The graduate courses include: Economic, Cultural & Environmental Aspects of Tourism and Tourism and Hospitality Management Techniques.  According to the course professors, Dr. Sheryl Spivack and Dr. Ginger Smith, through these courses students will understand the relationship between tourism products and the impacts they generate, the field techniques used for measuring impacts, the policy considerations and management issues related to impact assessment, and how tourism can contribute to sustainable development within a community context. 

Spivack says, �Destinations throughout the country are looking for better ways to competitively plan, develop and market tourism.  On-line education provides a great opportunity for professionals anyplace and anywhere to become more knowledgeable and skilled in an industry that is so critical to local economies.�  Spivack stated that the on-line course includes audio slide lectures, interactive quizzes, �virtual quad� discussion groups, Internet driven unit assignments, on-line library resources, a technical help desk and an exam.  The courses are powered by ten different software packages.

GW was the first university in the world to offer graduate coursework in tourism management in 1973.  Today, the program is part of the School of Business and Public Management, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management.