Adventure Tourism Management

Adventure tourism is the fastest growing, truly global area of the tourism industry that has taken the adventure sector by storm in recent decades, bringing adventurous activity experiences into commercial tourism.

Join our BA (Hons) Adventure Tourism Management and focus on tourism and business practices within the adventure sector, applied through essential practical and professional skills for leadership and safety. Your future customers will expect great service and a safe experience that satisfies their dreams of adventure and adventure travel: learn the skills and knowledge to be the adventure professional who can deliver their ultimate experience, managing every element with a critical understanding of the ethical and professional values required.

The programme integrates theoretical knowledge with practice via classroom learning, experiential learning, and research, progressively building your confidence and skills as a guide and practitioner. Cover outdoor skills practice, safety and leadership, tourism, research, business, and entrepreneurship, all underpinned by a growing and deepening understanding of the meaning of 'adventure'. Learn how to lead and shape great experiences for people in a vast range of possible outdoor and adventure contexts around the world, and build your knowledge and skills in sustainable and pro-environmental practices.

We work closely with Adventure Tourism providers and larger scale organisations to give you direct access to professional-level experiences and practices at all levels, providing you with a wide range of national and international connections for opportunities like work placements, projects, and shared practice.

Make the most of links with other programmes in the School of Adventure Studies to broaden your professional skills and expertise, giving you access to a diverse range of careers in many different adventurous settings, wherever your path takes you.

The capabilities we build in our programmes are life-long skills that transfer into many different future career paths. Unlock your potential and become part of the story of shaping this dynamic sector.

Module outline

Year 1 - CertHE

Core modules are:

• Introduction to adventure tourism (S1)

• Adventure geography: the Scottish perspective (S1)

• Introduction to professional adventure practice (S1)

• Adventure markets: products and services (S2)

• Introduction to sports coaching and leadership (S2)

You will also choose one further option module, from:

• Ecological principles, biodiversity and identification skills (SC)

• Activity performance and skill acquisition (SC)

• Adventure education journeys (S2)

Year 2 - DipHE

Core modules are:

• The contemporary workplace (S1)

• Adventure operations and risk management (S1)

• Adventure tourism guiding and interpretation (S2)

• Understanding adventure (S2)

You will also choose two option modules, which may include:

• Retailing (S1)

• Outdoor learning and teaching practice (SC)

• Work placement: team working and communication (SC)

• Technology and social media in adventure practice (S2)

• Marketing fundamentals (S2)

• Management accounting (S2)

Year 3 - BA

Core modules are:

• Sustainable management of adventure tourism (S1)

• Planning international expeditions (S1)

• Research skills (S2)

You will also choose three option modules which may include:

• Adventure therapy (S1)

• Geomorphology: reading the landscapes of outdoor practice (S1)

• Developing entrepreneurial effectiveness (S1)

• Climate change (S1)

• Work placement: industry specific skills (SC)

• International expedition leadership (S2)

• Sustainable tourism and the environment (S2)

• An anthropology of place: adventure education and cultural perspectives on nature (S2)

• Niche tourism (S2)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

Core modules are:

• Critical perspectives of adventure tourism (S1)

• Perceptions of risk and decision making (S1)

• Inclusive adventure (S2)

• Emergent tourism trends (S2)

You will also choose one of the following double-credit research project modules to follow through the year:

• Dissertation

• Professional adventure project (legacy project or major expedition venture)

• Research and plan a new business venture

This outline reflects the modules as currently delivered and is subject to change.