What Degree Levels are Available in Tourism and Travel Management?

<h3 id="section---CertificateProgramsInTourismAndTravelManagement">Certificate Programs in Tourism and Travel Management</h3> <p>Certificate programs are available for students seeking an introduction to the hospitality industry as well as for current professionals who want to acquire training in a specialized area of tourism and travel management. Undergraduate certificate programs typically feature 4-6 classes and can be completed in under a year. Certificates programs often focus on one area tourism and travel management, such as: </p> <ul><li>Destination specialist </li><li>Green and sustainable tourism </li><li>Event management </li><li>Tourism management </li></ul><h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutTourismAndTravelManagementDegrees"> Important Facts About Tourism and Travel Management Degrees</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Prerequisites </td><td> Undergraduate degree programs require a high school diploma and graduate degree programs require a bachelor's degree and a specific GPA</td></tr> <tr><td> Online Availability </td><td> Fully available for bachelor's and master's degrees</td></tr> <tr><td> Possible Careers </td><td> Travel agents, agency manager, travel/tour guide, hospitality administration, hotel and restaurant management, corporate travel executive, director of tourism development, corporate director of sales</td></tr> <tr><td> Continuing Education </td><td> Voluntary; certifications available for sustainable tourism, ecotourism, marketing tourism, financing tourism, and funding of tourism businesses</td></tr> <tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$43,810 <i>(Travel Agents)</i></td></tr> <tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>20% <i>(Travel Agents)</i></td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---AssociateSDegreePrograms">Associate's Degree Programs</h3> <p>In an associate's program, you can get training in hotel, restaurant, meeting and convention management. These programs often let you get practical experience through internships or capstone courses. Many programs include concentrations in such areas as event planning, lodging or travel. You can also learn how to interact with customers and understand the regulations that govern the tourism industry. In one of these programs, you could take courses in: </p> <ul><li>Tourism geography </li><li>Travel agencies </li><li>International tourism </li><li>Resort management </li><li>Destination marketing </li></ul><h3 id="section---BachelorSDegreePrograms">Bachelor's Degree Programs</h3> <p>Bachelor's degree programs focus on building students' problem-solving, communication and management skills. You can also get plenty of hands-on experience since many of these programs incorporate internships into the curriculum. At this level, you can find training in tourism and travel management available as part of Bachelor of Business Administration programs, which give you a solid business foundation in addition to your field-specific training. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs are also available. Concentrations might be offered in some programs in areas such as tourism promotion, sustainable tourism, tourism development, club management or resort management. Courses in a bachelor's degree program may include: </p> <ul><li>Management strategies </li><li>Marketing research </li><li>Global issues in tourism </li><li>Cultural tourism </li><li>Guest service management </li><li>Hospitality sales </li></ul><h3 id="section---MasterSDegreePrograms">Master's Degree Programs</h3> <p>Designed for students seeking leadership roles in the travel and tourism industry, master's degree programs in this field often focus on tourism management, policy development, global tourism and tourism analysis. These programs generally give you the option to complete a thesis or to pursue a non-thesis track and get practical experience through internships, capstone courses or projects. Common courses you might find in a master's program include: </p> <ul><li>Travel marketing </li><li>Hospitality management </li><li>International hospitality </li><li>Research methods </li><li>Sustainable tourism </li><li>Policy analysis </li></ul><h3 id="section---DoctoralDegreePrograms">Doctoral Degree Programs</h3> <p>If you want to teach postsecondary students about tourism and travel management or to perform research in this field, you might consider a doctoral program. You can earn a Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Management by completing graduate seminars, performing research and writing a dissertation. Most programs also include comprehensive and final exams. Seminars that you might take include: </p> <ul><li>Research methods </li><li>Hospitality theory </li><li>Advanced research in tourism and hospitality management </li><li>Statistics</li></ul>