Tourism Minor

Tourism is one of the world’s largest and most diverse industries, spanning a wide range of sectors that shape how people travel, recreate, and experience places. Tourism is a dynamic combination of activities, services, and organizations that deliver travel and visitor experiences through transportation, lodging, food and beverage establishments, retail and shopping, entertainment, outdoor recreation facilities (such as parks and sports venues), cultural and historic sites, and natural resources, among many others.

To support students interested in this rapidly growing field, faculty in Recreation Management and Policy (RMP), Hospitality Management (HMGT), and Natural Resources and the Environment (NREN) have developed an interdisciplinary Minor in Tourism. This minor bundles existing courses across the three departments, allowing non-majors to gain foundational knowledge in tourism while tailoring the program through elective options that align with their interests and career goals. The minor draws on expertise across three colleges: the College of Health and Human Services, the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, and the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, offering students a well-rounded academic experience grounded in both industry and place-based perspectives.

This minor benefits students by providing practical, career-relevant skills in areas such as visitor experience design, tourism planning and management, sustainability, and the economic and social impacts of tourism. Whether students plan to work in outdoor recreation, hospitality, event management, destination marketing, park and protected area management, or community development, the Tourism minor strengthens their ability to understand and contribute to the tourism sector in thoughtful, ethical, and sustainable ways.

Questions about the minor may be directed to: Dr. Lauren Ferguson, at Lauren.Ferguson@unh.edu 

Approval of the Minor for Graduation, verification, and sign-off must be coordinated with Dr. Lauren Ferguson.