Program Overview

Master of Tourism Management, Plan C (M.T.M)

The Master of Tourism Management program is a professional master's degree that teaches the skills needed by future leaders of the rapidly expanding global tourism industry. It takes a holistic approach to learning that blends sustainable tourism practices, strategic analysis, and tourism industry expertise based on input from its advisory board.

Program Overview

The M.T.M. program is available on-campus or through CSU Online. It requires the completion of 30 credits. There are 18 required credits, and up to 12 credits of the elective courses may be used to earn a Graduate Certificate in Communications for Conservation. Students are required to work with their Program Coordinator to determine their approved course plan.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the importance of nature-based tourism in today's society and its ability to contribute to socio-cultural, economic, and environmental well-being.
2. Critically assess key trends within, and affecting, the tourism industry, and how to capitalize on current and future opportunities.
3. Utilize nature-based tourism as a tool for community and destination development through the conservation of natural resources.
4. Identify and implement relevant, sustainable business strategies and tools for strategic nature-based tourism development.
5. Implement business fundamentals to successfully operate a nature-based tourism operation.
6. Critically evaluate management and conservation challenges associated with tourism development in public and private spaces.
7. Communicate professionally with a wide range of industry, community, government, and third-sector stakeholders.

Course List

The following courses are required for the program:

• NRRT 567: Tourism Entrepreneurship (2 credits)
• NRRT 600: Tourism Industry Concepts and Practices (2 credits)
• NRRT 608: Nature, Outdoor Recreation--Human Well-being (2 credits)
• NRRT 609: Tourism and Conservation (2 credits)
• NRRT 615: Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation (2 credits)
• NRRT 620: Organizational Management in Tourism (2 credits)
• NRRT 667: Applied Experiential Learning in Tourism (2 credits)
• NRRT 671: Strategic Management for Travel and Tourism (2 credits)
• NRRT 679A: Current Topics in Nature Based Tourism (1 credit)
• NRRT 679B: Current Topics in Nature Based Tourism (1 credit)

Electives

Students must select a minimum of 12 credits from the following elective courses:

• NR 569: Conservation Communication Fundamentals
• NR 570: Conservation Managers – Media Communications
• NR 571: New Media Communications for Conservation
• NR 572: Strategic Communications for Conservation
• NR 573: Conservation Crisis Communications
• NR 574: Advanced Communications for Conservation
• NRRT 330: Social Aspects of Natural Resource Management
• NRRT 331: Management of Parks and Protected Areas
• NRRT 340: Principles in Conservation Planning and Mgmt
• NRRT 350: Wilderness Leadership
• NRRT 351: Wilderness Instructors
• NRRT 384: Supervised College Teaching
• NRRT 520: Perspectives on Ski Area Management
• NRRT 521: Sustainable Ski Area Management
• NRRT 522: Ski Area Operations and Human Resources
• NRRT 523: Strategic Ski Area Marketing and Management
• NRRT 524: Ski Area Finance and Investment
• NRRT 525: Ski Area Planning and Development
• NRRT 530: Insight into the Adventure Tourism Industry
• NRRT 531: Building an Adventure Tourism Enterprise
• NRRT 532: Leading the Adventure Tourism Experience
• NRRT 533: Adventure Tourism Policy and Planning
• NRRT 534: Applications in the Outdoor Products Industry
• NRRT 545: Culinary Tourism
• NRRT 565: Research-Human Dimensions Natural Resources
• NRRT 601: Tourism Research Methods and Application I
• NRRT 602: Tourism Research Methods and Application II
• NRRT 605: Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Theory
• NRRT 610: Tourism and Conservation Management
• NRRT 625: Communication/Conflict Management in Tourism
• NRRT 630: Protected Areas and Global Conservation
• NRRT 631: Protected Area Planning and Management
• NRRT 632: Public Use and Recreation in Protected Areas
• NRRT 633: Protected Areas and Resource Management
• NRRT 650: Financial Management in Tourism
• NRRT 655: Marketing Tourism Products and Destinations
• NRRT 656: Tourism Digital and Social Media Marketing
• NRRT 660: Law and Legal Liability in Tourism
• NRRT 662: Global Tourism Policy
• NRRT 665: Survey Research and Analysis
• NRRT 677: Project Mgmt and Tourism Event Planning
• NRRT 678: Tourism Leadership
• NRRT 695A: Independent Study: Administration
• NRRT 695B: Independent Study: Management
• NRRT 695C: Independent Study: Interpretation
• NRRT 695D: Independent Study: Landscape Planning
• NRRT 698: Research

Program Total Credits

A minimum of 30 credits are required to complete this program.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with international universities may identify culturally specific course substitutions and total credits.

International Students

For those international students enrolled in this program, the number of directed electives credits (approved by the advisor) is to be consistent with the MOU with the cooperating international university.

Elective Credits

A maximum of six (6) credits of 300-level elective courses may be counted.

Requirements for All Graduate Degrees

For more information, please refer to the Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.

Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees

The following steps outline the procedures for the Master's and Doctoral degrees:

1. Application for admission
2. Diagnostic examination when required
3. Appointment of advisor
4. Selection of graduate committee
5. Filing of program of study
6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD)
7. Report of preliminary examination
8. Changes in committee
9. Application for Graduation
10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee
11. Final examination
12. Report of final examination
13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form
14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically
15. Graduation