College of Education and Human Development
TOUR 200 Online Course: For Students Intrigued by the Travel and Tourism Field
June 30, 2015
When the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism approached her to help create an online section of "TOUR 200: Introduction to Travel and Tourism," Dr. Rebecca Kelley knew that the high-demand course would be a great opportunity for George Mason University students.
The course is one of five that fulfills the requirements for a fully online minor in Tourism and Events Management. Students in many majors, such as communications and business, also find TOUR 200 to be an intriguing and informative three-credit elective.
In the spring, students taking courses in the Tourism and Events Management program have the opportunity to participate in a Career Social at the HUB. The event features dozens of employers in the tourism, travel, and hospitality industries. Photo by Craig Bisacre/Creative Services/George Mason University.
“I’ve been an adjunct at Mason for ten years. We had one section on campus ten years ago. Now we have five exclusively online sections every year,” says Dr. Kelley.
“TOUR 200 is a great course for anyone at Mason," she adds. "It’s good for students to get familiar with a different industry from the industry perspective, not the tourist perspective, and learn how it impacts the economy, their career path, and their lifestyle.”
DC United is among the organizations that come to the Fairfax campus to meet with students. Photo by Craig Bisacre/Creative Services/George Mason University.
For the online section of TOUR 200, Dr. Kelley uses recorded lectures to cover course content; weekly discussions or case studies where students are required to read and respond to each other; and exams or projects that serve as checkpoints. Because the course material translates well and is easy to comprehend in an online format, her students do well in the course and rarely have difficulty with the format.
“I try to teach them not only the material, but also how to relate to others, how to work in virtual teams, and how to communicate online,” shares Dr. Kelley. “Students are attracted to tourism and events management because it’s a quickly evolving and new field with global and economic impacts. Students really get interested in learning more, and distance education allows them to engage in the industry and learn to work as a team.”
Dr. Kelley also incorporates engaging projects to spark student interest, explaining, “I encourage them to visit two different locations. I tell them to get out in the world. Students are so engulfed in what they’re doing, they sometimes miss the world. Get out there and experience what’s out there, and they’re often surprised by what they find.”
Employers such as the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurant Group find George Mason University students are very well prepared for industry careers. Photo by Craig Bisacre/Creative Services/George Mason University.
The first project is a site visit analysis where students are able to pick any attraction or destination to visit, such as the International Spy Museum or the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and analyze it from a management perspective. For the second assignment, students make an event pitch to a tourism operator. With ideas ranging from Claymation videos and a Meal Ready to Eat program to toilet paper dress contests, Dr. Kelley notes, “They’re allowed to be creative as long as they meet the criteria, and they continuously surprise me with what they come up with.”
TOUR 200 is offered every semester and is open to all majors. Check for upcoming availability on the online courses page. Students may also choose to earn a fully online minor in tourism and events management.
To learn about other options for majoring or minoring in Tourism and Events Management ― as well as study, internship, and career opportunities ― please review the information at rht.gmu.edu/tem or make an appointment to speak with an academic advisor at rht.gmu.edu/advise.
This article was written by Cameron Carter and originally appeared on Mason Online.
About CEHD
George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the most comprehensive education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a full range of courses, certificates, and degree programs on campus, online, and on site to more than 4,000 students each year. CEHD is fully accredited by NCATE and all licensure programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education. George Mason University, located just outside of Washington, DC, is Virginia's largest public research university.
For additional information:
- CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
- School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism: rht.gmu.edu
- Tourism and Events Management program: rht.gmu.edu/tem
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