Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality
Sustainable Master of Business Administration
Use your master's degree to become a leader
in the rapidly growing tourism and hospitality field.
Unity's online SMBA in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality equips you with the expertise to drive positive change in the fast-growing tourism and hospitality sector. As a leader in climate-ready degrees, our program emphasizes sustainability, preparing you to manage tourism destinations and hospitality services with a focus on environmental, social, and economic responsibility. Upon graduating from our tourism and hospitality program, you'll be ready to lead the shift toward responsible travel, ensuring that tourism and hospitality businesses thrive while protecting the environment.
In the SMBA in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality program you'll learn to:
- Apply sustainable principles across tourism and hospitality operations, marketing, and destination planning
- Develop strategies that balance business, visitor, community, and environmental needs in tourism and hospitality
- Measure and assess the social, economic, and environmental impacts of tourism and hospitality development
- Evaluate tourism’s role in promoting social equity and create inclusive, equitable experiences for everyone involved
Career Outlook
What can I do with a master's in sustainability?
Careers for Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality graduates.
Sustainability Specialist jobs in the U.S., 2022.
Sustainability Specialist average pay, 2022.
Estimated U.S. job openings for Sustainability Specialist jobs through 2032.
Sustainability Specialist jobs in the U.S., 2022.
Sustainability Specialist average pay, 2022.
Estimated U.S. job openings for Sustainability Specialist jobs through 2032.
*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unity Environmental University cannot guarantee employment. Salary data represents averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience.
Examples of online coursework in sustainable tourism and hospitality:
Ecological Economics
Economic systems influence how society understands its relationship to the environment. You will learn the basic principles of ecological economics, evaluate the framework, and learn to apply its principles to sustainability work.
Sustainable Operations for Travel and Hospitality
This course presents a holistic view of the tourism industry including how each sector operates, and how they approach sustainability. Upon completion of the course, you will be equipped to assess organizations’ approach to sustainability and create frameworks for sustainability action.
Sustainable Business Strategy for Travel and Hospitality
This course enables students to design and develop travel products with business models that generate positive impact. You will learn the fundamentals of sustainable business planning, and develop a business plan for a tourism enterprise that provides a specific economic, social, and/or environmental benefit to stakeholders.
Degree requirements and courses needed to earn a sustainable master's
The Sustainable MBA in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality degree requires 36 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more requirements, view our full course catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is sustainble tourism and hospitality?
Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality is about reshaping the travel and hospitality industry for a greener future. With the growing demand for eco-friendly practices, businesses are seeking professionals with sustainable skills. In the Sustainable Masters of Business Administration (SMBA) program, you'll learn to assess sustainability risks, develop plans for positive social and environmental impacts, and manage ecological needs in hospitality companies.
By providing travelers with net positive experiences, you'll lead the way towards a more environmentally friendly industry. This program prepares you to innovate and transform the tourism sector, integrating sustainability principles into business strategies. Grounded in environmental stewardship and social equity, it equips you to drive the industry towards sustainable development and economic prosperity while making a positive difference in the world. -
What is a Sustainable Master's of Business Administration in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality?
The SMBA in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality prepares values-driven leaders to innovate, disrupt, and transform the tourism and hospitality industry towards a more sustainable future. Through a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum, students will gain the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to integrate sustainability principles with travel and hospitality business strategy and operations.
The SMBA in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality at Unity is grounded in the principles of environmental stewardship, social equity, sustainable development and economic prosperity. -
How is an SMBA different than an MBA?
A Sustainable Master of Business Administration (SMBA) includes the foundational concepts of a Master of Business Administration (MBA), while also integrating principles of environmental and social responsibility to prepare future business leaders to drive long-term economic success that includes ecological resilience and societal well-being.
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What courses will I take to earn an SMBA in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality?
SMBA Core: 21 credits
- PROF 515 Ethical Practice and Policy
- SUST 525 Making the Invisible Visible: The ESG Proposition
- SBUS 503 Organizational Behavior and Change Management Strategies
- SBUS 505 Accounting & Finance for Sustainable Solutions
- SUST 515 Leading Sustainable Change
- MKTG 505 Marketing Research
- SBUS 590 Sustainable MBA Capstone I: Planning Green Business Initiatives
Major Program Core: 15 credits
- SBUS 515: Ecological Economics
- SUST 535: Sustainable Operations for Travel and Hospitality
- SUST 610: Impact Assessment and Sustainable Management for Tourism Destinations
- SUST 615: Builiding Social and Environmental Equity into Tourism Supply Chains
- SUST 620: Sustainable Business Strategy for Travel and Hospitality
For a better look into your program, view our full course catalog. Then apply online for free to get started.
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How fast can I finish my online SMBA in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality?
The timeframe for completion is up to you! Enroll in 6 credits per term and complete the program in a little over one year. Alternatively, opt for part-time study by taking one course at a time. Whichever path you choose, we’re here to support your educational journey every step of the way. Contact your concierge or advisor to create your personalized plan.
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How much does it cost to receive an SMBA in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality?
Your online education should be affordable and manageable. Thanks to our promise to keep tuition flat through 2030, you won’t be burdened with unexpected increases or fees.
Our team of distance education concierges will work with you through the admissions process to help you plan and pay for your degree. Learn more about the costs here.
Why Unity for your climate-ready master's degree
Career Focus – Unity ranks in the top 2% of colleges for social mobility according to CollegeNET. Demand for employees with green skills is growing daily, and the sustainability core in every master’s program at Unity means that you’ll graduate with an environmental consciousness applicable to every career path.
Earn While You Learn – Our asynchronous model is designed to provide flexibility, allowing you to balance your studies with professional and personal commitments.
World Renowned Faculty – Learn from faculty who are working in their field, bringing their professional network and real-world insights into the virtual classroom, fostering valuable connections for your future career.
Applied Learning – You’ll be required to engage your local community and environment while completing your master’s degree, giving you practical, hands-on experience while allowing you to translate theoretical knowledge into real-world solutions.
Personalized Support – You can rely on one-on-one professional advising, career support from your first day, unlimited mental health counseling, and more.
Experts in sustainable tourism and hospitality
At Unity Environmental University, our faculty is composed of a wide range of environmental science experts who in addition to teaching, conduct their own research and various fieldwork.
O'Shannon Burns
Subject Matter Expert
O’Shannon Burns is a researcher and sustainability consultant with 15 years of experience shaping mission-driven businesses and embedding regenerative principles into operations with a focus on travel, tourism, climate action, conservation, and environmental justice. Through her consulting business Ochre, she has collaborated with The World Bank, Disney, TED, National Geographic, Atlas Obscura, and dozens of small businesses on sustainability strategy and management.
O’Shannon is part of Cornell University’s Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program at the SC Johnson College of Business. She co-developed a framework for sustainable tourism destination management that now underpins the online, self-paced eCornell course on Sustainable Tourism Destination Management.
Previously, she spent a decade as staff at National Geographic collaborating with explorers as they conducted field work, spearheading sustainability initiatives, and operating exploratory educational travel experiences on all seven continents. While there, she created and was then appointed to National Geographic Partners’ first full-time sustainability position, overseeing sustainability for the company’s travel business, and serving as an internal sustainability leader and expert. O'Shannon holds an MA in Sustainability from Harvard University, a BS in Physical Geography with a focus on Climate Science from Penn State, and an executive certificate in Training and Facilitation from Georgetown University.
Faculty Profiles
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Ready to learn more about the SMBA in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality?
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