Tourism and Hospitality

Concentrations in Tourism and Hospitality

Overview

Students completing the Bachelor of Arts in Tourism & Hospitality must select at least one three-course concentration as part of their degree. Concentrations are designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of one particular element of tourism and hospitality, from management and marketing to working with communities to creating nature-based or cultural tourism experiences.

The concentrations reflect both Maine's strengths and assets as a tourism destination, and the background and expertise of various faculty in the T&H program. Students can also complete a second concentration as part of their major, or take electives from various areas to complete their program. The concentrations, like the program itself, are designed to be flexible and allow students to create their own career path through the major.

To finish their chosen concentration, students will complete a capstone experience that involves either a structured internship or a practicum that combines a field experience with a project. The capstones will be designed in close collaboration with the student's faculty advisor, and typically with an external "client" that might be a business, a community, or an agency that works in the tourism and hospitality field.

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Tourism Products and Promotion

This concentration focuses on identifying and developing tourism and hospitality products and services and promoting these through advertising, trade shows, social media and other means.

Students must first take this required course:

    TAH 211 – Tourism Product Development

Then select two of the following electives:

    TAH 311 – Festival & Event Planning and Management
    TAH 410 – Topics in Tourism Promotion (specialized subjects)
    TAH 415 – Trends and Innovation in Tourism & Hospitality
    BUS 260 – Marketing†
    BUS 363 – Branding and Advertising
    BUS 364 – Professional Selling

Followed by one of the program capstones, in an area connected to the concentration.

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Managing in Tourism and Hospitality

In this concentration students learn about key aspects of running a hospitality-related business, from accounting and organizational management to human resource issues.

Students must first take this required course:

    TAH 221 – Tourism and Hospitality Management

Then select two of the following electives:

    TAH 331 – Sustainable Hospitality Management
    TAH 420 – Topics in Hospitality Management (specialized subjects)
    ACC 110 – Financial Accounting Information for Decision Making
    BUS 200 – Introduction to Business
    BUS 340 – Managing Organization Behavior

Followed by a 400-hour professional internship.

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Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality

This concentration focuses on creating or modifying tourism and hospitality businesses that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

Students must first take this required course:

    TAH 231 – Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality

Then select two of the following:

    TAH 331 – Sustainable Hospitality Management
    TAH 341/ANT 450 – Tourism, Development & Sustainability
    ESP 275 – Sustainability & Global Energy Systems
    ESP 308 – Global Environmental Problems & Sustainability
    GEO 320 – Conservation of Natural Resources

Followed by one of the program capstones, in an area connected to the concentration.

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Tourism Development and Planning

Students in this concentration learn about elements of tourism planning from a community and regional perspective, preparing them to work for (or with) local town offices, state agencies, and other government and non-government entities to create beneficial tourism opportunities.

Students must first take this required course:

    TAH 241/ANT 299 – Tourism & Community Development

Then select two of the following:

    TAH 341/ANT 450 – Tourism, Development & Sustainability
    ESP 200 – Environmental Planning [or GEO 209]
    ESP 305 – Community Planning Workshop
    ESP 417 – Site Planning & Design
    GEO 209 – Introduction to Land Use Planning [or ESP 200]
    GEO 210 – Planning Maine Communities
    GEO 203 – Urban & Regional Development

Followed by one of the program capstones in an area connected to the concentration.

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Nature Based Tourism and Ecotourism

This concentration is designed for students who wish to create guided experiential tourism products in natural settings, and provides important skills for leading safe and environmentally sustainable outdoor experiences.

Students must first take this required course:

    ESP/REC 223 – Nature Based Tourism

Then select two of the following electives:

    ESP 203 – Environmental Communication
    REC 218 – Wilderness Emergency Response
    REC 233 – Outdoor Recreation
    REC 241 – Recreation Leadership
    REC 373 – Belize: Planning & Leading Sustainable Tourism Trips OR
    REC 374 – Newfoundland: Planning & Leading Sust. Tourism Trips

Followed by one of the program capstones, in an area connected to the concentration.

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Cultural, Arts, and Heritage Tourism

Students in this concentration explore how local history, arts, and cultural heritage can be both preserved and promoted as an important element of tourism development.

Students must first take this required course:

    TAH 261 – Introduction to Cultural Tourism

Then select two of the following electives:

    TAH 311 – Festival & Event Planning and Management
    TAH 460 – Topics in Cultural Tourism (specialized subjects)
    ANT 355 – Public Interpretation in Anthropology
    ANT 360 – Public Archaeology
    ANT 450 – Indigenous Peoples & Tourism
    HTY 360 – History of Maine

Followed by one of the program capstones, in an area connected to the concentration.

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