REC 280Introduction to Tourism
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Health
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
The scope and nature of tourism as a contemporary leisure experience is examined along with economic, political and social ramifications, research strategies employed, and implications for the future.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 2722 | 0 / 150 | TTh 14:30–15:50 |
| LEC 701 | 1003 | 111 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
64% liked it88% easy28% useful
From 86 ratings and 27 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Super easy elective if taken online and with Kelly McClinchey. Takes <1hr each week to get +80%
Aug 2018 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Took it online, probably the most laid back course I've taken in 4 years. Weekly modules, need to participate in discussion boards related to those modules. Each week there's either a quiz on module content (8 multiple choice questions, each worth 1%!!) or a 500 word analysis on some topic (for a total of four analyses). No midterm or final.
You do need to get the textbook though, as many of the quiz questions are based on textbook content. Although you don't really need to read it, since the questions were pretty easy to CTRL+F... You get more marks if you refer to it during your written assignments though.Jul 2018 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Exams are based mostly textbook content. Half of the exam questions are directly from the practice questions that Stephen Smith posts.
Oct 2012 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Professor: Nico Najafov
I didn't mind this course at all, if anything it was interesting, as someone not in REC. There are a lot of readings.. however, control F could be your friend for this course.
there are quizzes and 2 assignments in this entire class, which made it manageable and not a pain. The final assignment however is graded a little heavier than the 1st one so, just put a little extra work into that one.
Not sure what my grades are in this course yet (final assignment wise) but safe to say I feel like it won't be bad.
TLDR:
pretty easy quiz wise, especially with control f, and just a little pre-planning or note talking of things you don't want to remember.…Aug 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Had a new professor named Mahshad. Such a lovely professor who really cares about her class and is willing to explain something as many times until someone understands. Some lectures were pretty boring but a few of the lectures were pretty engaging (Greenwashing, gentrification etc.). Attending her classes is a must since there is Vevox participation. Would recommend to take this class if you are interested in Tourism.
Apr 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
91 posts and comments in 85 threads mention REC 280, December 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
BIRD COURSES FOR SPRING 2024? 3 points, 1 comment
u/thereallu: “Should I take REC 280 Intro Tourism (J. Yeboah) or SMF 101 Relationships and Familes (A. Underhill) both online for spring term? Looking for whichever one offers less reading as I am travelling for the summer and need light workload.”
Winter 2024
REC 280 online class 1 point, 1 comment
u/kwaa123: “Hiiii Has anyone taken REC 280 recently? I want to take it in the spring, but I don't know if it's an easy bird class. They are offering it online this spring! Any advice would be helpful!!!! :) Thanks.”
Spring 2023
Can’t get into any bird courses 15 points, 9 comments
“I have a very rough course load next semester and only one elective, but I can’t for the life of me find any bird courses that aren’t full. …”
u/NuttingInYourMother: “There's a million bird courses, I doubt they're all full: SCI206, SOC229, GEOG101, REC280, REC100, CLAS201, CLAS104, etc.”
200 level bird courses? 0 points, 9 comments
“Or 300, 400 level?”
u/NuttingInYourMother: “HRM 200, GEOG225, REC280, CS330, CLAS201, SOC229”
Spring 2022
Online bird courses spring 2022 2 points, 12 comments
“Help a kid out- need to catch up on credits- looking for recommendation for easy courses without prerequisites?”
u/NuttingInYourMother: “HRM 200, PSYCH101, SOC101, GEOG181, CS100, ECON101, CLAS201, REC280, GEOG225”
Winter 2022
REC280 has the most dogshit marking scheme 10 points, 1 comment
enbus 310 1 point, 3 comments
u/TheGreatShort: “I am taking it this semester”
u/TheGreatShort: “… Take phil 215 or REC 280 or take afm 321 much easier than this course. But do not take this as an elective or a core course, there is an easier course to take e.g 407, the prof is like God tier. …”
see you all on february 7th 88 points, 10 comments
u/Dimtar_: “… 352 GSJ 380 HLTH 380 HLTH 102 HLTH 344 HLTH 370 HLTH 430 KIN 146 KIN 312 KIN 404 KIN 427 REC 280 ACTSC 231 (Tutorial) CO 250 (Tutorial) CO 487/CO 687 (Lecture) COMM 231 (Lecture) CS 251 (Labs) MATH 136 (Tutorial) MATH 138 (Tutorial) STAT 231 (Tutorial) STAT 231 (Lecture 003) …”
Fall 2021
REC 280 1 point, 3 comments
u/userwithaphone: “For those of you that have taken this course already: - How heavy is the workload? - Is there a required textbook? - What is it’s level of difficulty? - Is there a midterm/final? Thanks!”
Easy/Bird courses 0 points, 10 comments
u/Changuyen: “… tho) CS 100/200 HRM 200 SCI 206 PHYS 111/2 (the lower level intro to physics courses) REC 100/202/280 ENGL 108B (the superheros one) BET courses (do your research) AFM 101 AFM 102 the list goes on...”
REC 280?? 1 point, 3 comments
u/Snoo82944: “I'm taking rec 280 next term in person bc i heard it's really birdy. But I suck at anything that has to do with writing essays or memorizing textbooks and I heard that's what rec 280 is all about. So would it be birdy even for people like me? …”
Bird Course Recommendations for this term 4 points, 2 comments
u/AdmiralPoetry: “… Already took HRM 200, REC 101, REC 280, PHIL 135, PHIL 216, CLAS 104. (I recommend all of these as bird courses). …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
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