Tourism Development and Management (Meetings and Events), BS
Design experiences that bring people together by planning meetings, conventions and large-scale events. You'll build skills in operations, budgeting, marketing and leadership while gaining hands-on experience with the Phoenix tourism and hospitality community.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
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.
Program description
You prepare for leadership and management roles across the event industry in the Bachelor of Science program in tourism development and management with a concentration in meetings and events. You complete focused coursework in event planning, design and operations, drawing from both the special events and meeting management programs to build a strong professional foundation.
The program maintains close connections with the tourism and hospitality community in Phoenix, offering you opportunities for hands-on experience through applied projects and internships. Coursework explores heritage and sustainable tourism, resort management, and meeting and convention planning, helping you understand how events drive tourism development and community engagement.
You may also pursue a certificate in convention sales and meeting planning or participate in additional experiential learning opportunities that enhance your professional growth.
Why specialize in meetings and events at ASU?
This concentration sits within the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions where you'll study how tourism shapes local economies, cultural heritage and environmental sustainability, which prepares you to lead as a responsible community member.
Based at the Downtown Phoenix campus, you're surrounded by a major tourism hub. A convention center, hundreds of resorts and mega-events such as the Super Bowl, Final Four and Phoenix Open give you direct access to internships and applied learning.
The coursework emphasizes project-based learning, so you work with local tourism boards, event venues and parks to solve current industry challenges before you graduate. You can also tailor your path through this meetings and events concentration to match high-demand areas in convention and event planning.
Additional details
Outside of class, you can join the Tourism Students Association to connect with classmates who share your interest in tourism and hospitality management. You may also pursue a certificate in convention sales and meeting planning to add depth to your professional growth.
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 372 Tourism and Hospitality Planning |
| TDM 458 International Tourism and Hospitality |
| TDM 480 Sustainable Tourism |
| CRD 202 Inclusive Community Development |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
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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.
- 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).
Incorporate multiple perspectives when proposing creative solutions to complex tourism issues.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:
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.
Future tourism professionals need to develop an understanding of how and why people travel to destinations around the world, and learn how to share the local environment with visitors. When studying abroad, students gain valuable field experience and immersion in various locales worldwide. Internships for credit in meetings and events are available in Europe, Oceania, Latin America and elsewhere.
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 receive 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 | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convention or Entertainment Attendant | 4.0% | $32,640 | Learn more |
| Event Planner | 5.8% | $61,160 | Learn more |
| Front Desk Manager | 3.8% | $69,250 | Learn more |
| General Manager (GM) | 5.0% | $105,770 | Learn more |
| Public Relations Manager (PR Manager) | 5.7% | $146,910 | Learn more |
| TV Program Director | 4.0% | $90,360 | Learn more |
| Tour Guide | 6.3% | $38,120 | Learn more |
| Travel Agent | 0.2% | $50,160 | Learn more |
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
Careers this meetings and events concentration prepares you for
Graduates are prepared for careers in meeting and event management across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. They may work for resorts and hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, private event companies, festivals, travel agencies, destination management firms, parks and recreation departments, public relations agencies, or nonprofit organizations focused on fundraising and community events.
Tourism-related meetings and events contribute significantly to Arizona's economy and to global travel and hospitality industries, providing diverse career paths for professionals with event management expertise.
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.
