Sustainable Tourism, MST
Conservation, Ecotourism, Environment, Global, Hospitality, International, Leisure, Management, Planning, sustainability, urban
With your solutions-oriented mindset, love of travel and aspirations for an international career, you deserve a master's degree that will propel you into a multitrillion-dollar industry that relies on creative thinkers like you. Learn how to successfully navigate the elements that contribute to sustaining leisure destinations for future generations.
Students in the MST program receive a comprehensive education with a focus on the environmental, economic and social aspects of tourism, equipping them with the skills necessary for pioneering sustainable development solutions to the challenges facing tourism today.
This holistic curriculum focuses on integrating all three pillars of sustainability into existing tourism theories and concepts. Students learn numerous strategies and tools for identifying and building innovative tourism products and experiences and minimizing adverse impacts of tourism so that resources and opportunities remain viable and sustainable for their host communities.
- College/school:
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut
- Location: Online
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
31 credit hours including the required applied project course (TDM 593)
Required Core (24 credit hours) Electives or Research (3 credit hours) Culminating Experience (4 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Students complete an applied project that may consist of a sustainable tourism development plan for a community, a thorough sustainability audit of a tourism business, or other project as approved by the faculty advisor.
CRD 569 Advanced Tourism and Recreation Studies (3)
TDM 520 Sustainable Thinking in Tourism I (3)
TDM 521 Sustainable Thinking in Tourism II (3)
TDM 530 Sustainable Tourism Destination Planning and Management I (3)
TDM 531 Sustainable Tourism Destination Planning and Management II (3)
TDM 540 Sustainable Food Management in Tourism (3)
TDM 550 Managing the Sustainable Tourism Business (3)
TDM 570 Sustainable Tourism (3)
TDM 593 Applied Project (4)
One elective or research course is selected from an approved list for three credit hours. Students should contact the academic unit for a list of possible courses. Other courses may be used with approval from the academic unit.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field such as tourism, recreation, hospitality, business, geography or planning from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- professional statement
- resume
- three letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
International applicants are also required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores and a financial guarantee statement.
Letters of recommendation should be from current or former employers, current or former faculty members, or others who are familiar with the applicant's scholarly and professional abilities and characteristics. The names, email addresses, titles and organizations from whom the student is requesting recommendations are also required.
A written professional statement describing the applicant's purpose in pursuing the master's degree is to be submitted online. In addition, a current resume that outlines previous professional activities is required.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Demonstrate strong critical thinking skills to be able to take into account the complexities of sustainable tourism issues.
- Analyze existing examples of sustainable tourism by offering suggestions and solutions through research-backed support.
- Develop the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders for positive impact in sustainable tourism.
The sustainable tourism degree is useful to industry professionals who are interested in advancing their profiles, as well as those who are interested in changing their careers. This program prepares students to meet the increasing demand for people trained in sustainability practices and the application of those practices in tourism.
Career examples include:
- destination planners and managers
- recreation managers
- sustainable food managers
- tourism planners
School of Community Resources and Development
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UCENT 550
IDPAdvising@asu.edu
602-496-0915
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
