Sustainable Tourism and Protected Area Management - Master of Science

The Master of Science degree in Sustainable Tourism and Protected Area Management provides students with opportunities to engage in integrated and applied research and to acquire professional skills for the study, management, administration and planning of tourism and protected areas under the overarching concept of community sustainability.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below. Students may not be admitted to both the Master of Science degree in Community Sustainability and the Master of Science degree in Sustainable Tourism and Protected Area Management.

Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree or comparable degree requirements from an educational institution. Relevant experience and strong academic background in the natural, physical, or social sciences are encouraged. Applicants are required to submit scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. Collateral courses may be required to overcome deficiencies in addition to the requirements for the master’s degree. Collateral course work will not count towards the master’s degree.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Sustainable Tourism and Protected Area Management
  
The student may elect either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis). Plan A emphasizes integrated and applied research and is designed as the foundation for doctoral study. Plan B focuses on the acquisition of well-defined professional skills, appropriate for a terminal degree and for professional employment and development. A minimum of 30 credits is required for the degree under Plan A or Plan B. The student’s program of study must be developed in cooperation with and approved by the student’s guidance committee and must include the requirements specified below.

Due to cancellations of many international English language proficiency tests, MSU will be temporarily accepting the following tests for international students applying for fall semester 2022. In addition, MSU will be expanding the ability for students to receive provisional admission. If a provisionally admitted student is able to take a test that meets our regular admission standards prior to enrollment, we will update their admission status to regular.