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
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 of 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.
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.
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 Management, People and Organisations (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)
ECOT2710 Ecotourism Practicum 1 (4.5 units)
ECOT3700 Ecotourism 3 (4.5 units)
ECOT3710 Ecotourism Practicum 2 (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 Chemical Structure and Bonding# (4.5 units)
CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry# (4.5 units)
CHEM1201 General Chemistry# (4.5 units)
CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences# (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 Modern World# (4.5 units)
PHYS1702 Physics for Health Sciences# (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 Bachelor of Science (Honours) - 1 year program in 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 Bachelor of Science (Honours) - 1 year program admission requirements.