PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The MSTHEM program and the International Institute of Tourism Studies are delighted to present an opportunity for MSTHEM students to further specialize in specific areas of interest, and receive special recognition in one or more of the following areas of study:
- sustainable tourism (destination management or cultural heritage tourism)
- sustainable tourism management with a focus on tour guiding*
- hospitality management
- event management
In order to receive the special recognition, students must complete all of the following requirements before the date of their MSTHEM graduation ceremony:
- Complete three IITS Professional Development courses in the area of specialization (see “Courses” link here)
- Attend and provide a short reflection on three in-person association events in the area of specialization (see “Associations” link here for specific association options). Events attended must have an educational component (not simply networking). See below for event documentation requirements.
*Please note that the sustainable tourism management with a focus on tour guiding has different requirements than those above.Please see "Courses" link here for details.
Any course, event, and association membership fees charged are the responsibility of students. You are encouraged to contact the event organizers to ask if they are in need of volunteers in exchange for reduced/free admission for event attendance.
PROCESS
Please find the following MSTHEM Special Recognition Community under Blackboard/My Communities by scrolling down on your student Blackboard site. When you click into the community, you will be able to upload your requirements, which you are encouraged to do upon completion of each requirement. Please find the following MSTHEM Special Recognition Community under Blackboard/My Communities by scrolling down on your student Blackboard site. When you click into the community, you will be able to upload your requirements, which you are encouraged to do upon completion of each requirement.
You can upload documentation of each of your requirements, at your own pace, under Blackboard/Upload Requirements.
Requirement documentation:
- Complete three IITS Professional Development courses in the area of specialization (see “Courses” link here)
- Email which confirms your completion of the IITS Professional Certificate (bundle of three courses)
- Attend and provide a short reflection on three association events in the area of specialization (see “Associations” link here for specific association options)
- Attendance must be in person
- Events attended must have an educational component (not simply networking)
- For each event, students must upload (a) event registration documentation and (b) a photo of themselves at the event, and (c) a 300 to 500 word reflection, specifically your three major insights/takeaways of the event
Note: for association events -- students are responsible for choosing, registering, and attending association events, from the list of association options.
TIMELINE
When you have completed all of your requirements, email the following contacts for administrative review and approval:
· For Event and Meeting Management Special Recognition, email slevy@gwu.edu
· For Hospitality Management Special Recognition, email lyu@gwu.edu
· For Sustainable Tourism Management Special Recognition, email ctosun@gwu.edu
At the end of each semester, requirement completions will be reviewed by MSTHEM administration, and for students successfully completing all requirements, they will receive a certificate of completion for their area(s) of specialization.
For fall 2025, the deadline to complete and upload all requirements is Monday, November 10th.
For spring 2025, the deadline to complete and upload all requirements is Monday, March 31st.