Undergraduate Academic Programs

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Recreation (BSR), Tourism Management Major

Description of Program

The tourism management program prepares students to enter the world's largest and most diverse industry. Tourism is the business of attracting and catering to the needs and expectations of visitors. Although the tourism industry includes transportation, travel brokers, and food and lodging, students in this program focus on the marketing and management of tourist facilities and destinations. These include government tourism divisions, hotels, resorts, convention centers, theme parks, visitor centers, cruises, and airlines.

Admission

Apply online for undergraduate admission to Indiana University at http://admit.indiana.edu/.

A newly admitted freshman pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Recreation degree with a major in tourism management will receive an offer of direct freshman admission to the tourism management program if he or she meets both of the following criteria:

  • The applicant must have earned one of the following minimum standardized test scores: A combined critical reading and math score of 1270 on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or a composite score of 29 on the ACT (American College Test).
  • The applicant must have either graduated in the top 12 percent of his or her high school graduating class or earned a minimum high school GPA of 3.5.

Before entering the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation as a tourism management major, all other students must meet both of the following criteria:

  • The student must successfully complete at least 26 credit hours.
  • The student must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at Indiana University.

Students in the University Division must also declare their intention to major in tourism management to the University Division Records Office. Undergraduate students who complete the semester before certification of admission to the school with less than a 2.0 GPA for the semester will be admitted on a probationary status.

International transfer applicants to the School of HPER, whose primary language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper- based test, or 213 on the computer-based test, or a 79 on the Internet-based test, is required for direct admission to the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. For students from countries where the TOEFL is not available, other evidence of English proficiency may be considered. All entering international students whose primary language is not English will be required to take the Indiana University English language examination before registering for course work. Appropriate remedial English courses may be prescribed on the basis of test results.

All entering international students whose primary language is not English will be required to take a special examination in English with IU prior to registering.  Prepared by IU and designed to test a student’s ability to use English in an academic setting, the exam consists of three parts: an essay on a general topic, a listening comprehension exercise, and a grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension section.  There is little that one can do to prepare for this exam other than to continue using written and spoken English at every opportunity.  

International students whose primary language is not English must agree to take any English language courses prescribed from the results of this examination. Fees for special part-time English courses are the same as for other courses; however, credits earned do not meet degree requirements.  If the results of the proficiency examination indicate that full-time work in English is required, the student will be assigned to the Intensive English Program (IEP).  

Students enrolled in IEP do not take academic courses until they achieve adequate English proficiency.  If a student has serious doubts about English ability and is not financially prepared to undertake the additional time and expense of an intensive English program here, the student should consider completing English study in the student’s home country.  In addition, the student may consider delaying admission to a future session.

Degree Requirements

This is a four-year program leading to the degree, Bachelor of Science in Recreation with a major in tourism management. This major program prepares students to become leaders in the tourism industry for a wide range of careers as students develop competencies in administration, budgeting, communications, event planning, marketing, and management. A minimum of 26 successfully completed credit hours and a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) are required for admission to this program. Graduation requirements include:

  • completion of general education requirements.
  • completion of tourism management major requirements.
  • a minimum of 124 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
  • a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
  • a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses with the following department code-prefixes: HPER-R and HPER-L. 
  • No Pass/Fail except for free electives.
General Education (20 – 39 credits)

All undergraduate students who matriculate as degree-seeking students at IU Bloomington in or after the summer term of 2011 must complete the IU Bloomington campus-wide general education common ground requirements. Such students must visit the 2011-2012 General Education Bulletin to view these requirements.

Undergraduate students who matriculate as degree-seeking students on the IU Bloomington campus in the summer or fall terms of 2010, or the spring term of 2011, must complete the School of HPER general education requirements which are described below. Unlike the 2011-2112 Bloomington campus-wide general education requirements, the 2010 School of HPER general education requirements do not include a residency requirement, nor do they restrict the use of extended-term, independent study or correspondence courses.

2010 School of HPER General Education Requirements

English Composition (0 to 3 credits required, C- minimum required in the course used to satisfy this requirement)
Complete one of the following options:

  • CMCL-C 110 Writing the World (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition 1 (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 170 Introduction to Argumentative Writing: Projects in Reading and Writing (3 cr. - this topic only)
  • ENG-W 131 EX Elementary Composition by Examination (0 cr.)

Mathematical Modeling (3 to 4 credits required)
Complete one of the following options:

  • MATH-A 118 Finite Mathematics for the Social and Biological Sciences (3 cr.)
  • MATH-D 116 AND MATH-D 117 Introduction to Finite Mathematics I-II (4 cr.)
  • MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-S 118 Honors Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-V 118 Finite Mathematics with Applications: Finite Mathematics for the Social and Biological Sciences (3 cr.)
  • MATH-V 118 Finite Mathematics with Applications: Finite and Consumer Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-J 113 Introduction to Calculus with Applications (3 cr.)
  • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus 1 (3 cr.)
  • MATH-M 211 Calculus I (4 cr.)
  • MATH-M 213 Accelerated Calculus (4 cr.)

Note: The course(s) used to satisfy the mathematical modeling requirement may NOT also be applied to the natural and mathematical sciences requirement.

Natural and Mathematical Sciences (5 to 6 cr.)

Complete either six credits of acceptable natural and mathematical sciences (N&M) courses, or a single, approved, five-credit N&M course with a substantial laboratory component. The course used to satisfy the mathematical modeling requirement may NOT also be used to fulfill this requirement. Visit the list of acceptable natural and mathematical sciences (N&M) courses for choices and more information.

Arts and Humanities (6 credits required)
Complete six credits of acceptable arts and humanities (A&H) courses.

Social and Historical Studies (6 credits required.)
Complete six credits of acceptable social and historical studies (S&H) courses.

World Languages and Cultures (0 to 14 cr., most commonly 6 credits)
There are three options for completion of the world languages and cultures requirement.

Major (90 cr.)

Professional Recreation Requirement (48 cr.)
(A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required in the following courses.)
Complete each of the following courses:

  • HPER-R 160 Foundations of Recreation and Leisure (3 cr.) +(S&H)
  • HPER-R 231 Careers in Leisure Service (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 237 Computers in Park, Recreation, Sport, and Tourism Management (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 266 Recreation Facility Management (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 270 Inclusive Recreation Services (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 272 Recreation Activities and Leadership Methods (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 301 Internship Preparation (1 cr.)
  • HPER-R 340 Leisure in Modern Society (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 363 Professional Internship (14 cr.)
  • HPER-R 367 Event Planning and Program Development (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 441 Legal Aspects of Recreation (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 390 Statistical Applications in Leisure Studies (3 cr.) or ECON-E 370 Statistical Analysis for Business and Economics (3 cr.) or MATH-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) or PSY-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) or SOC-S 371 Statistics for Sociology or SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 490 Research and Evaluation (3 cr.)

Tourism Management Specialization Requirement (33 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

  • HPER-R 236 Introduction to Tourism (3 cr.) (minimum grade of C)
  • HPER-R 252 Introduction to Lodging Management (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 326 Customer Service & Media Relations (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 350  Sustainable Tourism (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 351 Convention Management and Meeting Planning (3 cr.) (minimum grade of C)
  • HPER-R 422 Marketing for Leisure Services (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 451 Fiscal Mgmt Leisure Service (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 468 Strategic Planning for Rec & Tourism Orgs (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 471 Human Resource Management  in Leisure Services(3 cr.)
  • Foreign Language (6 cr.)

Professional Elective Requirement (9 cr.)
Complete a minimum of 9 credits from the following professional electives:

  • HPER-P 283 Recreation Based GIS (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 352 Resort Management (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 372 Interpretation & Tour Guiding (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 423 Visitor Behavior (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 429 Ecotourism: Administration & Mgmt (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 455 International Meeting Planning) (3 cr.)

+ Courses followed by a S&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education, social and historical studies requirement.

Special Opportunities

Due to its global significance, tourism often involves practices in the international arena. The program offers overseas courses and trips that allow students to explore a multicultural landscape in a fashion that is conducive to learning. Further, internship opportunities can help students to preview the operation of interest within the tourism business in order to build a competitive edge in the field of specialization (e.g., hotel/resort management) prior to graduation.

Careers

Typical tourism job titles are hotel manager, marketing director of a city visitor and convention bureau, coordinator of a university conference bureau, event and meeting planner, researcher for a state department of tourism, resort manager, and manager for a theme park.

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