The Stricto Sensu Graduate Program in Tourism at American University Saint Joseph is established as an international center of scientific reference and academic innovation, designed to prepare high-performing researchers, faculty members, and sector leaders.
Structured in a symmetrical and interdisciplinary manner, the program examines the tourism phenomenon in its socio-spatial, cultural, and economic complexity, combining theoretical rigor with the real-world dynamics of markets and government management.
The educational pathway is organized around two strategic areas of concentration that connect the micro and macro dimensions of the tourism sector.
The first area, focused on Tourism, Territory, Culture, and Sustainability, addresses sustainable planning, public governance of destinations, community-based tourism, and the safeguarding of tangible and intangible heritage through critical and decolonial perspectives on hospitality.
In contrast, the area of Strategic Management, Innovation, and Tourism Markets focuses on hotel engineering, revenue management, disruptive business models, and the development of Smart Tourism Destinations.
Supported by a mandatory common core focused on advanced research methodology and the epistemological foundations of the sector, the program equips graduate students to employ Big Data, artificial intelligence, and neuromarketing tools in the analysis of traveler behavior.
In this way, the institution consolidates a cutting-edge academic ecosystem, preparing master’s graduates to formulate inclusive public policies, manage complex global tourism enterprises, and promote socio-environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness in contemporary tourism.
Objective
To prepare master’s graduates with strong scientific autonomy and a critical global perspective, equipped to conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, teach in higher education with excellence, and lead governance, planning, and innovation in public and private tourism organizations.
Duration
Master’s Degree: 2 years (4 semesters)
Area of Concentration I
Tourism, Territory, Culture, and Sustainability
The Tourism, Territory, Culture, and Sustainability area of concentration constitutes the epistemological axis dedicated to studying the relationships between the tourism phenomenon, spatial organization, and socio-spatial and cultural safeguarding.
Its scientific scope investigates how tourism reshapes territories, analyzing public governance arrangements, the development of tourism master plans, and regional development policies under the imperatives of sustainability and climate change mitigation.
The major distinctive feature of this field lies in its integration of ecotourism in protected areas with community engagement methodologies, prioritizing community-based tourism, solidarity economy, and the inclusion of local populations.
From sociological and anthropological perspectives, the area examines critical studies of hospitality and alterity, investigating dynamics of welcoming, territorial identities, and decolonial approaches to memory and heritage.
Researchers are trained to assess the economic and intangible value of gastronomy, creative industries, and traditional expressions, measuring socio-environmental impacts through precise indicators and carrying-capacity models.
The academic environment structured around this axis therefore prepares social scientists and policy-makers capable of promoting distributive justice, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable planning of tourism destinations.
Related Research Lines
- Territorial Planning, Destination Governance, and Sustainability
- Cultural Heritage, Memory, and Hospitality
Area of Concentration II
Strategic Management, Innovation, and Tourism Markets
The Strategic Management, Innovation, and Tourism Markets area of concentration represents the program’s research hub focused on competitiveness, operational structures, and the technological transformation of tourism and hospitality enterprises.
Its scientific framework ranges from high-level corporate governance in hospitality networks and resorts to the strategic management of complex infrastructure, including civil aviation, transportation, and the events and business sector (MICE).
The area stands out for its immersion in technological innovation, studying the development of Smart Tourism Destinations, the use of Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, and the impact of digital platforms associated with the sharing economy on travel intermediaries and agencies.
Through the application of quantitative methods, revenue management, and cost engineering in services, graduate students learn to optimize operational models and manage institutional risks and crises.
At the same time, the area analyzes the contemporary traveler journey through experiential marketing, neuromarketing, destination branding, and the application of immersive realities (VR/AR).
It is a high-performance academic environment designed to prepare managers and researchers capable of accelerating digital transformation, improving service quality, and designing sustainable market strategies within the global tourism industry.
Related Research Lines
- Management of Tourism Organizations, Hospitality, and Services
- Innovation, Digital Technologies, and Tourist Experience
Research Line 1 — Territorial Planning, Destination Governance, and Sustainability
This research line is dedicated to the in-depth study of territorial planning processes, public destination management, and sustainable tourism planning at local, regional, and global scales.
Its analytical focus lies in the evaluation of public policies, intersectoral governance networks, and social participation mechanisms that support the sustainable development of the sector.
Research projects investigate the creation and management of ecotourism in protected areas, the measurement of carrying capacity, and the development of socio-environmental indicators in response to climate change and destination resilience.
The line also examines the dynamics of community-based tourism and solidarity economy, assessing how tourism can promote productive inclusion and biodiversity conservation.
From the perspective of urban planning and mobility, graduate students are equipped to diagnose socio-spatial conflicts and develop master plans that harmonize the well-being of resident communities with visitor experiences, establishing integrated territorial governance.
Courses
| Code | Course | Workload |
|---|---|---|
| PGS001 | Integrated Tourism Planning and Territorial Management | 45h |
| PGS002 | Public Governance, Policies, and Tourism Destination Networks | 45h |
| PGS003 | Ecotourism, Protected Areas, and Ecosystem Services | 45h |
| PGS004 | Climate Change, Resilience, and Destination Sustainability | 45h |
| PGS005 | Community-Based Tourism and Solidarity Economy | 45h |
| PGS006 | Urban Planning, Mobility, and Tourism Cities | 45h |
| PGS007 | Socio-Environmental Impact Indicators and Carrying Capacity | 45h |
| PGS008 | Geopolitics of Tourism and Regional Development | 45h |
| PGS009 | Advanced Seminars in Tourism, Territory, and Sustainability | 45h |
| PGS010 | Epistemology of Political Ecology Applied to Tourism | 60h |
| PGS011 | Spatial Modeling and Advanced Geoprocessing of Destinations | 45h |
| PGS012 | Comparative Public Policies and International Tourism Diplomacy | 45h |
| PGS013 | Economic and Environmental Valuation of Tourism Landscapes | 45h |
| PGS014 | Environmental Justice, Territorial Conflicts, and Community Rights | 45h |
| PGS015 | Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning for Tourism | 45h |
| PGS016 | Special Topics in Fragile Ecosystem Governance | 40h |
Research Line 2 — Cultural Heritage, Memory, and Hospitality
Focused on the intangible, symbolic, and interpersonal dimensions of the tourism phenomenon, this research line investigates the intersection between cultural heritage, collective memory, and critical hospitality studies.
The field addresses the safeguarding of tangible and intangible heritage, museology, ethnic tourism, and the enhancement of creative and gastronomic economies connected to terroir and traditional knowledge.
Grounded in sociological, anthropological, and decolonial theories, the line examines relationships of alterity, welcoming practices, and the impact of tourism activity on the preservation or transformation of local identities.
Researchers analyze the construction of tourism imaginaries through photography, cinema, and visual media, understanding how cultural narratives influence destination attractiveness.
The scientific production within this field prepares researchers to develop heritage enhancement strategies, promote intercultural dialogue, and apply hospitality concepts to conflict mediation and the human-centered management of public and tourism spaces.
Courses
| Code | Course | Workload |
|---|---|---|
| PMH001 | Critical Studies of Hospitality and Alterity | 45h |
| PMH002 | Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage in Tourism | 45h |
| PMH003 | Memory, Identity, and Decoloniality in Tourism Studies | 45h |
| PMH004 | Cultural Tourism Studies, Museology, and Creative Economy | 45h |
| PMH005 | Gastronomy, Food Heritage, and Terroir | 45h |
| PMH006 | Ethnic Tourism, Traditional Communities, and Cultural Safeguarding | 45h |
| PMH007 | Sociology and Anthropology of Leisure and Tourism | 45h |
| PMH008 | Image, Audiovisual Narratives, and Tourism Imaginaries | 45h |
| PMH009 | Advanced Seminars in Heritage, Culture, and Hospitality | 45h |
| PMH010 | Philosophical Hermeneutics and Phenomenology of Hospitality | 60h |
| PMH011 | Historiography of Tourism and Genealogy of Leisure Practices | 45h |
| PMH012 | Semiotics of Culture and Consumption of Heritage Spaces | 45h |
| PMH013 | Decolonial Epistemology and Global South Knowledge in Tourism | 45h |
| PMH014 | Anthropology of Affect, Mobility, and Transnationalism | 45h |
| PMH015 | Memory Policies, Musealization, and Historical Tourism | 45h |
| PMH016 | Special Topics in Aesthetics, Intangible Culture, and Hospitality | 40h |
Research Line 3 — Management of Tourism Organizations, Hospitality, and Services
This scientific axis focuses on organizational architecture, managerial efficiency, and corporate governance in tourism, hospitality, transportation, and entertainment companies.
The research line explores advanced models of strategic management, revenue management, dynamic pricing, and controllership applied to tourism services and food and beverage (F&B) operations.
Research projects analyze the operational complexity of resorts, accommodation establishments, and the MICE market (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), encompassing crisis management, safety, and operational risk.
From the perspective of human capital management, the line investigates leadership, organizational climate, occupational well-being, and the quality standards required by the hospitality industry.
Its central focus is to equip master’s graduates and researchers with quantitative and qualitative management tools for optimizing operational flows, increasing the competitiveness of tourism enterprises in international markets while maintaining corporate responsibility.
Courses
| Code | Course | Workload |
|---|---|---|
| GHS001 | Strategic Management and Governance in Tourism Organizations | 45h |
| GHS002 | Revenue Management and Pricing Structures in Services | 45h |
| GHS003 | Advanced Management of Hotel Enterprises and Resorts | 45h |
| GHS004 | Strategic Management of Events, Trade Fairs, and Business (MICE) | 45h |
| GHS005 | Operations Engineering in Food and Beverage (F&B) | 45h |
| GHS006 | Risk, Crisis, and Safety Management in Tourism Facilities | 45h |
| GHS007 | People Management, Leadership, and Service Quality | 45h |
| GHS008 | Transportation, Civil Aviation, and Tourism Infrastructure | 45h |
| GHS009 | Advanced Seminars in Tourism Organization Management | 45h |
| GHS010 | Economics Applied to Tourism and Service Microeconomics | 60h |
| GHS011 | Corporate Finance and Valuation of Tourism Facilities | 45h |
| GHS012 | Econometrics and Quantitative Modeling in Services and Hospitality | 45h |
| GHS013 | Global Supply Chain Management in Tourism | 45h |
| GHS014 | Corporate Governance and Mergers and Acquisitions in the Hospitality Sector | 45h |
| GHS015 | Tourism Asset Management and Hotel Real Estate | 45h |
| GHS016 | Special Topics in High-Level Strategy and Hospitality Competitiveness | 40h |
Research Line 4 — Innovation, Digital Technologies, and Tourist Experience
Dedicated to technological and behavioral shifts within the tourism ecosystem, this research line investigates the impact of digital transformation on the management and consumption of travel.
Its research scope encompasses the formulation and implementation of Smart Tourism Destinations, analyzing data infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, and sharing-economy platforms such as OTAs and vacation rentals.
The field deepens the study of tourist experience by applying theories of consumer behavior, neuromarketing, and territorial branding to map the traveler journey across the pre-trip, during-trip, and post-trip stages.
Additionally, it examines applications of virtual and augmented realities and the metaverse in the promotion of attractions and the mediation of tourism experiences.
The line prepares researchers capable of developing innovation ecosystems, designing digital market strategies, and interpreting large-scale datasets to support strategic decision-making in contemporary digital tourism.
Courses
| Code | Course | Workload |
|---|---|---|
| ITE001 | Smart Tourism Destinations | 45h |
| ITE002 | Digital Transformation, AI, and Big Data Applied to Tourism | 45h |
| ITE003 | Experiential Marketing and Tourism Neuromarketing | 45h |
| ITE004 | Consumer Behavior and the Digital Traveler Journey | 45h |
| ITE005 | Digital Platforms, Sharing Economy, and OTAs | 45h |
| ITE006 | Branding, Brand Management, and Destination Image | 45h |
| ITE007 | Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and the Metaverse in Tourism | 45h |
| ITE008 | Analytics, Digital Metrics, and Competitive Intelligence | 45h |
| ITE009 | Advanced Seminars in Innovation, Technology, and Markets | 45h |
| ITE010 | Algorithms, Generative AI, and Demand Forecasting | 60h |
| ITE011 | Social Media Data Science and Mining in Tourism | 45h |
| ITE012 | Structural Equation Modeling Applied to Tourist Behavior | 45h |
| ITE013 | Advanced Service Design and Value Co-Creation in Tourism | 45h |
| ITE014 | Cybersecurity, Data Protection, and Data Ethics in the Travel Industry | 45h |
| ITE015 | Platform Economy and Tourism Innovation Ecosystems | 45h |
| ITE016 | Special Topics in Emerging Technologies and the Future of Travel | 40h |
Mandatory Courses Common to All Programs
| Code | Course | Workload |
|---|---|---|
| TOE001 | Advanced Theory of Tourism and Hospitality | 60h |
| EOC002 | Advanced Research Methodology | 60h |
Mandatory Activities — Research and Master’s Thesis
The mandatory research and thesis activities total 720 hours, distributed across research preparation, monitoring, scientific production, and thesis defense.
| Activity | Workload |
|---|---|
| Research Project Development | 60h |
| Participation in a Research Group | 60h |
| Research Progress Seminars (minimum of 2) | 60h |
| Participation in Scientific Events (with presentation of a paper) | 60h |
| Master’s Thesis Writing | 300h |
| Master’s Thesis Defense | 120h |
| Total | 720h |
Final Degree Requirement
Master’s Thesis
Development of a master’s thesis under the supervision of a PhD faculty member, involving original scientific research relevant to the field of Tourism.
The thesis must demonstrate theoretical and methodological mastery, critical analytical capacity, and an academic contribution consistent with the requirements of a Master’s Degree in Tourism.
