Postgraduate: Course rule and topic information

Graduate Diploma in Tourism

(GradDipTourism)

INTRODUCTION

The Graduate Diploma in Tourism is a 36-unit course which is part of the Graduate Program in Tourism offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology. The Biodiversity stream is offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering in partnership with the Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology.

The course is offered on a fee-paying basis and may be taken over two semesters full-time, or the equivalent part-time.

The Graduate Diploma in Tourism articulates with the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in Tourism and the 72-unit Master of Tourism.

Students must enrol in one of the following streams:

• Non-specialised stream
• Biodiversity
• Festival and Event Design and Management
• Interpretation

COURSE AIMS

The course aims to meet the professional development needs of graduates with an interest in tourism. It aims to further increase the understanding of the theoretical and practical skills, acquired during the Graduate Certificate in Tourism, that are required to develop appropriate depth of understanding of issues in tourism and to develop appropriate management strategies in the areas of Biodiversity, Festival and Event Design and Management, and Interpretation.

The Biodiversity stream is a collaborative program from Cultural Tourism and Ecotourism and is aimed at students with an interest in sustainable tourism and interpretation. It is aimed at developing knowledge of the scientific method, applied research skills in science, and knowledge of particular groups of organisms and/or ecosystems. Coursework will be jointly taught for the components on interpretation. The science topics will be delivered through the Faculty of Science and Engineering, with an emphasis on basic theory and practical field skills. This course will cover the concepts, techniques and implementation of interpretation, as well as biodiversity assessment and conservation strategies.

The Festival and Event Design and Management stream enables students to increase the knowledge base on which their practice is grounded to combine strategic thinking with creativity, knowledge and practical skills and apply this to a diverse range of festivals and/or events.

The Interpretation stream is a collaborative program from Cultural Tourism and Ecotourism. Coursework will be jointly taught and there is the potential for students to specialise in either natural environment interpretation, or cultural landscape interpretation, or both. This course will cover the concepts, techniques and implementation of interpretation as it pertains to sites, places and objects, its effective use as a means of site and visitor management, and its capacity to foster sustainable visitation and facilitate conservation and preservation of sites.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must normally hold a Graduate Certificate in Tourism or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances, and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Applicants for the Biodiversity stream who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Tourism (Interpretation) must normally hold an approved Bachelor degree or equivalent from an approved tertiary institution which includes a major in Biological Sciences, or Tourism, or a related discipline (eg hospitality, marketing etc). Students without any previous tertiary study in Biological Sciences must enrol in BIOD8016 Animal and Plant Diversity, and the topic may be counted towards their award.

CREDIT

Students who have successfully completed the Graduate Certificate in Tourism may be eligible to receive 18 units of credit towards the Graduate Diploma in Tourism.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [June, 2008]

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Tourism a student must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to one of the following programs of study:

To meet the requirements of the non-specialised stream, students must complete the following:

• A minimum of 24 units* from Group 2 and a maximum of 12 units from Group 3, providing that topic prerequisites are met and not including any topic already successfully completed.

Students who have successfully completed the Graduate Certificate in Tourism (non-specialised or specialised stream) will receive 18 units of specified credit towards the Graduate Diploma and must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

• A minimum of 6 units* from Group 2 and a maximum of 12 units from Group 3, providing that topic prerequisites are met and not including any topic already successfully completed.

Students who have successfully completed any other Graduate Certificate will receive 18 units of credit towards the Graduate Diploma and must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

• A minimum of 12 units* from Group 2 and a maximum of 6 units from Group 3, providing that topic prerequisites are met and not including any topic already successfully completed.

* Students who intend to apply for the Master of Tourism (non-specialised stream) and who want to complete the 36-unit Thesis in the topic TOUR8110 in the Masters degree, must choose the topic TOUR8107 Research Methods (6 units) from Group 2.

Group 2 topics

Non-Specialised

TOUR8701

Essentials of Tourism

6

Festival and Event Design and Management

Heritage Management

Interpretation

Other topics

Group 3 topics