Master in Tourism, 120 credits

Aim

The two-year Master Program in Tourism Studies aims to provide students with thorough knowledge about the subject, a unique opportunity to gain quality education through cutting edge taught courses and research, allowing them to develop the ability to carry out independent scientific work and to develop skills necessary to find employment worldwide.

Programme objectives

In addition to the general learning goals specified by The Swedish Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9 and Higher Education Ordinance, Annex 2,
the following learning goals apply to Master (two year) in Tourism,

After successfully concluding the program, students will:

- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding within the main field, including
an overview of the area and advanced knowledge in central concepts within tourism, in addition to current research and developments in its related fields.

- Be able, through individual work, to integrate and generate knowledge needed to deal with highly complex problems and to formulate judgments based on scientific approaches.

- Have the ability to communicate academic research to tourism professionals as well as the general public – both nationally and internationally.

- Know how to study and work in groups as much as independently in order to participate and develop advanced scientific research and development activities

- Know how to connect methodological and scientific knowledge in response to current and future needs in order to develop knowledge and expertise within the field.

- Be able to creatively inspire scientific research via critical thinking in dialogue with interdisciplinary approaches

Each course will have its specific learning outcomes, specified in the course syllabus.

• have the ability through their own work to develop the integration of knowledge to deal with complex problems and to formulate judgments based on scientific approaches,

• communicate findings and the underlying knowledge to tourism specialists and professionals as well as less technical audiences - nationally and internationally.

• have developed the ability to study independently to participate in advanced scientific research and development activities,

• be able to apply scientific methods and approaches in response to needs for new knowledge in tourism as well as needs for development of further expertise within the field.

Each course will have its specific learning outcomes, specified in the course syllabus.

Content

Human Geography MA, Tourism in a Changing World, 7.5 credits
Tourism Studies MA, Sustainability and the Sustainability Agenda, 7.5 credits
Tourism Studies MA, Tourism Management and Economics, 7.5 credits
Tourism Studies MA, Quantitative Methods in Tourism, 7.5 credits

Tourism Studies MA, Qualitative Methods in Tourism, 7.5 credits
Human Geography/Tourism Studies MA, Independent Reading Course, 7.5 credits
Human Geography/Tourism Studies MA, Applied Research (Fieldwork Project), 15 credits

Human Geography/Tourism Studies MA, Master Thesis, 30 credits
Human Geography/Tourism Studies MA, Internship or Exchange at another university, 30 credits

Entry requirements

A bachelor' s degree of at least 180 credits (ECTS) and English course 6/English course B from Swedish Upper Secondary School (Gymnasium) or the equivalent.

Description of programme

This masters’ program seeks to attract and develop students and professionals either seeking a career in academia or to transit to a professional working life outside academia and vice versa. For this, our program is rooted in the strong tourism education tradition and the research environment at Mid Sweden University.

In more detail, students becoming part of our environment will enter a problem-based and project-oriented program, offering a comprehensive understanding of theoretical, methodological and practical approaches necessary in order to understand core, contemporary and emerging issues related to complex global phenomena and their implications for local sustainability, policy-making, and decision-making processes related to tourism as well as tourism destination development, planning and governance.

Furthermore, the program is offered entirely in English. Students will take part in an interesting combination of courses, independent research and study visits, allowing them to utilize the advantages of our geographical location and, by that, to integrate real-world application and academic theory, which prepares them for an academic and professional career afterward. Our courses emphasize collectivism as much as individualism while frequently providing students the opportunity to meet and closely work together with top researchers from all over the world.

Students enrolled in this program have the option to either obtain a degree in Tourism Studies or Human Geography. Candidates will gain further insight into the intersection of society, culture, nature as well as production and consumption processes that are informed in virtue of information technology in the context of tourism by pursuing either an internship at a company, organization or institution of their choice, or via studying abroad at one of our many partner universities worldwide. This ensures our students will gain in-depth skills in analyzing, planning as well as evaluating tourism and related phenomena on various scales.

This program, together with ETOUR (The European Tourism Research Institute), enables graduates to further participate in current research, develop international contacts and a passion for the field, which increases their chances to establish themselves as leaders of tomorrow.

Selection rules and procedures

The selection process is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance and the local order of admission.

Programme with restricted admissions

Specific prerequisites are indicated in the syllabus for each course.

Teaching and examination

Teaching and assessment methods are indicated in the syllabus for each course. Lectures will be given in English and are held on the University campus Östersund unless otherwise specified in the syllabus for each course. Assessment methods are indicated in the syllabus for each course.

Title of qualification

Degree of Master of Arts/Science (120 credits)

Masterexamen med huvudområdet turismvetenskap alternativt kulturgeografi
som översätts till
Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Tourism Studies or Human Geography

Other information

Our graduates can be found in several different positions in both the public and private sectors. Our graduates work as destination planners, analysts, or in tourism services and destination development. The program provides a basis for further studies at third cycle. Mid Sweden University itself offers a PhD program in Tourism Studies. Through this education, students are able to develop working contacts for the future with leading players in the tourism industry. The students' in-depth thesis allows them to foster interaction with the tourism sector, which can also lead to future internships or future work.

The here listed courses, including, but not limited to, their names, content, credit, placement and respective term are subject to change.