Program Highlights
Unique in BC, NIC’s Tourism & Hospitality Management diploma is designed to be fun and flexible, while maximizing your options and opportunities. You’ll get a solid business education as well as the practical experience and knowledge necessary to launch a management career in one of the world’s fastest growing industries.
The program offers domestic and international field trips, a solid and far-reaching Co-op program, and international exchange opportunities that are fun and effective ways of connecting with the industry and honing your skills while you study.
In your first year, you’ll gain a strong foundation in key management functions such as accounting, marketing, human resource management, leadership, and computers, have an opportunity to visit one of Canada’s top tourism destinations, and get a practical introduction to restaurants and hotels.
In year two you decide! Choose to specialize in hospitality or sustainable tourism. Or, use your electives for a dual specialty in both tourism and hospitality, to study a foreign language, or prepare yourself for transfer into the third year of a number of tourism, hospitality, or business degree programs across Canada. Choose from:
Hospitality Option
Train for a career in the hospitality industry and all that it has to offer. Students who choose this option share a common first year with other diploma students but specialize their studies in the second year with courses focused on the hospitality industry. Study international hotel management and develop the skills needed to understand the complexities of managing international hotel operations, identify global ownership and management models, and learn how different values, attitudes, and beliefs affect employees, clients, and cultures. Courses in food and beverage management, entrepreneurship and special events management will enhance your skills and understanding of this dynamic sector. An international field trip to a top tourism destination provides an opportunity to see what you have learned in action.
Sustainable Tourism Option
Students who choose the sustainable tourism option share a common first year with other diploma students but specialize their studies in the second year with Environmental Issues in the Tourism Industry and Cross Cultural Tourism courses. Get an overview of the challenges facing tourism managers and operators in today's environmentally sensitive market and an understanding of cultural sustainability within the field. Explore the relationship between tourism, recreation, and resort management in conjunction with the natural resources they use while hearing directly from industry, stakeholder, and government speakers. Courses in entrepreneurship, special events management, and law provide a broader perspective of the industry, and an international field trip gives you a chance to see it all in action.
Tourism is one of the world’s fastest and largest growth industries offering a wide variety of career possibilities. It employs over 200,000 people in BC and, according to Statistics Canada, 354,000 job openings are predicted nationwide in the next 10 years. Over 65,000 of those openings are anticipated to be for supervisors and managers. So, whether you are just starting out, looking to advance your current situation, transferring your skills from another industry, or run your own business, NIC can put you on a path to a successful career.
Central to every tourism business is its people and your interpersonal development while at NIC will be critical to your future success. Employability skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership and public speaking are strongly emphasized throughout the program, giving our graduates a marketable advantage in the workplace.
As a graduate of this two-year diploma you will have the confidence and knowledge you need to launch your career in this global industry or continue into year three of a degree program, here at NIC or one of many hospitality, tourism, or business degree programs throughout Canada.
Co-operative Education
A mandatory component of the program, Co-operative Education integrates paid, program-related work experiences with academic study. The practical experience gained on these supervised and structured work terms is an integral part of the student's education. The result is graduates with increased confidence, new employment contacts, and practical work experience.
A wide range of Co-op job opportunities are available to choose from, not only on Vancouver Island, but elsewhere in Canada and internationally. Co-op staff and program instructors work closely with students to determine how the work terms can best fit each student's individual interests and career goals.
Bridge into NIC's Business Degree
Tourism & Hospitality Management diploma graduates are eligible to bridge directly into year three of NIC's Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Marketing major and General Management major. Interested students are encouraged to speak with a Student Advisor as early as possible about course requirements and admissions details.
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, Marketing Major
- Year 3
Term 1: MAT115, ECO110, BUS260, BUS264, BUS361
Term 2: ECO111, BUS132, BUS265, BUS362, BUS380
- Year 4
Term 1: BUS217, BUS 267, BUS350, BUS430, BUS450
Term 2: BUS452, BUS492, PHI260, ENG260, and one elective*
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, General Management Major
- Year 3
Term 1: MAT115, ECO110, BUS260, BUS361, BUS290
Term 2: ECO111, BUS132, BUS265, BUS380, POL203
- Year 4
Term 1: BUS217, BUS244, BUS350, BUS362, BUS450,
Term 2: BUS452, BUS492, PHI260, ENG260 and one elective chosen from BUS355, BUAD245 (Okanagan), ADMN325 (Athabasca), HRMT301 (TRU-OL), or HRMT322 (TRU-OL)
*General Electives to be selected from any university transferable course numbered 100 or higher (other than BUS150).
Admin note: Bridging courses include MAT115, BUS132, ECO110 and ECO111. These bridging courses must be taken in year three of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree.