Tourism Studies: Master Programme, 60 credits

Validation

This programme syllabus was validated by the Faculty Board at Södertörn University on 2014-02-21 according to the stipulations in the Higher Education Ordinance.

Entry requirements

Bachelor degree including at least 90 credits in Tourism Studies as the main field of study and English B, or the equivalent.

Programme outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the course, the student is able to:

• demonstrate in-depth and integrated knowledge of tourism, concerning its core concepts, resources and prerequisites, including the business traveller, private traveller, and the recreational activities of the local population of a city
• demonstrate an in-depth and integrated knowledge of the main research areas in tourism with the prioritised research areas of the department as the starting point: destination development, professional meetings, experience tourism and risk related to city tourism
• demonstrate in-depth knowledge about the choices available and market conditions in the tourism sector, as well as how branches of tourist companies can effectively conduct operative management from an entrepreneurial perspective
• from a critical analysis of a city’s local, regional and international prerequisites, demonstrate knowledge about how to develop a tourist destination from different perspectives
• demonstrate in-depth knowledge about the conditions, motivations and trends for travel and tourism in relation to changing social conditions.

Competence and skills

On completion of the programme the student is able to:

• demonstrate an ability to examine the current research situation in order to gain a synthesised theoretical framework for a Master's thesis
• demonstrate the ability to search, analyse and critically examine quantitative and qualitative sources within tourism, as well as choose, promote and use relevant research methods
• demonstrate an ability to, independently and as part of a group, design, present and defend a comprehensive academic work about one of the current issues in tourism research, as well as critically analyse another student’s dissertation
• demonstrate an ability to analyse the prerequisites for relevant IT-support and develop IT-applications that are an integral part of the travel process for different stakeholders.

Judgement and approach

On completion of the programme, the student is able to:

• demonstrate an insight into how to independently evaluate the significance and usefulness of different academic methods used in tourism studies, as well as take responsibility for his or her own professional development from a multidisciplinary perspective
• demonstrate an in-depth ability to evaluate the importance of tourism with regard to building bridges between individuals, different groups and countries in a multicultural world, as well as critically examine the importance of actors for, and interest in, tourism
• demonstrate an ability to critically examine the future role, influence and effects of tourism from a multidisciplinary, holistic perspective
• demonstrate an ability to, from a sustainability perspective, critically analyse and examine the development of tourism and its effects on nature, the economy, the labour market, cultural inheritance, services to the community and the business community.

Applicability

Within the expanding tourism industry, there are good career opportunities for well-educated staff, not only in the Greater Stockholm Region but also in cities abroad. Work duties and opportunities in industries closely allied to tourism depend on the individual student’s interest and specialised skills, as well as the needs of the labour market of a region.

The following areas of work are suitable for students completing the Master programme: destination development within urban and rural environments; planning, selling and conducting professional meetings in the meetings industry; people’s experience of visitor attractions in city centres; and risk and safety aspects of the tourism industry. The programme also gives in-depth knowledge about current and central questions within tourism, as well as an increased academic ability within Tourism Studies, which is a good basis for future research within the field of Tourism.

Qualification

Title of qualification:

Degree of Master of Science (60 credits) in Tourism Studies

Filosofie magisterexamen med huvudområdet turismvetenskap

Qualification stipulation:

The degree of Master of Science (one year) is awarded on completion, by a student, of courses equivalent to 60 credits with a degree of specialisation determined by the individual institute of higher education. At least 30 credits must be awarded for courses of depth within the main field of studies including a minimum of 15 credits for an independent project in the main field. A student must previously have been awarded a degree of Bachelor of Science for courses equivalent to 180 credits including 90 credits in Tourism Studies, or an equivalent qualification from abroad.

Programme design

The Master's programme has a multidisciplinary and international approach, with city tourism as the starting point. The courses in the programme are different from those on a lower level, primarily because of their research links, the student’s independent work, and a deeper analysis of personal and business travel, as well as the recreation activities of the local community. Every student chooses a general specialisation throughout the programme from one of the four prioritised research areas of the department: destination development, professional meetings, experience tourism and risk.

Semester 1. Tourism Studies: City Tourism, Advanced Level, 30 credits

The course has a multidisciplinary and international approach, with city tourism as the starting point. In the first instance, an understanding of the role and importance of the tourism phenomenon in modern society is examined. Further, how operative management can be conducted effectively in a tourist company is studied. Following on from this, how information technology can be used in the travel process is studied, as well as how new products and organisation models can be developed with the help of this new technology. Finally, how tourist destination can be planned and controlled with the help of a quality assurance system is dealt with.

Semester 2. Tourism Studies, Master Course, 30 credits.

The course begins with a literature study of a particular research question chosen within the specified framework by the individual student. Following on from this, research methods are studied, where the focus is on the choice of method, scholarly argument and planning a dissertation. Work with the dissertation continues throughout the term, although it is written mainly during the second half of the semester.

Compulsory courses

• Tourism Studies: City Tourism, 30 credits.
• Tourism Studies: Master Course, 30 credits.

A student on a study programme is guaranteed a place on the compulsory courses or on the specializations/courses within the programme. (For entry requirements, see, Other Stipulations.)

Optional courses

A student is guaranteed a place on a range of courses equivalent to a full workload. There is no guarantee that a student is offered a place on his/her first choice of course. For entry requirements, see course syllabus.

Degree project

An independent piece of work equivalent to 15 credits is included in the programme. This takes the form of a thesis that is examined at a final seminar.

Credit transfer for prior studies

A student has the right to have prior learning assessed for accreditation within the study programme.

Other stipulations

All tuition is in the English language. However, a student may choose to write assignments and the thesis in English or Swedish.

For entry requirements for courses within a study programme, see course syllabus.