Tourism includes a wide range of businesses and career opportunities. No single program can prepare you for everything you will ever need to know in a tourism career because it is such a huge industry and because it can change very quickly. But, this is also what makes a tourism career exciting and dynamic.
Western Michigan University offers a tourism and travel major designed for students planning to pursue career in the tourism industry. While the program is more comprehensive than many, you will still need to complement your studies by choosing a minor in one of the following areas: a foreign language, Spanish, communication, journalism, English (practical writing), geography, history, public history or international studies. You will also supplement your coursework with an internship, research or study abroad experience.
Beyond the classroom
As a tourism and travel student at WMU, you will be required to complete one of the following:
- Professional internship
- Research under the guidance of a tourism faculty member
- Study abroad experience
You will also have the opportunity to join the Geography Club and Gamma Theta Upsilon or Students for a Sustainable Earth.
After you graduate
Recent WMU graduates with degrees in tourism and travel are working as:
- Travel agents
- Geographic area specialists
- Regional planners
- Map curators
Among the organizations they work for are:
- Airlines
- Travel agencies
- Government agencies
Where is this program offered?
- Kalamazoo
Other programs of interest
- Communication Studies
- Community and Regional Planning
- English: Literature and Language
- French
- Geography
- German
- Global and International Studies
- History
- Japanese
- Digital Media and Journalism
- Latin
- Leadership and Business Strategy
- Marketing
- Public History
- Strategic Communication
- Recreation: Recreation Management
- Recreation: Sport Management
- Spanish