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Tourism Development and Management, BS

Do you want to shape the future of tourism as a force for economic growth, sustainability and social good? Gain the skills to plan, manage and develop tourism destinations that promote cultural understanding and sustainable practices in one of the world's most dynamic industries.

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A woman and man smile for a photo at the Grand Canyon's edge, capturing the exploration central to ASU's Tourism Development degree.

Quick facts

Courses

120 credit hours
Math intensity: General program math intensity general
First required math course: MAT 114 - College Mathematics
View more details

Additional facts

STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Degree description

In the Bachelor of Science program in tourism development and management, you develop the planning, management and leadership skills needed to guide the sustainable growth of tourism worldwide. The curriculum connects classroom learning with applied experiences through internships, community partnerships and opportunities for global engagement.

You explore a variety of professional areas, including heritage and sustainable tourism, resort management, and meeting and convention planning. The program maintains close ties with the tourism industry in Phoenix, offering you a direct connection to one of the nation's leading travel and hospitality markets.

You may also pursue a certificate in convention sales and meeting planning or participate in a study abroad program that broadens your global perspective and professional network.

Courses

Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.

Sample courses
PRM 120 Leisure and the Quality of Life
TDM 205 Introduction to Travel and Tourism
TDM 225 Introduction to Hotel, Resort and Lodging Management
TDM 372 Tourism and Hospitality Planning
TDM 458 International Tourism and Hospitality
TDM 480 Sustainable Tourism

Course checksheet and curriculum archive

The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.

What If

Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).

Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.

If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.

See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)

What you'll learn

The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.

  • Able to incorporate multiple perspectives when proposing creative solutions to complex tourism issues.
  • Integrate knowledge from diverse disciplines to develop comprehensive strategies that address the complex challenges faced by tourism organizations.
  • Able to demonstrate proficiency in written communications with diverse audiences (e.g., clients, interdisciplinary team members, community members).

Admission requirements

Here are the admission and application details

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required to change majors to this program.

Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.


Explore expanded study opportunities

This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.

This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

Undergraduate advisor
Melissa Bryant
602-496-1658
Melissa.Bryant@asu.edu
Graduate advisor
April Maguire
602-496-0182
April.Maguire@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-1186
Learn more about this program
Undergraduate advisor
Melissa Bryant
602-496-1658
Melissa.Bryant@asu.edu
Graduate advisor
April Maguire
602-496-0182
April.Maguire@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-1186
Learn more about this program
Undergraduate advisor
Melissa Bryant
602-496-0264
Melissa.Bryant@asu.edu
Graduate advisor
April Maguire
602-496-0182
scrd@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-0182
Learn more about this program
Undergraduate advisor
Melissa Bryant
602-496-0264
Melissa.Bryant@asu.edu
Graduate advisor
April Maguire
602-496-0182
scrd@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-0182
Learn more about this program
Undergraduate advisor
Melissa Bryant
602-496-0264
Melissa.Bryant@asu.edu
Graduate advisor
April Maguire
602-496-0182
scrd@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-0182
Learn more about this program
Undergraduate advisor
Melissa Bryant
602-496-0264
Melissa.Bryant@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-0915
Learn more about this program

Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Global experience

Future tourism professionals need to know how and why people travel to destinations around the world, and how to effectively share the local environment with visitors. Through study abroad programs, students gain valuable experience in the various subsets of tourism development and management around the world, including in Europe, Latin America, Oceania, Asia and Africa.

Paying for college

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Get an estimate

Build the career and future you want

Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:

Career opportunities showing job titles, projected growth rates, median salaries, and links to detailed information
Career Growth Median Salary More Information
CEO 3.2% $213,990
Event Planner 5.8% $61,160
Front Desk Manager 3.8% $69,250
General Manager (GM) 5.0% $105,770
Office Manager 5.2% $114,130
Public Relations Manager (PR Manager) 5.7% $146,910
Restaurant Manager 5.8% $69,390
Travel Agent 0.2% $50,160
Urban Planner 3.9% $89,320

Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.

Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).


More about careers

Graduates are prepared for careers across the expanding travel and tourism industry, a major driver of economic activity worldwide and a leading sector in Arizona. They can pursue roles in public, nonprofit and private organizations, including resorts, convention and visitor bureaus, tour operations, meeting and event planning, and commercial recreation enterprises. In these settings, graduates design, develop and manage services that meet the needs of diverse clients and communities.

The metropolitan Phoenix area serves as a key tourism hub in the Southwestern United States, offering opportunities in:

  • air transportation
  • business and corporate travel
  • gaming and casinos
  • meetings and conventions
  • resorts and hotels
  • sports tourism
  • state and national parks

Contact information

Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.

School of Community Resources and Development | UCENT 164
scrdadvising@asu.edu
602-496-1658

Frequently asked questions about degree programs

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

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. 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.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

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