Are you committed to “treading lightly” on the earth but still want to travel and experience all the world has to offer? Ecotourism promotes and organises nature-based experiences for people and encompasses education about, and interpretation of, the natural environment in a sustainable context. When you study Ecotourism at Murdoch you will learn how to integrate environmental knowledge of landscapes and biological systems with sound business, research and analytical skills to satisfy the desires of tourists and tourism and cultural organisations. Ecotourism at Murdoch will provide you with a core of essential material about environmental and tourism management and you will be encouraged to develop your own specialisation and career niche through a careful choice of electives and other majors.
What can I do with my Ecotourism degree?
Tourism is a vital part of the Australian economy and there is an increasing demand for ecotourism experiences and operators. As a Murdoch Ecotourism graduate you will be well prepared for a career in government, consultancy, tourism companies, non-government environmental organisations and research organisations, as well as having the skills and resources to be self-employed within the tourism sector. How to apply: Our entry requirements tool will help you find the most appropriate and quickest pathways to admission. The tool will take you through a couple of steps to help identify the best pathways for you based on your situation. Once you have chosen the most suitable pathway you will also be provided you with information on how to apply based on the criteria you are using for admission.
Our entry requirements tool will help you find the most appropriate and quickest pathways to admission. The tool will take you through a couple of steps to help identify the best pathways for you based on your situation. Once you have chosen the most suitable pathway you will also be provided you with information on how to apply based on the criteria you are using for admission.
Domestic student applications:
All undergrad applications for Semester 1 2009 need to be submitted through TISC. If you would like to apply for this course you can now:
Get your TISC help kit containing your course info, handy hints and advice to help make the application process even easier.
Get advice on how to structure your TISC preferences to give yourself the best chance of getting into the course of your dreams.
International student applications:
If you would like to apply for this course you can now:
3 years full-time internal study or part - time equivalent.
Available externally - except for one core unit
Please note that international students can only study full-time
We don’t have prerequisite subjects for any of our courses as we are a strong promoter of a well rounded education. However, remember that you will also need to demonstrate competence in English, normally through passing either English or English Literature or by getting a sufficiently high score in ESL.
Course structure:
Year 1
Foundation Unit
All new first year students take a Foundation Unit. These are designed so you have some idea what’s going on, because, let’s face it, you may never have been to uni before!
Core Units
You must take these units for a particular major to gain a specialisation in this area.
Environmental Biology
Introduction to Environmental Science
Introduction to Tourism Systems
Introduction to Travel and Tourism
General Electives
You must take these units to have enough units to graduate. General Electives give you the flexibility to learn from a variety of different areas. Select three units offered by the University, subject to individual unit prerequisites.
To take a double major, students simply take the core units from another major in place of their general elective units. Some recommended double majors are:
Biological Sciences
Conservation & Wildlife Biology
Environmental Science
Marine Science
Tourism
What are my career options?
The tourism industry is an increasingly important industry with the natural beauty of landscapes and wildlife being one of the major tourist attractions in Australia. An understanding of the management of these fragile landscapes and wildlife in the face of the increasing demands placed by tourists is essential to help protect them from destruction. Your employment outlook, as a Murdoch graduate in Ecotourism, is bright, especially when combined with other disciplines. Depending on which skill combinations or specialisations you have, your Murdoch degree may lead you towards work and study opportunities in a number of areas. The following are some professions to consider, including extra majors and minors.
Professions
What they do
Suggested double majors
Travel Guide / Tour Guide / Escort
Travel Guides plan, organise, and conduct long distance cruises, tours, and expeditions for individuals or groups. Tour Guides escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
Tourism
Public Relations
History
Philosophy Politics and International Studies
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Urban and Regional Planner
Planners promote the best use of a community’s land and resources for residential, commercial, institutional, and recreational purposes. Planners may be involved in various other activities, including making decisions relating to establishing alternative public transportation systems, developing resources, and protecting ecologically sensitive regions. Urban and Regional Planners address issues such as traffic congestion, air pollution, and the effects of growth and change on a community. They may formulate plans relating to the construction of new school buildings, public housing, or other kinds of infrastructure. Some Planners are involved in environmental issues ranging from pollution control to wetland preservation, forest conservation, and the location of new landfills. Planners also may be involved in drafting legislation on environmental, social, and economic issues, such as sheltering the homeless, planning a new park, or meeting the demand for new correctional facilities.
Tourism
Environmental Science / Restoration
Biological Sciences
Conservation and Wildlife Biology
Sustainable Development
Ecotourism Consultant
Ecotourism Consultants offer ecological advice or designs that balance ecological, economic and human needs to individuals, businesses, community-based organisations, and local and regional governments in other countries.
Field Researchers / Writers take on projects that require periodic stays in regions or locations that have been chosen as the target of the research. Field researchers are required to conduct surveys and studies focused on nature and culture-based tourism. They are also required to document their work in magazines or journals, hence they are also writers. Their work involves studying the tourism activities in the region, identifying key social, ecological and cultural issues of the areas and evaluating the environmental impacts of small to medium tourism enterprises (hotels, restaurants, tours and dive centres).
Tourism Hospitality and Tourism Management
Environmental Science
Journalism
English and Creative Arts
