Master’s Programme in Sustainability and Tourism

The programme enables students to explore several dimensions of sustainability and tourism. Sustainability is a central dimension in all courses in the programme, which challenges students to reflect on social, cultural, economic, and environmental aspects of tourism and place development in both global and local contexts. Destination governance and planning are integrated into the concept of sustainable destination development, and students receive guidance throughout the programme so that they independently develop a critical understanding of these processes in different settings. Sustainable development is examined through a holistic approach combining different value systems and interests as well as context-specific considerations and challenges. Students develop their ability to critically reflect on the complexity of sustainability issues and relate state-of-the-art research to various practical contexts. They also develop the ability to reflect on their learning and their future professional role in both the tourism industry and society at large. Students are given the opportunity to work on their ability to independently develop research questions and conduct research as part of their studies. In the first semester, students take four research-related courses. The theme of these is different perspectives on the development of places and destinations. One course has a particular focus on sustainability and destination development, while the other three explore sustainability issues relating to various aspects of tourism and destination development, such as events, cultural and natural resources, and place marketing, all in close connection to current research within each respective theme. In the second semester, students take a course in scientific method and tourism studies theory so that they develop a broad and deep understanding of research issues and research ethics, and gain insight into and training in different research methods. In the second half of the semester, students can choose to take a project-based course in collaboration with business and society where they analyse current cases linked to issues of sustainability in companies and organisations, and link these to the current knowledge base. Alternatively, during the same period, students can take a thesis course worth 15 credits that will, for those students who request this, be included in a Degree of Master (60 credits). In the third semester, students can take optional courses worth 30 credits. This semester provides opportunity for broadened and specialised study in an optional selection of aspects relating to sustainability and tourism. A number of optional courses worth 30 credits are offered to students at Dalarna University, where the focus is on specialised study in sustainability and resilience, social sustainability linked to companies, and in-depth study of various current research themes on tourism. This semester is also an opportunity for students to go on an Erasmus exchange or take courses in their area of interest at other universities to broaden their knowledge in the field. In the fourth semester, students complete a degree project in tourism studies worth 30 credits. Here they deepen their theoretical knowledge, which they then put into practice through the independent identification of issues and the use of scientific method to complete and present a research assignment.