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Destination Management Graduate Certificate

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About the Program

The Destination Management Graduate Certificate is designed for those who are passionate about creating powerful, unforgettable destination experiences and looking to advance their career in the travel and tourism industry.

100% Online

The Destination Management Certificate course is 100% online in a mobile-friendly format allowing you to experience education your way. You will also participate in live, weekly online classes enabling engagement with faculty. Plus, all nine credits earned can be applied to a Master of Science in Travel and Tourism.

Completion in Under 3 Months

Courses are five weeks long and include live online sessions that integrate discussion and project-based learning activities in which students break into small groups to solve authentic problems faced by today’s travel and tourism leaders.

Apply Credits to Master's Degree

Students who complete a graduate certificate may apply to the Master of Science in Travel and Tourism during their third course in the certificate program. The nine credits earned from the certificate program will count towards the Master of Science in Travel and Tourism (where a grade of B or higher is received).

Courses

Ideal for management personnel and high-potential employees, this professional certificate prepares you to make strategic decisions that create and add value in an exciting and fast-paced industry. The Destination Management Graduate Certificate curriculum is made up of 9 credits. For individuals that want to take their development beyond the certificate, credits earned from this certificate program count towards the Master of Science in Travel and Tourism (where a grade of B or better is received).

Choose three of the following courses:
Destination Marketing and Management | 3 credits
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role, the scope and the business of destination marketing organizations (DMOs) as well as convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs). The trends, issues and challenges facing DMOs and CVBs will be discussed. In addition, an analysis of the planning process in developing tourism destinations in global, community, metropolitan, urban and rural settings. Emphasis will be on stakeholder engagement, product development as well as enhancement of facilities to meet the needs of tourists.
Tourism Economics and Policy | 3 credits
This course focuses on the role that economics and policy play within the tourism industry. The course will focus on specific economic and policy theories that are essential for the tourism industry. Topics include an in-depth study of the theory of tourism demand and supply, using a cost-benefit analysis, tax policy impacts, tourism valuation, economic analysis in management, and marketing and policy decisions. The course provides students an environment to become proficient in collecting and understanding economic data and models, determining the value of recreational resources, and analyzing tourism related projects across the private, public, and voluntary sectors of the tourism industry.
Sustainable Tourism Development | 3 credits
Tourism businesses are increasingly utilizing management tools to incorporate sustainability considerations into their operations and decision-making processes. For some tourism businesses, these sustainable practices have been incorporated due to ethical considerations of society and the environment, while many are motivated due to pressures from stakeholders, regulators and customers. Many tourism businesses now recognize that incorporating sustainable practices are not only beneficial for society, but can also provide a long term competitive advantage.

This course will begin by looking at the three major areas that make up sustainability: economic sustainability, socio-cultural sustainability and environmental sustainability. Following this, students will examine how the international tourism industry affects each of these areas of sustainability and the interconnectedness of these impacts. Students will then investigate the main principles and practices for sustainable tourism development at the local, regional, national and international level. Students will be introduced to important tools and business skills for incorporating sustainable practices into tourism management and development through exposure to international case studies, as well as international standards and indicators for sustainable tourism practices.

Crisis, Risk and Disaster Management | 3 credits
Whether tourists are affected by terrorism, political instability, epidemics, natural disasters, building collapses, crime waves or internal problems such as service failure, it becomes the destination and tourism operator’s responsibility to respond and to do so as quickly as possible. To aid in preparation, this course will focus on crisis reduction, readiness, response and recovery efforts from both natural and human-induced disasters that affect tourism destinations and businesses. In a tourism context, risk management refers to the planning and implementation of processes directed towards managing the adverse effects of crises and disasters on tourism. It also addresses tourism’s potential opportunities for the improvement in systems and procedures. Brand credibility, as well as tourism operator and destination sustainability, relies on customer satisfaction and customer safety, and security is of paramount importance. In today’s unpredictable work, the concept of ‘risk and crisis management’ is considered an increasingly important topic for all tourism organizations to understand.

Tuition

Tuition Rates
$956 per credit hour Total credits: 9
Each year, tuition rates for the subsequent academic year are announced by the Board of Trustees. Rate changes will be posted when official announcements are made in June. Temple University is a state-related institution; therefore, there are different tuition rates for Pennsylvania state residents and out-of-state residents. Students make tuition payments to Temple University at the beginning of each semester. Financial aid does not apply to graduate certificate programs. For tuition information, see current tuition and fee information on Temple University's Bursars Office website.

Admissions Criteria

  • A bachelor’s degree is required for all graduate certificates.
  • Students must also meet at least one of the following:
    • 3.00 or greater cumulative GPA for all prior college-level coursework
    • 5+ years of professional work experience

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit the following:
  • Completed application form
  • Current resume
  • Official transcripts from all institutions at which coursework was attempted and/or completed
  • Statement of Interest
  • GRE/GMAT (Optional)

International Student Application Requirements

International applicants are encouraged to review the Temple University prospective international student application guide and requirements. Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

If you don't meet our language requirements, check out our English+ global tourism certificate program.

Temple University’s International Student and Scholar Services offers an array of services and is committed to providing exemplary support to Temple University’s international students, scholars and researchers. Visit the International Student and Scholar Services website to learn more about their services.

Application Deadlines

Fall Deadlines

  • June 30 – Final Application Deadline

Spring Deadlines

  • November 1 – Final Application Deadline
Applications are processed as they are received. Late applications may be considered for admission. Allow at least 1 week for review

Apply Now

Continue your education at your own pace and enhance your resume with a graduate certificate from the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM). Use the form below to start your application. Should you have any questions about our graduate certificate admissions process, please email sthmgrad@temple.edu. Apply Now

Contact Us

For questions about the application process, the program or to schedule a personalized consultation with a member of the enrollment team, please reach out to: Michelle Siporin Assistant Director of Graduate Enrollment michelle.siporin@temple.edu