Single degrees
Bachelor of Arts (Nature Tourism) – Bendigo (RBANT)
Nature tourism involves the study of natural environments, human-nature relationships, and the practice of nature guiding and environmental interpretation. The course features a three-year sequence of environmental studies, nature tourism, education theory about leading and guiding groups in the outdoors, and outdoor and field naturalist practice. Students undertake at least 90 days of practical work, specialist studies in nature tourism, environmental studies, and land management. They also take elective studies from other disciplines such as economics, marketing, geography, or biology.
Graduates may gain work as nature guides and planners in the nature tourism industry, land management agencies and in other settings such as school camps and nature centres. They may undertake further training in business to work as owner-operators of nature tourism businesses. When combined with a Graduate Diploma in Education the course leads to a teaching qualification in either primary or secondary schools.
Admission requirements
Students should satisfy the normal University entrance requirements, including a study score of at least 20 in Units 3 and 4 of English.
Special requirements
Special entry applicants or students who have completed Year 12 more than 12 months prior to application may be invited to attend a selection interview and must complete a Supplementary Information Form. Special entry applicants may also be required to sit for the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).
Students should ensure they are aware of the physical components and location requirements of the course. Students with a disability, medical condition or any concerns which may affect potential participation in some of the practical components of the course are invited to discuss their options with the course coordinator.
Course structure
The course is a three-year full-time program. It consists of 360 credit points of study.
First year
| Teaching period | Unit name | Unit code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Ways of Knowing Nature | OED1WKN |
| TE-SEM-1 | Outdoor Living and Travel Skills | OED1AOL |
| TE-SEM-1 | Reading Australian Landscapes | OED1RAL |
| TE-SEM-1 | Elective (see below) | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Worldviews and the Environment | OED1WE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Naturalist Studies | OED1NS |
| TE-SEM-2 | Outdoor Environments | OED1OEE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Elective (see below) |
Second year
| Teaching period | Unit name | Unit code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-S | River and Wetland Environments | OED2RWE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Regional Catchment Studies | OED2RCS |
| TE-SEM-1 | Environmental Interpretation | OED2EI |
| TE-SEM-1 | Elective (see below) | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Australian Culture and Land | OED2ACL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Bush Environments | OED2BE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Sustainable Nature Tourism | OED2SNT |
| TE-SEM-2 | Elective (see below) |
Third year
| Teaching period | Unit name | Unit code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Education in Outdoors | OED3EO |
| TE-SEM-1 | Parks and Wildlife Management | OED3PWM |
| TE-SEM-1 | Naturalist Studies: Interpretation | OED3NSI |
| TE-SEM-1 | Elective (see below) | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Politics of Land Management | OED3PLM |
| TE-SEM-2 | Education for Sustainability | OED3ES |
| TE-SEM-2 | Nature Tourism Practicum | OED3NTP |
| TE-SEM-2 | Elective (see below) |
Electives
Units available from other courses may be taken as electives, subject to timetable considerations and the meeting of prerequisites. Where possible, core units are timetabled to enable students to have access to selected electives in the following disciplines: biology, economics, geology, marketing, photojournalism, and sociology and cultural studies.
A full description of units, including the unit name, unit code, credit points, campus/location, unit coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, appears at the end of this chapter. For the most recent descriptions of units students should access the Unit Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public