The Tourism and Event Management (TEM) option prepares students to lead in the fast-paced world of festivals, destination marketing, resort management, and nonprofit events. Blending hands-on experience with classroom learning, the program connects students with New Hampshire’s vibrant tourism economy and global industry opportunities—developing the skills to design, plan, and manage unforgettable experiences for clients and communities.
What is Tourism and Event Management?
Whether you see yourself coordinating festivals or special events, working in the tourism or resort industry, organizing a youth sports program,or working in a municipal recreation setting, UNH’s tourism and event management degree will prepare you for a career in the rapidly growing recreation industry. You will gain the planning, administrative and leadership skills to work in a diverse array of recreation and event management organizations. You’ll also study key concepts in marketing, leadership, management and public policy in relation to delivering recreation services.
Why study Tourism and Event Management at UNH?
Hands-on, experiential learning is an important component of the tourism and event management option at UNH. Along with traditional classroom learning, you’ll study with professionals in the field and complete a full-time internship. You’ll also have opportunities to conduct research along side UNH faculty. You’ll be able to connect with fellow students through the Recreation Society, a student-led club promoting recreation opportunities for the UNH community.
Potential Careers
- Festival and event planner
- Ski and snowboard industry professional
- Community recreation program manager
- Recreation and youth sports programmer
- Youth and camp program director
- Resort staff or manager
- Recreation facility manager
- Non-profit administrator
From the CHHS Blog
Curriculum & Requirements
This option equips students with an entrepreneurial mindset and prepares students for career-track positions in tourism and event management organizations, emphasizing planning, leadership, and administrative concepts. Students learn to apply skills in settings such as destination marketing and management firms, resorts, residential facilities, community development agencies, and festival and event businesses. To change your major to TEM, complete the online change of major form. TEM applications are accepted throughout the year and decisions are made on a rolling admission basis. If you have questions about the program and event management option, please contact Sean McLaughlin.
Sample Degree Plan
This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
RMP 490 or HMGT 401 or TOUR 400 | Recreation & Tourism in Society or Introduction to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry or Introduction to Tourism | 4 |
ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
Discovery Course (INQ) | 4 | |
Discovery Course (QR) | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
RMP 501 | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice for Recreation Services | 4 |
RMP TEM Elective Course | 4 | |
Discovery Course (BS) | 4 | |
Discovery Course (PS/Lab) | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
RMP 557 | Program and Event Design | 4 |
Minor/Free Elective | 4 | |
Discovery Course (ETS) | 4 | |
Discovery Course (FPA) | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
RMP 559 | Marketing the Recreation Experience | 4 |
RMP 663 | Management and Finance in the Experience Industry | 4 |
Discovery Course (HP) | 4 | |
Minor/Free Elective | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
RMP 661 or HMGT 635 | Leadership in Recreation Services or Leadership and HR Management in Hospitality and Tourism | 4 |
RMP TEM Elective Course | 4 | |
Minor/Free Elective | 4 | |
Discovery Course (HUMA) | 4 | |
RMP 563 | Recreation Management and Policy Practicum | 2 |
Credits | 18 | |
Spring | ||
RMP TEM Elective Course | 4 | |
RMP TEM Elective Course | 4 | |
Discovery Course (SS) | 4 | |
Discovery Course (WC) | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
RMP 724 | Research, Evaluation, and Data-Driven Decisions | 4 |
RMP 772 | Law and Public Policy in Leisure Services | 4 |
Minor/Free Elective | 4 | |
Minor/Free Elective | 4 | |
RMP 654 | Professional Development and Ethics | 2 |
Credits | 18 | |
Spring | ||
RMP 764 | Internship | 8-12 |
Credits | 8-12 | |
Total Credits | 124-128 |
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
All majors must complete a core curriculum.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
RMP 490 | Recreation & Tourism in Society | 4 |
or HMGT 401 | Introduction to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry | |
or TOUR 400 | Introduction to Tourism | |
RMP 501 | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice for Recreation Services | 4 |
RMP 557 | Program and Event Design | 4 |
RMP 563 | Recreation Management and Policy Practicum | 2 |
RMP 654 | Professional Development and Ethics | 2 |
RMP 764 | Internship (Capstone) 1 | 8 or 12 |
- 1
All RMP students must complete an 8 or 12 credit hour internship.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Tourism and Event Management Option - Course Requirements | ||
RMP 559 | Marketing the Recreation Experience | 4 |
RMP 661 | Leadership in Recreation Services | 4 |
or HMGT 635 | Leadership and HR Management in Hospitality and Tourism | |
RMP 663 | Management and Finance in the Experience Industry | 4 |
RMP 724 | Research, Evaluation, and Data-Driven Decisions | 4 |
RMP 772 | Law and Public Policy in Leisure Services | 4 |
Electives | ||
Choose from the following courses: | 16 | |
CEP 673 | Green Real Estate | |
HMGT 661 | Event Design, Planning, and Management | |
HMGT 667 | Advanced Food & Beverage Operations & Event Management | |
HMGT 681 | Contemporary Resort Development and Management | |
HMGT 758 | Revenue Management: The Art of Pricing | |
HMGT 771 | International Wine and Beverage | |
HMGT 777 | Casino Management | |
HMGT 798 | Topics | |
RMP 603 | New Hampshire Ski Industry Management | |
RMP 668 | Youth Culture and Programs | |
RMP 670 | Venue Management Design & Operations | |
RMP 680 | Festival and Community Event Planning | |
RMP 711 | Recreation Resource Management | |
RMP 775 | Entrepreneurial and Commercial Recreation | |
RMP 776 | Human Dimensions of Natural Environments | |
RMP 780 | Event and Experience Design | |
or any courses recommended by academic advisor | ||
Total Credits | 60-64 |
Professional Internship
A supervised internship (RMP 764) is required of all majors and serves as their major capstone requirement. The internship is designed to create a bridge between theory and practical application. Students, working with their advisers and the internship coordinator, select an appropriate setting based on their professional and career interests. They must register for an 8 or 12 credit full-time internship that ranges from 10 to 16 weeks and is under the supervision of a qualified professional. Specific requirements are identified in the Internship Manual available from the Department of Recreation Management and Policy.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will know and demonstrate the nature and scope of the recreation, events, and tourism profession and their associated industries.
- Students will know and demonstrate the techniques and processes used by professionals and staff in the recreation, events, and tourism industry.
- Students will know and demonstrate the foundation of the recreation, events, and tourism profession in history, science, and philosophy.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge about operations, strategic management, and administration in recreation, events, and tourism organizations.
- Students will demonstrate the potential to succeed as professionals at supervisory or higher levels in recreation, events, tourism, or related organizations through participation in structured practicum and internship experiences.
Explore Program Details
The mission of the Program and Event Management Option in the Department of Recreation Management and Policy is to provide professional learning and development opportunities for UNH students interested in working with a diverse array of community-based recreation and leisure programs, special events, facilities, and organizations through classroom teaching, lab, field, and service-learning experiences. Program and Event Management faculty and students seek to improve management and administrative practice in the recreation and leisure services field through research, engaged scholarship, and professional service throughout the country and world, with a special focus on the state of New Hampshire and the New England region.
Students interested in our Recreation Management and Policy and Event Management major may also be interested in these advanced degree offerings: