Students who wish to prepare for careers in the tourism field should consider majoring in Geography with an emphasis in Geotourism or in Planning with an emphasis in Tourism Planning and Development. Career opportunities include convention and visitors bureaus, convention planning and sales, tour operations, private attractions, transportation companies, real estate development and marketing and both public and private-sector tourism agencies and planning organizations at the local, regional, state and federal levels.

The Department of Geography, Geology and Planning offers two programs of study in the area of tourism. You can select the Geotourism option in our Non-Comprehensive Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography or the Tourism Planning and Development option in our Comprehensive B.S. in Planning.

High school students considering either of these programs should take a college preparatory curriculum including course work in geography, history, political science, natural science and mathematics.

Please consult the Missouri State Catalog online at www.missouristate.edu/catalog for course descriptions.

Courses Required for the Non-Comprehensive B.S. in Geography with Emphasis in Geotourism

• GRY 100: World Regional Geography
• GRY 142: Introductory Physical Geography
• GRY 308: Geography of World Tourism
• GRY 310: Fundamentals of Tourism
• GRY 328: Principles of Geotourism
• GRY 363: Intro to Geographic Information Science
• GRY 367: Research Methods in Geography and Planning
• GRY 410: The Geotourism Industry
• GRY 470: International Field Study in Geography
• GRY 498: Placement Seminar
• GRY 510: Applications in Sustainable Geotourism
• HRA 340: Destination Development
• One of the following: GRY 318 (Geography of National Parks), GRY 320 (Cultural Geography), PLN 372 (Community Development)
• At least 3 hours from the following: GLG 171 (Environmental Geology), GRY 108 (Principles of Sustainability), GRY 301 (Geography of the Ozarks), GRY 305 (Geography of Selected World Regions), GRY 321 (Economic Geography), GRY 322 (Urban Geography), GRY 323 (World Political Geography), GRY 353 (Geographic Field Studies), GRY 399 (Internship in Geography), PLN 100 (Understanding Cities), PLN 573 (Urban Design and Preservation), PLN 574 (Open Space Planning), PLN 599 (Internship in Planning).
• One of the following statistics courses: MTH 340: Statistical Methods, or AGR 330: Statistical Applications in Agriculture, or PSY 200: Psychological Statistical Methods, or QBA 237: Basic Business Statistics, or REC 328: Statistical Applications in Recreation, Sport and Park Administration, or SOC 302: Statistics for Social Research

This is a non-comprehensive program, so a minor is required. We recommend a minor in General Business, Management, Marketing or a foreign language.

Courses Required for the Comprehensive B.S. in Planning with Emphasis in Tourism Planning and Development

• PLN 100: Understanding Cities or GRY 100: World Regional Geography or GRY 108: Principles of Sustainability
• PLN 371: History and Introduction to Planning
• PLN 367: Research Methods in Geography & Planning
• PLN 372: Community Development
• PLN 400: Communication Techniques in Planning
• PLN 570: Planning Law
• PLN 571: Land Use Planning
• PLN 572: Community Planning Practicum
• PLN 576: Site Planning Studio
• PLN 599: Internship in Community & Regional Planning
• GRY 142: Introductory Physical Geography or GLG 110: Principles of Geology
• GRY 310: Fundamentals of Tourism
• GRY 321: Economic Geography
• GRY 322: Urban Geography
• GRY 363: Intro to Geographic Information Science
• GRY 410: The Geotourism Industry
• GRY 510: Tourism and Sustainability
• ECO 155: Principles of Macroeconomics
• HRA 340: Destination Development
• SOC 150: Introduction to Sociology
• SOC 302: Statistics for Social Research
• An additional 3 hours from GRY/GEO/PLN/REC/HRA/ECO/HST courses

This is a comprehensive program, so no minor is required.

The Department of Geography, Geology and Planning is staffed by 23 full-time faculty, most of whom hold doctorate degrees. The faculty members stress excellence in teaching and are active in research designed to maintain their professional expertise. Professionals from the local tourism industry are employed to teach some of the specialized courses in geotourism, and professionals from local planning agencies are employed to teach some of the specialized courses in tourism planning.

The department occupies lecture, laboratory, and office space in Temple Hall. The department maintains large, well-equipped computer laboratories devoted to cartography/GIS, photogrammetry, and remote sensing. The map library in the Duane G. Meyer Library houses more than 200,000 topographic and geologic maps and aerial photographs and an extensive collection of tourism brochures and related materials.

Missouri State’s strategic location in the heart of the Ozarks tourism-recreation region provides exceptionally good opportunities for field trips to observe tourism businesses first hand. Professionals from the region’s tourism industry are frequent guest speakers in the department’s tourism courses. The Center for Resource Planning and Management provides internship opportunities for on-the-job learning. A senior seminar provides guidance for the job search and assistance in preparing for graduate studies.

Students in these programs have opportunities for social activities through membership in Gamma Theta Upsilon, the international geographic honor society, and the Missouri Association of Planning Students. Students in these programs are eligible for the department’s Milton D. Rafferty Scholarship, the Bill and Maret Cheek Scholarship, and the Fagerlin-Johnson-Moeglin Field Studies Scholarship.