Introduction
In an unknown climate, we need leaders in tourism and hospitality able to spearhead change and innovate the way we do business. Not everything can be planned for. This program will expose you to the opportunities, trends and issues in the global tourism and hospitality industry, and will equip you with the tools and knowledge to succeed within it. You will learn the entrepreneurship, leadership, and management skills to contribute to community resilience and business development. And if the idea of working internationally excites you, then our Bachelor of Arts in Global Tourism Management will help you go far.
Students may be eligible for a $10,000 entrance award/bursary towards their tuition.
Program Description
This program is offered as a 4-year undergraduate degree or a 4-year undergraduate degree with language support for students typically entering from high school (or equivalent) or as a degree completion option (years 3 & 4) for eligible students.
Common Foundations
Through challenge-based learning, you'll receive an interdisciplinary foundation for the first two years of your undergraduate program. You'll be immersed in world issues while acquiring the key knowledge and skills essential for today's careers. Working in teams, you'll design sustainable solutions for local challenges while learning transferrable skills, such as leadership, communication, critical thinking, contingency planning and collaboration. Visit the common foundations page to learn more about challenge-based learning in the first two years of this program.
Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Global Tourism Management (BAGTM) program ­focuses on global tourism opportunities, trends and issues that will ensure you’ll have the tools and knowledge to advance your career in tourism and hospitality anywhere in the world. You will not only learn to use entrepreneurship, leadership, and management skills to contribute to community and business development, you will come away with a distinct competitive advantage. Now more than ever, the world needs leaders spearheading changing, building resilience and innovating the way we do business.
Not everything can be planned for. Learn the skills you need to respond, pivot quickly and lead change. Experiential learning is an important component of this program; you will be taken out of the classroom and exposed to actual tourism operations and situations through a 1-week field trip course. Here you will explore some of the best that Vancouver Island has to offer, including the beaches of Tofino and slopes of Mount Washington. You will meet tourism entrepreneurs and professionals to better understand the issues and realities faced by the tourism industry. You will learn the practical aspects of travel management and tour operations while travelling to different destinations on Vancouver Island. At the same time, you will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities including skiing, snowboarding, whale watching, surfing and stand-up paddle boarding.
A key aspect of our program is the internship. Cap your education by applying and expanding your tourism knowledge in a three-month professional work placement. You will be mentored by a supervisor and guided by an RRU advisor as you learn about your chosen career in the tourism and hospitality industry. Internships can be completed anywhere in the world, and will provide you with an opportunity to expand your network and turn your internship position into a profession. Previous internships have occurred in organizations across Canada and internationally (e.g. China, Korea), in areas such as music festival coordinators, management trainees, front-line workers, and tour leaders.
Is this for you?
We are looking for creative and motivated individuals who enjoy working with people and have a passion for the tourism industry. If you wish to advance your career in tourism and hospitality as a professional tourism manager or entrepreneur, this degree is for you. You will gain a comprehensive range of abilities, knowledge, and experience to contribute to a viable and sustainable tourism industry. Bring your outgoing, friendly nature and your love to explore the world and its people.
This program is a degree completion program enabling you to complete years three and four of your degree on-campus.
Admission Requirements
First-year entry (4-year undergraduate degree with language support)
This option is for students who require English language support. Please review the requirements for first-year entry with language support for more information.
First-year entry (4-year undergraduate degree)
This option is for students coming from high school (or equivalent). Please review the First-year admission and application requirements for more information.
Third-year entry (degree completion - 3rd & 4th year)
Standard admission
Completion of a diploma (or 60 credits), including a minimum of 24 second-year credits, in areas such as hospitality, tourism, business administration or equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 'B' (3.00/4.33), from a recognized post-secondary institution.
At least 400 hours of tourism/hospitality related work experience
Flexible admission
To be considered for Flexible Admission, applicants would normally require at least 5 years of mid-level work experience in the tourism/hospitality industry.
English Language Proficiency
If English is not your primary language, please review our English Language Requirements.
Additional recommendation(s)
Solid academic writing skills are required for success in this program; therefore an English composition course focused on academic writing and critical thinking is strongly recommended. APA style citation is used in this program. A basic knowledge of accounting principles is also strongly recommended.
Courses available from Continuing Studies at Royal Roads University that meet these recommendations are:
Academic Writing and Critical Thinking – Continuing Studies - Academic Support
Financial Accounting Fundamentals – Continuing Studies - Academic Support
Outcomes
Our program incorporates essential topics and competencies related to entrepreneurship, destination marketing, leadership, communications, community development, and global sustainability. You will gain and refine the desired skills that tourism and hospitality organizations are searching for.
You will develop critical insight into issues and opportunities in the tourism industry, all the while learning within a supportive, team-based environment. You will increase your competitive advantage by developing real-world connections through your instructors, your international cohort, semester abroad and global internship opportunities.
Tourism embodies a wide variety of interconnected industries, and global demand has created many new job opportunities for you, from careers in large corporations to small businesses, government and destination-related organizations, sport and event management firms, as well as tourism consulting possibilities.
Once you graduate, your undergraduate degree provides you the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in a range of disciplines at institutions around the world as well as here at RRU. There are many we have to choose from, including the Master of Arts in Tourism Management, the Master of Global Management or Master of Arts in Professional Communication.
As a BAGTM graduate, you will come away with a set of skills and deep understanding of the issues and topics that drive the tourism and hospitality industry. The following outline the knowledge you will gain, and what you will be able to successfully apply to your career no matter where in the world you go.
Global Awareness
You will learn to analyze and assess the impact of global issues facing tourism managers and how tourism initiatives can impact communities, all while learning to apply sustainable management techniques, building community resilience and developing your multicultural sensitivity.
Knowledge
While learning the approaches to human resource management, you will develop an understanding of strategic planning concepts for a tourism enterprise, as well as the principles of tourism marketing and event management.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Using case study scenarios and conceptual models, you will learn the critical analysis, data interpretation and business research skills highly valued in tourism.
Effective Communication
Producing written materials and oral presentations using both narrative and graphic representations, you will regularly participate in class discussions, all while perfecting your computer, internet and communications skills.
Leadership and Collaboration
You’ll learn how to lead teams through group assignments and activities, and hone the skills needed to perform as an effective team member in a variety of situations and circumstances.
Careers
The BA in Global Tourism Management ensures you will have the tools and knowledge to advance your career in tourism and hospitality within Canada or globally. Improve your career prospects while learning to use entrepreneurship, leadership, and management skills to contribute to community and business development, and open ups a variety of potential careers in areas such as:
Hotels and resorts - hotel, resorts, cruise ships, clubs, food and beverage, operations and facilities management.
Consulting – product development, tourism marketing, information technology, real estate development, destination development, tourism research.
Tourism management - travel and tourism, transportation, culture and heritage, sports and recreation.
Event management - meeting/event planning, spa, fitness and health, sports events, event and venue management, special events.
Recreation and entertainment - casinos, museums, resorts, private homes/boats.
Other sectors and services - sales and marketing, human resources, education, finance.
Courses
Year 1
ECOL110 Ecology (3)
ENGL110-A Academic Writing: Part A (1.5)
ENGL110-B Academic Writing: Part B (1.5)
GEOG110 Human Geography (3)
HIST160 History of Human Rights (3)
ICBL (P/F) Introduction to Challenge-based Learning
INDS110-A Theories of Interdisciplinary: Part A (1.5)
INDS110-B Theories of Interdisciplinary: Part B (1.5)
ITAI: Introduction to Academic Integrity (P/F)
LEAD110-A leading self and others: Part A (1.5)
LEAD110-B leading self and others: Part B (1.5)
MATH160 Statistics for Social Science (3)
SOSC160A Applied Research I (A) – Literature review (1.5)
SOSC160B Applied Research I (B) Empathic and Ethnographic Research (1.5)
Year 2
ECON260 Ecological Economics (3)
ECON265Welfare Economics and Development (3)
ENGL210-A Communication and Persuasion: Part A (1.5)
ENGL210-B Communication and Persuasion: Part B (1.5)
ENGL260Literature of the Anthropogenic (3)
ENGL265 Women and Literature (3)
HLSC260 Determinants of Health (3)
INDS210-A Systems Thinking: Part A (1.5)
INDS210-B Systems Thinking: Part B (1.5)
LEAD210-A Leading for change: Part A (1.5)
LEAD210-B Leading for change: Part B (1.5)
POLI260 Development and Political Change (3)
PSYC260 Psychology of Well-being (3)
SOCI260 Human Interaction (3)
SOSC260A Applied Research II (A) Advanced Qualitative Methods (1.5)
SOSC260B Applied Research II (B) Advanced Quantitative Methods (1.5)
Financial Aid & Awards
The Financial Aid & Awards team is here to provide information and support on a variety of funding sources and award opportunities, starting with a video that introduces the comprehensive details you’ll find on this website and in our blog.
View a summary of government assistance programs for those affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more...
Financial planning is a crucial component of early educational planning. Please review funding opportunities well before your program begins to help build a reasonable budget.
Loans
Explore the various types of loans available to help fund your studies. Learn more...
Awards
Explore a variety of competitively-awarded scholarships, awards, and bursaries available from RRU and other funding agencies. Learn more...
Research Scholarships
RRU manages the scholarship administration for select funding agencies. These are some of the more substantial awards. Learn more...
Other Funding
Discover alternate funding opportunities like Highbred Points. Learn more...
