If you have a passion for travel and enjoy working with diverse groups of people, consider completing a tourism degree program. Tourism education and tourism degree programs train students to work in the travel and hospitality industry to provide tourism and travel services in several types of capacities. You can study tourism at an online or offline school, and learn how to offer travel agent services, prepare travel itineraries and serve as a guide to several destinations around the globe.
Many tourism university and tourism college programs offer a variety of tourism courses including airline travel, business communications and world geography. Tourism studies cover a wide range of topics and can lead towards an associates, bachelor's or advanced tourism degree program.
Where to Study Tourism
If you are interested in getting a tourism degree, you can attend a tourism school such as tourism university or tourism college to complete a bachelor's or master's degree program. Many tourism schools offer a variety of programs in tourism education and travel degrees, and some offer distance learning or online courses for students who need a more flexible schedule. You can complete a bachelor's degree or master degree in tourism from one of several accredited tourism schools around the country.
Types of Tourism Degree Programs
Many colleges and universities offer degree programs in the field of recreation and tourism management, as well as travel and tourism, and tourism development and management. Some of the most commonly available types of tourism degree programs include:
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Parks and Recreation Management
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Tourism Development and Management
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Recreation and Sport Management
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Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management
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Tourism Marketing
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Nature or Eco-Tourism
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Tourism for Non-Profits
A tourism university or tourism college program may also offer certificate programs in the field of travel and tourism. These short-term tourism education programs teach more specialized skills in areas such as global travel, hospitality management, and general travel management.
Careers with a Tourism Degree
After completing a tourism degree or tourism education program, graduates can explore a variety of careers in the field of tourism, business, marketing and even green jobs. Some career options with a tourism degree program include working for:
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Private tour companies operating spas, fitness centers, hotels and retail outlets
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Parks and recreation areas offering adventure tourism packages
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Resorts and hotels offering guided tours and tourist packages
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Visitors and convention bureaus hosting festivals and special events
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Food service operators in hotels, restaurants and resorts
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Airlines offering specialized trips and custom travel packages
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Ground transportation providers offering travel packages
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Destination marketing firms
Types of Tourism Courses
In addition to pursuing a general tourism degree program that covers all aspects of travel, tourism, marketing and operations, students attending a tourism school or tourism university can choose to specialize in a particular area, such as lodging management, food and beverage management or casino management. Some of the most common type s of tourism courses you'll find in tourism degree and tourism education programs include:
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Economic, Cultural and Environmental Aspects of Tourism
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Tourism Research
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Tourism Development
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Legal Issues
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Tourism Development
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Tourism Marketing
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Statistical Applications in Tourism & Hospitality Management
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Principles of Financial Analysis
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Special Event Management for Hospitality and Tourism
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Accounting for Hospitality and Tourism
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Tourism Planning & Analysis
Getting a Master Degree in Tourism
Individuals interested in management, supervisory and teaching positions in the field of tourism and travel can complete a master degree in tourism from a tourism university or tourism college. Some of the most common courses and requirements for a master degree in tourism include:
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Destination Policy Analysis
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Tourism/Hospitality Management Research
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Sport Marketing
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Volunteer Tourism
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Eco-Tourism
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Community Tourism
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Applied Strategic Planning
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Principles of Risk Management
Career Options and Occupational Outlook with a Tourism Degree
Students who successfully complete a bachelor's or master's tourism degree program can explore a variety of job prospects and work as a:
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Travel agent
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Lodging manager
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Travel coordinator
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Travel supervisor
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Hotel or resort supervisor
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Casino or club management
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Food and beverage management
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Tourism, convention and event management
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a travel agent's experience, location of the agency, sales ability and the size of the agency are the determining factors for the salary. The median annual wages for travel agents were $30,570 in May 2008 and those who ran their own agencies depend on commissions and service fees to earn an income.
Those who pursue management positions and research or development positions earn significantly higher salaries than travel agents, and earnings depend on years of experience, area of specialization and location of the firm or company.
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