology and Society  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 & 3 topics

22.5 units comprising:

 BIOL2701  Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology  (4.5 units)
 ECOT2702  Ecotourism 2  (4.5 units)
 ECOT3700  Ecotourism 3  (4.5 units)
 TOUR3102  Tourism Placement A  (4.5 units)
 TOUR3103  Tourism Placement B  (4.5 units)

Option - Year 2 & 3 topics*

At least 18 units from:

 BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life##  (4.5 units) OR
 BIOL1112  Biology and Society##  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1201  Introduction to Aquaculture##  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2702  Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2711  Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2712  Animal Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2722  Disease and Immunology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2742  Marine Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3701  Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3702  Marine and Freshwater Biology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3703  Vertebrate Palaeontology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3711  Plant and Algal Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3712  Integrative Physiology of Animals and Plants  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3721  Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3751  Marine Mammals, Birds and Reptiles  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1101  Chemistry 1A##  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1102  Chemistry 1B##  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1201  Introduction to Chemistry A##  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1202  Introduction to Chemistry B##  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1702  Science and Society##  (4.5 units)
 CHEM2711  Spectroscopy and Data Anaylsis  (4.5 units)
 CHEM2712  Separation Science  (4.5 units)
 EASC2701  Coasts and Oceans  (4.5 units)
 EASC2702  Global Climate Change  (4.5 units)
 EASC2722  Sedimentary Processes  (4.5 units)
 EASC3732  Geological Processes  (4.5 units)
 PHYS1701  Physics for the Life Sciences A##  (4.5 units)
 PHYS1702  Physics for the Life Sciences B##  (4.5 units)
 STAT2700  Applied Statistics Laboratory  (4.5 units)

Select remaining topics from elective topics* (topics across the University where entry requirements are met), to make a total of 108 units.

##No more than 45 units of First Year topics can be taken.

In their choice of electives, students may focus their electives in particular areas of study, or opt for a broad range of electives across disciplines. For more focused study, students may opt for an emphasis in Business, Development Studies, Education, Language, Tourism, Environmental Management, or Biology.

*Students intending to enrol in the BSc (Honours) program in the Biological Sciences must complete a minimum of 36 units of BIOL topics in Second and Third Year. Students are advised to consult with the Course Coordinator about the selection of topics that will meet the BSc (Honours) program admission requirements.