COURSES

The IITS Professional Development courses provide students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the tourism, hospitality and events industries and enhance their skills and knowledge. These are non-degree, non-credit bearing courses that provide great professional development opportunities to MSTHEM students. 

 

Requirements:

MSTHEM students will choose one or more of the three areas of specialization (event management, hospitality management, sustainable tourism management) and take three courses that form part of the International Institute of Tourism Studies’ professional certificate programs in these areas. Students can pursue more than one specialization. 

However, note that students can earn only one sustainable tourism certification (choosing between the destination management and cultural heritage specialization). 

Cost:

These courses are offered at a highly discounted rate of $75.00 per area of specialization ($25 per course; regular price is $450-$495 per course). 

Students will also have the option to complete a Professional Certificate by purchasing the additional courses needed for each certificate program. See details here: 

Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management

Professional Certificate in Community-Centered Cultural Tourism

Professional Certificate in Event Management

 

Enrollment: 

To enroll in the special recognition programs, click on the “Register Now” button. Please use your GW email address.

 

Sustainable Tourism Special Recognition: Destination Management

Please click on the Course Descriptions tab to view the course description.

  • 701 Sustainable Tourism & Regenerative Travel - (May 4 - 10, 2026) & self-paced
  • 704: Tourism Product Development - (October 26 - November 1, 2026) & self-paced
  • 705: Destination Investment & Finance - (November 2 - 8, 2026) & self-paced

For these courses, you will join professionals from all over the world. Each course offers participants the opportunity to improve their professional standing, expand their industry network, and deepen their understanding of tourism’s ability to contribute to environmental, social and economic goals. The courses are offered over the course of a week and each one should take students about ten hours to complete. Coursework includes presentations, readings, online mentoring, discussion boards and guest lectures by tourism professionals.

 

Sustainable Tourism Special Recognition: Cultural Heritage Tourism

Please click on the Course Descriptions tab to view the course description.

  • 801: Introduction to Cultural Heritage Tourism - (February 23 - March 1, 2026)
  • 805: Experiential Product Development -  (July 27 - August 2, 2026)
  • 806: Linking Tourism with the Creative Economy - (August 3 - 9, 2026)

For these courses, you will join professionals from all over the world. Each course offered has been designed to provide tourism entrepreneurs and community leaders with the tools to identify and develop the assets that would most appeal to tourists — from cooking and crafts workshops to nature walks to historical sites. The courses are offered over the course of a week and each one should take students about ten hours to complete. Coursework includes presentations, readings, online mentoring, discussion boards and guest lectures by tourism professionals.

 

Hospitality Management Special Recognition

Please click on the Course Descriptions tab to view the course description.

  • 503: Event Marketing - Self-paced; available anytime (course access granted within 3-5 business days of registration)
  • 704: Tourism Product Development - (October 26 - November 1, 2026) & self-paced
  • 705: Destination Investment & Finance - (November 2 - 8, 2026) & self-paced

These courses are a way to advance your career and gain industry knowledge within the hospitality industry. This special recognition is both self-paced and live online courses. Course 503 can be started at any time online, and courses 704 and 705 will be offered in the Fall of 2023. Each of these courses should take students about ten hours to complete reviewing the lectures, readings, and guest lectures by tourism professionals.

 

Event Management Special Recognition

Please click on the Course Descriptions tab to view the course description.

  • 501: Best Practices in Event Management - Self-paced; available anytime (course access granted within 3-5 business days of registration)
  • 502: Event Coordination - Self-paced; available anytime (course access granted within 3-5 business days of registration)
  • 503: Event Marketing - Self-paced; available anytime (course access granted within 3-5 business days of registration)

These courses are a way to advance your career, gain knowledge, and stay competitive in the event management field. This special recognition is self-paced and can be started at any time online, making them a convenient way to enhance your career. These courses should take students about twelve hours to complete reviewing the recorded lectures, readings, and recorded guest lectures by event management professionals.

 

Sustainable Tourism Management with a Focus on Tour Guiding Special Recognition

Please click on the Course Descriptions tab to view the course description.

  • 704: Tourism Product Development -  (October 26 - November 1, 2026) & self-paced
  • 801: Introduction to Cultural Heritage Tourism - (February 23 - March 1, 2026)

For these courses, you will join professionals from all over the world. Each course offered has been designed to provide tourism entrepreneurs and community leaders with the tools to identify and develop the assets that would most appeal to tourists — from cooking and crafts workshops to nature walks to historical sites. Overall, the contents of the courses support your knowledge accumulation in tour guide management. The courses are offered over the course of a week and each one should take students about ten hours to complete. Coursework includes presentations, readings, online mentoring, discussion boards, and guest lectures by tourism professionals.

 

TOUR GUIDE ASSOCIATION

The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington D.C. (GPTGWDC)

  • Annual Educational Conference of The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington D.C. (Students need to register for the conference by contacting Dr. Tosun (ctosun@gwu.edu). It may be free for those students who may be a volunteer)
  • Tour Guide Certificate by The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington D.C. (Students need to register for this certificate and pay the fee by themselves)
  • Tour Guide Certificate by Training Centers recommended by GPTGWDC in Washington. D.C. (Students need to register for this certificate and pay the fee by themselves)

The World Federation of Tour Guide Association

 

Destination DC: About

US Travel Associations

 

Requirement clarification for Tour Guide Management Special Recognition:

Option One:

  • Fulling the requirements of the GWSB MSTHEM program
  • Completing the two courses offered by IITS
  • Having a Tour Guide Training Certificate from The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington D.C. or one of the training centers.

Option Two:

  • Fulling the requirements of the GWSB MSTHEM program
  • Completing the two courses offered by IITS
  • Attending the Annual Educational Conference of The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington D.C
  • Attending two additional professional events organized by the association listed above.

Option Three:

  • Fulling the requirements of the GWSB MSTHEM program
  • Completing the two courses offered by IITS
  • Attending a tour guide-related conference in the USA or abroad
  • Attending two additional professional events organized by the association listed above.