Mission & History
Vision 2020
Our vision is to be recognized as a model of excellence and a school of choice for the most diverse, academically talented individuals preparing for careers in tourism, hospitality, recreation, and sport management; a preeminent center for innovative education and research; a major producer of the next generation of faculty and research scholars; and a leader in cutting-edge executive education.
Mission
- To enrich the tourism, hospitality, recreation, and sport industries by fostering diversity and inclusion;
- To meet the leadership needs of the tourism, hospitality, recreation, and sport industries by providing quality, student-centered, professional preparation programs;
- To advance knowledge in tourism, hospitality, recreation, and sport by conducting high level research;
- To enhance the tourism, hospitality, recreation, and sport management professions by offering quality service to relevant organizations; and
- To educate the Temple University community about the significance of tourism, hospitality, recreation, and sport in today’s multicultural society by offering courses in general education, collaborating with other faculty on joint research projects, and serving on relevant committees.
History
Temple University has a long and distinguished record of professional preparation for the fields of recreation, sport, tourism, and hospitality. As early as 1908, Temple offered courses in playground supervision through its Physical Education program. By the 1950's, Temple was offering programs in recreation education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In 1973, a curriculum in Recreation and Leisure Studies was established. With the creation of a new College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance in 1974, a new Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies was formed. By the 1980's, the department had expanded its offerings to include courses in recreation, leisure studies, campus recreation, tourism, and commercial recreation.
In 1991, the Department merged with the existing program in Sports Administration to form a new Department of Sport Management and Leisure Studies, offering an undergraduate degree in Sport and Recreation Management, and a graduate degree in Sport and Recreation Administration.
In 1998, Temple University established a new School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. The new School offers four degree programs: a B.S. in Tourism and Hospitality Management, a B.S. in Sport and Recreation Management, an M.T.H.M. (Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management), and an M.Ed. in Sport and Recreation Administration. In addition, the School offers the tourism emphasis for the Ph.D. degree in Business Administration offered in The Fox School of Business and Management.
Clearly, Temple University has positioned itself to be at the cutting edge of professional preparation for the expanding fields of tourism, hospitality, sport, and recreation.
