UNT Home | Graduate Studies | College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism | International Sustainable Tourism
Graduate faculty and areas of research
Samuel Atkinson, Regents Professor and Director of the Institute of Applied Science; Ph.D., University of Oklahoma. Watershed protection and management; geographic information systems; environmental impact assessment.
Lea Dopson, Associate Professor and Department Chair; Ed.D., University of Houston. Hospitality curriculum development; education and administration; ecotourism in developing countries; hospitality management competencies; hospitality accounting; finance and cost controls.
Robert Figueroa, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Colorado. Environmental justice; environmental ethics/ philosophy; environmental policy (domestic and international).
Lisa Kennon, Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator; Ph.D., Texas Woman’s University. Food safety issues impacting hospitality customers and the restaurant industry; consumer issues impacting the hospitality industry.
Daniel Spears, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Kansas State University. Tourism consumption and activity behavior; tourism development and sustainability in small island destinations; services management and marketing; cultural and heritage tourism; ecotourism.
Richard F. Tas, Professor; Ph.D., Oklahoma State University. Managerial competencies; labor turnover; maximizing industry profits through cost containment strategies; hotel and restaurant operations.
Francisco Alpízar, Professor; Ph.D., University of Gothenburg (Sweden). Design and application of economic policy instruments to environmental problems in developing countries.
Tamara Benjamin, Professor; Ph.D., Purdue University. Biophysical, social and economic implications of agroecosystem diversification; the impact of agroecosystems on ecological communities.
Nolan Quiró´s, Professor; Ph.D., Oklahoma State University. International trade and environmental and agricultural economic policy analysis; natural resource management; community development.
Juan Robalino Professor; Ph.D., Columbia University. Latin American and Caribbean environmental economics; development economics; applied microeconomics.
Eliécer Vargas, Professor; Ph.D., Oklahoma State University. Eco-enterprises and sustainable tourism; sustainable development.
For More Information
University of North Texas
School of Merchandising & Hospitality Management
International Sustainable Tourism Program
www.smhm.unt.edu
lisa.kennon@unt.edu
Chilton Hall, Room 331
Learn more about UNT
Toulouse Graduate School
940-565-2383
international sustainable tourism
Master’s Degree Program
Graduate opportunities
Sustainable tourism strives to meet the needs of the present tourist market without compromising the resources of future generations. This leading-edge tourism specialty balances environmental, economic and socio-cultural benefits and concerns.
At the University of North Texas, we offer a joint Master of Science degree in International Sustainable Tourism in partnership with CATIE (The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center). The degree program is administered by the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism.
CATIE combines scientific research, graduate education and technical cooperation to create equilibrium between conservation and sustainable production. It has strategic alliances with public and private universities, research centers, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and government entities around the globe.
The UNT-CATIE joint master’s degree is the first of its kind offered in the U.S. In this two-year program, you will spend the first two semesters at UNT and the last three semesters at CATIE in Turrialba, Costa Rica. All courses are taught in English.
Our master’s program provides you with unique opportunities such as:
- Application of sustainable tourism in the U.S. and Costa Rica
- Hospitality services and operational perspectives of sustainable tourism
- International instruction from industry experts and experienced researchers
The course work prepares you for management and leadership positions in international sustainable tourism or advancement toward a doctoral degree. You gain insight and experience from policy and operational perspectives, including comprehensive knowledge of hospitality management.
According to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, travel and tourism is the nation’s second-largest services export industry and one of America’s largest employers. Furthermore, Costa Rica enjoys more than 2 million visitors per year, generating more than $2.2 billion in revenues. Therefore, it is vital for successful tourism development professionals to understand the interdependencies of economic benefits, environmental impacts, and social and cultural resources.
Costa Rica, a pioneer in environmental conservation, has excellent infrastructure and services. The country’s network of national parks and conservation areas, biodiversity, innovative policies and exceptional geographical location make it ideal for scholars and institutions devoted to uses relating to natural resources.
Attending UNT
Admission requirements
You must meet the admission requirements for the Toulouse Graduate School:
- Acceptable scores on the GRE or the GMAT
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written English
- Overall GPA of at least a 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours of course work or a 2.8 GPA on all undergraduate course work
You must also provide the following materials to the CMHT Graduate Coordinator:
- Detailed professional ré´sumé
- Essay addressing your previous educational degree(s) and certifications, professional work experience related to this major, your motivation for seeking this master’s degree, your future professional goals and how this degree enables you to obtain those goals
- Interview with faculty members
- Three letters of recommendation from employers and/or former faculty
Depending on previous course work, you may be required to take prerequisite courses.
Degree requirements
The degree requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of courses and a comprehensive exam. The first 18 semester hours will be taken at UNT, and the last 18 semester hours will be taken at CATIE.
First year courses
- SMHM 5280 Hotel and Restaurant Operations: Theory and Analysis
- SMHM 5530 International Sustainable Tourism
- SMHM 5540 Tourism Services Management and Marketing
- SMHM 5860 Strategic Management in the Hospitality Industry
- BIOL 5100 Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment
- PHIL 5000 Environmental Ethics
Second year courses
- SMHM 5531/MIST 500 Sustainable Natural Resource Management
- SMHM 5532/MIST 501 Context and Challenges of Applied Sustainable Tourism Development
- SMHM 5533/MIST 502 Environmental Policies in a Changing World
- SMHM 5534/MIST 503 Seminars in Sustainable Tourism: Experiences of Successful Practitioners in Costa Rica
- SMHM 5535/MIST 504 Quantitative and Qualitative Analyses in Sustainable Tourism
- SMHM 5536/MIST 600 Field/Practical/Professional Experience with Research Applications (capstone course)
Financial assistance
You may apply for competitive scholarships, teaching assistantships and teaching fellowships from the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism. Applications are available from the dean’s office. Additional funding may be available from the Toulouse Graduate School and other sources. For more information, visit financialaid.unt.edu.