Vancouver Island University

The management of recreation and tourism services is a challenging career in this increasingly leisure-oriented society. Dynamic, creative, and innovative people are needed to plan, organize, and supervise recreation and tourism experiences in a variety of settings, and VIU’s degree program prepares individuals for positions in areas, as follows.

Supervisory/Management positions: usually found in organizations where diploma graduates require continual upgrading of their leadership knowledge base to make strategic business decisions.
Independent entrepreneurs: small business opportunities in the tourism and recreation industries.
Front line-positions: where most people begin their career, these positions require an understanding of the industry and the ability to anticipate, respond to, and satisfy customer needs.
Examples of specific employment opportunities include:

Commercial Recreation and Tourism Enterprises, such as private tour companies, leisure related retail outlets, tourism attractions, health spas, fitness complexes.
Adventure Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Park Management, providing nature-based leisure experiences like camping, wilderness experiences, risk recreation, as well as environmental education and managing the resources required for nature-based leisure.
Tourism Services,including destination resorts and hotels, theme parks, tourist attractions, convention and meeting business, and special events and festivals.
Tour Operations, including packaging, marketing and operation of tours, tour guiding and interpretation services.
Sport Management, Public Recreation and Tourism,including parks and recreation departments in municipalities and regional districts, government tourism agencies, community schools, recreation associations, and public recreation facilities.
Not-for-profit Agencies, including YM/YWCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and others represented within our communities.
Accommodation and Food Services, including hotels, restaurants, resorts, and large food service companies providing management services to hospitals, universities and airlines.
Inclusive Leisure, involving the provision of recreation and tourism services to individuals or groups with special needs in settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centres, mental health and community health centres, etc.
Work Placement Opportunities
Students in the third year of the degree will participate in either a Co-operative Education work term or an Internship. In order to receive a Co-operative Education designation, transfer students must have successfully completed two Co-op work terms in their diploma activity. Participation in the third Co-op work term is based on availability of space and academic performance with a minimum 3.0 (“B”) grade point average.

> If your program was less than 8 months
   You aren’t eligible for a PGWP.

> If your program was more than 8 months but less than 2 years
   We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program.
For example, if you completed a 9-month program, we may give you a work permit for up to 9 months.

> If your program was 2 years or more
   We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for 3 years.

> If you completed more than 1 program
   You may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.

Each of the programs you completed -
must be PGWP-eligible and at least 8 months in length

• Graduation from high school or equivalent.
• Proof of English language proficiency is required from applicants for whom English is not their first language or from those whose education was completed in any country where English is not the official language.
• For students who meet the academic requirements but not the English language requirement, conditional acceptance to VIU may be granted. In this case, admission is granted pending completion of VIU’s English Language Centre program (level AP5). Exceptions may apply.
• Up to 30 advanced credits may be granted for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate (higher level) courses.
• Academic programs may have additional program admission requirements and course prerequisites. Please check your specific program requirements from VIU programs.
• International students who are BC high school graduates must have a minimum grade of “C” in English 12 for direct entry into an academic program.