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.
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.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Discuss the importance of nature-based tourism in today's society and its ability to contribute to socio-cultural, economic, and environmental well-being.
- Critically assess key trends within, and affecting, the tourism industry, and how to capitalize on current and future opportunities.
- Utilize nature-based tourism as a tool for community and destination development through the conservation of natural resources.
- Identify and implement relevant, sustainable business strategies and tools for strategic nature-based tourism development.
- Implement business fundamentals to successfully operate a nature-based tourism operation.
- Critically evaluate management and conservation challenges associated with tourism development in public and private spaces.
- Communicate professionally with a wide range of industry, community, government, and third-sector stakeholders.
Effective Spring 2024
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: 1 | ||
| NRRT 567 | Tourism Entrepreneurship | 2 |
| NRRT 600 | Tourism Industry Concepts and Practices | 2 |
| NRRT 608 | Nature, Outdoor Recreation--Human Well-being | 2 |
| NRRT 609 | Tourism and Conservation | 2 |
| NRRT 615 | Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation | 2 |
| NRRT 620 | Organizational Management in Tourism | 2 |
| NRRT 667 | Applied Experiential Learning in Tourism | 2 |
| NRRT 671 | Strategic Management for Travel and Tourism | 2 |
| NRRT 679A | Current Topics in Nature Based Tourism | 1 |
| NRRT 679B | Current Topics in Nature Based Tourism | 1 |
| Electives (select a minimum of 12 credits from the following): 2,3 | 12 | |
| Conservation Communication Fundamentals | ||
| Conservation Managers – Media Communications | ||
| New Media Communications for Conservation | ||
| Strategic Communications for Conservation | ||
| Conservation Crisis Communications | ||
| Advanced Communications for Conservation | ||
| Social Aspects of Natural Resource Management | ||
| Management of Parks and Protected Areas | ||
| Principles in Conservation Planning and Mgmt | ||
| Wilderness Leadership | ||
| Wilderness Instructors | ||
| Supervised College Teaching | ||
| Perspectives on Ski Area Management | ||
| Sustainable Ski Area Management | ||
| Ski Area Operations and Human Resources | ||
| Strategic Ski Area Marketing and Management | ||
| Ski Area Finance and Investment | ||
| Ski Area Planning and Development | ||
| Insight into the Adventure Tourism Industry | ||
| Building an Adventure Tourism Enterprise | ||
| Leading the Adventure Tourism Experience | ||
| Adventure Tourism Policy and Planning | ||
| Applications in the Outdoor Products Industry | ||
| Culinary Tourism | ||
| Research-Human Dimensions Natural Resources | ||
| Tourism Research Methods and Application I | ||
| Tourism Research Methods and Application II | ||
| Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Theory | ||
| Tourism and Conservation Management | ||
| Communication/Conflict Management in Tourism | ||
| Protected Areas and Global Conservation | ||
| Protected Area Planning and Management | ||
| Public Use and Recreation in Protected Areas | ||
| Protected Areas and Resource Management | ||
| Financial Management in Tourism | ||
| Marketing Tourism Products and Destinations | ||
| Tourism Digital and Social Media Marketing | ||
| Law and Legal Liability in Tourism | ||
| Global Tourism Policy | ||
| Survey Research and Analysis | ||
| Project Mgmt and Tourism Event Planning | ||
| Tourism Leadership | ||
| Independent Study: Administration | ||
| Independent Study: Management | ||
| Independent Study: Interpretation | ||
| Independent Study: Landscape Planning | ||
| Research | ||
| Foodservice Management | ||
| Lodging Management | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 30 | |
A minimum of 30 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with international universities may identify culturally specific course substitutions and total credits.
- 2
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.
- 3
A maximum of six (6) credits of 300-level elective courses may be counted.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |