Program Length
- 12 Months
Credential
- Certificate
Carve out a career exploring the wilderness in the adventure and eco-tourism industry with VIU’s Certificate in Adventure Tourism and Recreation program. Desolation Sound and the Sunshine Coast will be your outdoor classroom as you prepare for a job in BC’s growing tourism industry. Learn with experienced instructors, who engage you in a small class setting through hands-on training in the field, and in a valuable internship in the adventure tourism and recreation industry.
Your Adventure Tourism and Recreation certificate provides you with knowledge of current industry practices, environmental stewardship, safety, leadership, and history with a tourism focus.
The Certificate in Adventure Tourism and Recreation Program
We are not currently accepting applications to the Certificate in Adventure Tourism and Recreation program.
The curriculum of this one-year Certificate in Adventure Tourism and Recreation is designed to train individuals wishing to enter the adventure tourism and recreation field at the assistant guide level.
The certificate provides students with a broad understanding of the practices and principles of the adventure tourism industry and assistant guide level field skills with special emphases in sea kayak touring, and coastal and cultural interpretation.
The program includes an historical and philosophical overview of leisure, recreation, and adventure tourism, and examination of the relationship between natural resources and the development of sustainable tourism and recreation opportunities. Also completed are studies of successful leadership in coast eco-adventure tourism, the planning and delivery of environmental, coastal and cultural interpretation, and programming for adventure tourism and recreation. The field and internship components prepare students for assistant level guiding in marine and land environments.
Approximately 50% of the program will be spent in actual "hands-on" training in the field. Of the 30 course credits, 15 credits are primarily on-campus academic foundation courses. The remaining 15 credits are off-campus courses consisting of a 4-week intensive field skills component, and an internship work-study experience in the adventure tourism and recreation industry.
| Fall Semester | Credits |
|---|---|
| TOUR 100 - (Introduction to Recreation and Tourism) | 3 |
| TOUR 159 - (Environmental Stewardship in Recreation and Tourism) | 3 |
| TOUR 161 - (Leadership in Recreation and Tourism) | 3 |
| Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|
| TOUR 207 - (Heritage Interpretation in Recreation and Tourism) | 3 |
| TOUR 252 - (Adventure Tourism and Recreation) | 3 |
| Spring Intersession | Credits |
|---|---|
| TRMT 104 - (Adventure Tourism and Recreation Field Skills) | 6 |
| Summer Semester | Credits |
|---|---|
| TRMT 110 - (Internship) | 9 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
Eco-travel and adventure tourism are the fastest growing sectors of BC's flourishing tourism industry. The purpose of this certificate program is to train individuals for entry level or assistant guide positions in the adventure tourism and recreation field, including employment with community institutions, eco-travel and adventure tourism and recreation businesses, and within the private and public education establishments of Vancouver Island and BC.
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (30 credits x $166.40 per credit) | 4,992.00 |
| Lab Fee | 5,743.43 |
| Student Activity fee (12 months x $19.97 per month) | 239.64 |
| Student Services fee (12 months x $22.05 per month) | 264.60 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (12 months x $27.60 per month) | 331.20 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Total | 11,855.87 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
International Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees for One Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (30 credits x $799.77 per credit) | 23,993.10 |
| Lab Fee | 5,743.43 |
| Student Activity fee (12 months x $19.97 per month) | 239.64 |
| Student Services fee (12 months x $22.05 per month) | 264.60 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (12 months x $27.60 per month) | 331.20 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Total | 30,856.97 |
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
Sign up for more information about this program
Previous versions of this program can be found in the Program Archive.