Tourism & Hospitality Management Diploma

Why Choose North Island College?

• Be in demand. Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries, employing over 200,000 people in British Columbia. There is a greater demand for qualified graduates than is currently being met, creating a fantastic opportunity for career advancement for talented, motivated and qualified individuals.
• Enhanced education. The dual diploma gives you the opportunity to experience both tourism and hospitality training, and continue your education in the field of your choice. Your training at NIC is recognized by other universities and institutions, and can lead to a degree in either specialty.
• Get connected! The program works closely with industry professionals to provide connections between students and future employers in the industry. Positions held by our graduates include resort sales manager, assistant restaurant manager, guest services manager, front desk manager, ski hill supervisor, fishing resort manager, adventure resort manager, and bed and breakfast owner.
• Work at what you love. A Co-operative Education work term is an integral component of the program and integrates paid, program-related employment with academic study. You’ll gain confidence, contacts and practical knowledge in your chosen career.
• Gain valuable hands-on experience. Interact with guests in NIC’s fine dining restaurant, The Third Course bistro, where tourism and hospitality students are responsible for the operation of the fine dining restaurant, performing a variety of roles including supervisor, server, host, and bartender.
• Spend a semester abroad. Whether it is with the Disney program in Florida and California or a funded exchange opportunity in Utah, Hawaii or Mexico, tourism students have an opportunity to change their lives by experiencing life in a different country while earning credits towards their diploma.

Program Highlights

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 British Columbia 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 or transferring your skills from another industry, North Island College can put you on a path to a successful career in tourism.

The Tourism & Hospitality Management diploma is designed to prepare students for a management career in any tourism or hospitality operation. If your goal is to run your own business or to manage someone else’s you will have the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful. The program combines a strong academic foundation in key management functions such as accounting, marketing, human resource management, leadership, and computers with a practical hands-on approach to hospitality and tourism operations.

NIC’s very own fine dining room, The Third Course bistro, provides students with a unique opportunity to explore all the roles and responsibilities involved in managing a hospitality operation. Courses in accommodations and special events as well as planning your multi day field trips will also put your business skills to work. Throughout the two years your research skills will be developed in fun, interesting and useful ways, whether it is to understand the impact of global warming on the ski industry or to learn how to manage in another culture.

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.

Graduates will complete the program with experience in the industry, qualifying for employment up to the supervisory and management levels. The diploma also provides graduates with two full years of transfer credit toward many tourism and hospitality degrees both within BC and nationally.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are employed in all areas of the tourism and hospitality industry, including hotels, ski and golf resorts, adventure tourism businesses, wilderness and fishing resorts, restaurants, tourism services and the travel trade. Some graduates have chosen to operate their own tourism business, while many others choose to work in small or large tourism organizations on Vancouver Island, Whistler, Vancouver, and elsewhere in Canada. The possibilities are endless.

Field Trips

During each year of the program you will participate in a field trip as part of your studies. During the first year, you will travel to a major urban centre, stay in a 4- or 5-star property and experience its daily operation and guest accommodations and services. During year two, you will travel to an international tourist destination, again stay in a 4- or 5-star property and experience the operation and guest services of this type of resort. Students are responsible for their own travel costs, which are not included in the program tuitions.

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. The Co-op staff and program instructors work closely with students to determine how the work term can best fit each student's individual interests and career goals.

Degree Opportunities

The Tourism & Hospitality Management diploma provides two full years of transfer credit toward a variety of four-year degree programs, including:

• Bachelor of Business Administration, North Island College (NIC)
• Bachelor of Commerce, University of Victoria (UVic)
• Bachelor of Hotel and Resort Management, University of Calgary (UofC)
• Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Mount St. Vincent University (MSVU)
• Bachelor of Applied Management in Hospitality and Tourism, University of New Brunswick (UNB)
• Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management, Royal Roads University (RRU)
• Bachelor of Arts in International Hotel Management, Royal Roads University (RRU)
• Bachelor of Hospitality Management, Vancouver Community College (VCC)
• Bachelor of Tourism Management, Capilano University
• Bachelor of Hospitality Management, Vancouver Island University (VIU)
• Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management, University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)

Important: Each university has its own unique deadlines and transfer requirements, such as course prerequisites (particularly for math courses) and grade point averages which must be met. Transfer and degree requirements may also change frequently and without notice. Students interested in pursuing a degree should meet with a Student Advisor to develop a transfer plan as early as possible.

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.

• Year 3
  Term 1: MAT115, BUS132, BUS260, BUS264, BUS361
  Term 2: ECO111, BUS265, BUS267, BUS362, BUS380
   
• Year 4
  Term 1: BUS217, BUS350, BUS430, BUS450, and one elective*
  Term 2: BUS452, BUS492, PHI260, ENG260, and one elective*

• Year 3
  Term 1: MAT115, BUS132, BUS260, BUS361, BUS290
  Term 2: ECO111, BUS265, BUS380, POL203 and one elective*
   
• 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)

Admission Requirements

1. Provincial English 12, or NIC ENG 060, 098 or ESL 090, with a minimum C grade, or TPC 12 with a minimum B grade, or equivalent or assessment; and
2. Applications of Math 11, or Accounting 11, or NIC MAT 034, with a minimum C grade, or equivalent; or Math 11A with a minimum of B grade or equivalent; or assessment; and
3. Complete a personal interview with a program instructor. The interview provides an opportunity to clarify program expectations as well as discuss the applicant's expectations, interest in the industry as well as his/her intended career path.
4. While not required to be completed prior to admission to the program, students are required to complete Serving it Right Licensee and FoodSafe by the end of September. Serving it Right (TFB 011) or FoodSafe (TFS 010) can be completed at North Island College or online at www.Go2bc.ca.

To Be Successful

• Applicants are encouraged to gain as much tourism industry experience as possible before the start of the program, either through work experience or volunteering. The more service industry experience you bring to the program, the more relevant your learning will be.
• Serving it Right (TFB 011) and FoodSafe Level 1 (TFS 010) should be completed before classes begin. Separate fees are required for registration in these courses.
• Students will be required to a use variety of Microsoft Office software immediately upon entering the program. Refreshing or developing your computer skills before entering the program is encouraged.
• Students wishing to apply their diploma towards a university degree should book a planning meeting with a Student Advisor as early as possible.

Program Requirements

Year 1 - Term 1 (Sept – Dec)

• EMP-100 Co-operative Education Pre-employment Seminar
• ENG-160 Effective Organizational Writing
• TRM-100 The Tourism Industry
• TRM-112 Leadership and Management
• TRM-113 Food & Beverage Service I
• TRM-115 Tourism & Hospitality Financial Accounting
• TRM-116 Computer Applications for the Hospitality Industry

Year 1 - Term 2 (Jan – Apr)

• TRM-107 Rooms Division Management
• TRM-108 Human Resources Management
• TRM-109 Marketing in Tourism
• TRM-114 Food Production Principles
• TRM-117 Food & Beverage Service II
• TRM-119 Tourism & Hospitality - Year 1 Field Trip
• TRM-155 Hospitality Managerial Accounting

Year 1 - Term 3 (May – Sept)

• TRM-197 Co-op Education Internship Work Term

Year 2 - Term 4 (Sept – Jan)

• TRM-201 Internal Controls
• TRM-207 Hotel Operations Management
• TRM-208 Applied Sales and Advertising
• TRM-212 Tourism & Hospitality Law and Ethics
• TRM-213 Food & Beverage Management 
• TRM-225 Cross Cultural Issues
• TRM-228 Tourism & Hospitality Operations Simulation

Year 2 - Term 5 (Feb – May)

• ENG-115 Essay Writing and Critical Analysis
• TRM-202 Tourism and Economics
• TRM-203 Convention & Special Events Management
• TRM-211 Environmental Issues in the Tourism Industry 
• TRM-213 Food & Beverage Management
• TRM-219 Tourism & Hospitality - Year 2 Field Trip
• TRM-222 Entrepreneurship in Tourism

Please note: Program offerings are under review and may be subject to change.

Completion Requirements

To successfully complete each year of the diploma, students must pass all courses and attain an overall average of 60% in each year. Students may enroll in some second year courses without fully completing Year 1, provided pre-requisites for those individual courses are met.