Degree Overview: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Tourism and Travel Management
Majors Overview May 14, 2014The field of tourism and travel management is very broad; those who are interested in this field should look into degree programs related to the industry of hospitality. A few schools offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for this field, such as the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree program in Tourism and Travel Management.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree Programs in Tourism and Travel Management
Students enrolled in a degree program in tourism and travel management are provided with basic management and business skills and then taught about applying those skills to the tourism field. Schools offer most travel and tourism management coursework in the field through larger master’s degree programs in tourism management or through bachelor’s degree programs in hospitality. However, some schools offer bachelor’s degrees in tourism and travel management, which are best suited to the needs of students interested in garnering rudimentary instruction on the subject.
The tourism and travel management bachelor’s degree program provides an overview of the basic businesses that make up the industry of tourism and travel, such as tourist attractions, convention facilities, recreational activities, theme park destinations, cruise ships, resorts, health spas, campsites, and more. Students will be taught the basic administration and leadership skills needed for the tourism and travel industry. Students are also taught about marketing for resort facility management, commercial recreation, the tourist trade, and basic accounting.
Education Requirements
All incoming students need to be high school graduates because most schools offering tourism and travel management bachelor’s degree programs are four-year universities and colleges. Students are also required to have strong GPAs and to pass standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT. General education courses in English, mathematics, and communication are also usually prerequisites.
Coursework
The bachelor’s degree program in tourism and travel management covers business principles and tools specific to the travel industry. Some of these might include:
•Scheduling travel
•Facility management
•Programming and special events
•Leisure activities
•Tourism management and law
•Cultural issues in tourism and recreation
•Tourism marketing
•Intro to tourism and recreation
•Facility management
•Accounting for tourism
•Adventure destinations
•Tour group packaging
Career Choices
There are several potential career options open for graduates of a bachelor’s degree program in tourism and travel management. Some of these might include:
•Resort manager
•Cruise ship manager
•Travel escort
•Tour guide
•Travel agent
•Recreational protective service worker (including ski patrol and lifeguard)
•Concierge
•Travel guide
Continuing Education Choices
Graduates of bachelor’s degree programs in travel and tourism management can go on to obtain advanced degrees in the field. Some available degrees include a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Hospitality and Tourism Management and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Tourism and Travel Management. These two-year programs provide students with hospitality skills and in-depth training in management arts.
Job and Wage Outlook
A slower-than-national-average job growth rate of 10% has been predicted for the field of travel agents, over the 2010-2020 decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)). In May 2012, travel agents took home an average annual wage of $34,600.