BA or BS Ecotourism [Future Offering]

The University of Arizona Ecotourism program prepares students to engage in natural resources conservation and management, education, and social entrepreneurship. Students who pursue careers in ecotourism connect people with nature around the world and serve in an increasingly important role as population pressure and environmental change impact our natural and cultural resources. This ecotourism program combines a focus on natural resources management and conservation with other disciplines to give graduates the essential knowledge and skills they need to conserve and explore the wonder of our natural and cultural resources. Students will choose an area of emphasis from three options: environmental education and recreation, ecology and conservation, or entrepreneur and leadership.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply principles of sustainability to the practice of ecotourism in conserving natural resources, both in a local and an international context.

• Interpret and evaluate ecotourism as an ecological conservation phenomenon as well as a business system to support the natural environment and wellbeing of local people.

• Assess and recommend survey methods used in the context of sustainable tourism to inform and propose wisely managed nature-based leisure industry practice.

• Create and implement sustainable nature-based tourism initiatives.

SAMPLE COURSES

RNR 200 Conservation of Natural Environments

RNR 240 Principles of Ecotourism

POSSIBLE DEGREE PAIRINGS

RNR 316 Natural Resources Ecology

RNR 448 Conservation Planning and Wildlife Recreation

Degree Pairings: To be determined with partner institution

CAREER PATHS

Tourism Board and Research

International Development Agriculture Studies

Travel, Tourism and Hospitality

Policy Makers

Social Entrepreneurs

Environmental Architecture

Environmental Resource Management and Nature Conservation