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CSU's online master's in tourism management helps you develop your business management acumen, enhance your knowledge of industry practices, and understand the social and environmental impacts of global tourism — so you can live the lifestyle you love while working to create positive experiences for others.
A successful tourism company can boost the local economy and support livelihoods. It just takes the right kind of manager to ensure this happens, and CSU's online tourism degree gives you the insight and training to become just that: a leader in the tourism industry.
By teaching a "whole system" approach to sustainable tourism management — one that recognizes the value of people and resources as much as profit — this program prepares you to step into the industry with a unique, and valuable, perspective.
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Gain the skills to further your career and make a meaningful impact on the world while doing something you love.
To learn about the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources department and Central China Normal University's partnership, check out this article and read about the MTM collaboration and students program experiences.
Now is an excellent time to start pursuing a new career or advancement opportunity in tourism. Jobs in the field are expected to grow in the future, creating an increased demand for talented professionals.
Business course electives in marketing strategy and planning, managing human capital, supply chain management, and others are integrated with tourism-specific coursework. Complete courses in a range of topics that provide a comprehensive skillset for any business owner to succeed in tourism.
The Master of Tourism Management requires completion of 32 credits. This is a coursework-only degree and does not require completion of a thesis.
*Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with international universities may identify culturally specific course substitutions and total credits.
Alan's teaching responsibilities include on-campus and distance coursework for the M.T.M. program and courses in the natural resource tourism program. Alan's primary research interests center around theoretical applications of social psychological constructs toward the management of natural resources, including values, attitudes, behavior, and the complexity with which people think about issues. These constructs are also considered in the context of attitude and behavior change. Alan's teaching interests focus on development and administration of coursework in the tourism undergraduate and graduate programs.
Tony is a professor in the Department of Forest & Rangeland Stewardship at and is Director of the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute at Colorado State University. Tony’s primary research interests are in forest governance, policy, and administration, with a focus on collaborative approaches to promote resilient social-ecological systems linked to forest landscapes. In his capacity as director of CFRI, Tony oversees programs to develop, compile, and apply current knowledge through collaborative, adaptive management approaches to achieve forest restoration and wildfire hazard reduction goals. Born and raised in eastern Washington’s Palouse country, Tony has a PhD in Forestry from Oregon State University, a MS in Forestry from the University of Minnesota, and a BA in Political Science from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA.
Stuart teaches courses in ecotourism, sustainable tourism development, protected area management, and research in human dimensions of natural resources. His research focus includes sustainable tourism, travel and tourism behavior, visitor impact management, and public perceptions of landscape disturbance issues. Present projects involve a National Science Foundation grant to examine land management agency and water provider perception of pine beetle impacts on water quality. As a former resident fellow with the School for Global and Environmental Sustainability, Stuart conducted a preliminary study of the impacts of mountain pine beetle infestation on recreation and tourism, which led to the present NSF project. One of the highlights of Stuart's teaching involves the monitoring of diseased corals and volunteer based conservation projects for an NGO in the Bahamas.
Tanner brings over fifteen years of young adult leadership and teaching experience to Colorado State University. Throughout his career, Tanner has worked firsthand with young adults to develop their leadership capacity, cultural consideration, and global perspectives. Tanner has an immense passion for education, cultural linking, and historical awareness that has driven him to teach in various countries including; Korea, Thailand, Laos, Morocco, The US, and Cambodia. Through his unique cultural lens, Tanner has committed his life to the exchange of knowledge through cultural interaction and a communal perspective allowing him to bring an invaluable background to Colorado State University. Tanner graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a degree in History and completed his graduate program at the University of Idaho in Recreation, Sports, and Tourism Management. He is an avid voice for the lost art of chivalry, politeness, and gallantry.
Dr. Sarah Walker’s research uses an environmental justice lens to investigate the role well-being can play in helping us better understand people’s relationships with their environments. Specifically , she studies human well-being in the context of climate resilience and adaptation in vulnerable communities around the world. Her work also investigates the well-being benefits of spending time in nature. Sarah received her PhD from Colorado State University and is currently completing her post-doctoral training at University of Colorado Boulder. She’s an avid hiker and cyclist, and loves being in the classroom with students.
Lina Xiong is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. She is also called "Dr. Bear," because her last name in Chinese means bear. Dr. Bear came to the U.S. in 2006 from mainland China. Lina completed her Ph.D. in Business Administration from Temple University in Philadelphia. Before coming to CSU, Dr. Bear had taught many business courses in the College of Business at Marshall University. Her teaching assignment at CSU includes tourism strategic management, tourism marketing, and advanced lodging in the Master of Tourism Management program. She is also responsible for developing several M.T.M. courses in mandarin. Dr. Bear's research interests include service management, internal branding, employee brand motivation, and customer loyalty. She has published several articles in hospitality management journals. Recently, Dr. Bear's dissertation, titled, "Employee Brand Internalization: The Central Route to a Brand Aligned Workforce," has received a Highly Commended Award of the 2014 Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards in the Hospitality Management category. This is a prestigious international annual award presented by Emerald and the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). She has worked in hospitality and tourism businesses in both China and the U.S.
Wen Zhang, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. Wen joined CSU in Spring 2023 after receiving her doctoral degree from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Her research centers on understanding the nature and structure of the tourism experience with a focus on the roles of emotions and storytelling in experience design and destination marketing. She has extensive experience working in interdisciplinary teams and actively collaborating with industry and local tourism organizations. Some of her research projects include Experience Mapping Project, Tourism Story Project, Narrative Immersion in Theme Park Experience, Ponte Vedra Tourism Planning Project, and Madden Media Destination Marketing Project. Wen is also a lead instructor of the Master of Tourism Management (MTM)-China program.
Please review the admission requirements for this program before applying.
Note: GRE scores are not required.
*Exceptions to GPA requirement are made on a case-by-case basis.
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