Cultural Management and Ecotourism (AA)
The Associate of Arts in Cultural Management and Ecotourism is designed to provide students with an integral formation through the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes that strengthen their professional training through multidisciplinary studies. The program develops professionals with specialized knowledge who will be able to meet the cultural and ecotourism management needs of the Caribbean region and the creation of small businesses to meet such needs.
The Program consists of different areas of knowledge that include the mastery of basic skills as articulated in the General Education Program, and a major component consisting of the disciplines of social sciences and humanities, international relations and business fundamentals.
The associate degree provides students with the possibility of working in companies and government or private organizations dedicated to promoting ecotourism and cultural activities in the region or to the development of such activities.
The Arecibo Campus is authorized to offer this program.
Program Goals
- Respond to the needs of companies, organizations, government agencies and tourism by training professionals in the field of Cultural Management and Ecotourism.
- Promote the development and application of knowledge of cultural and ecotourism management considering relevant ethical, moral and professional values.
- Contribute to the development of professionals capable of applying knowledge, skills and attitudes to problem solving, evaluation and analysis of cultural and ecotourism management.
Program Objectives
- Understand the fundamental aspects related to the historical, social and economic processes of the Caribbean region.
- Interpretation of ecosystems in insular and regional geography through applied science.
- Develop verbal and written communication skills in Spanish, English and French.
- Acquire ecotourism activity skills by working in sustainable ecotourism microenterprises or in their creation.
- Be a spokesperson on the integral conservation of the environment and natural resources in human economic activity.
- Create awareness of the human relationship, the natural world, and the need to develop activities that promote quality of life.
- Demonstrate responsibility to develop economic management in a global society that seeks to improve the quality of life of diverse societies.
- Be able to engage in the regional internationalization of ecotourism management.
Program graduates interested in being certified as a Tourist Guide must comply with government requirements.
Competencies Profile of Graduates
The program is designed to develop the competencies that will enable students to:
Knowledge
- Accurately identify quantitative and communication skills in potential workplace scenarios of professional interest.
- Understand fundamental aspects regarding the historical, social and economic processes of the region; interpretation of the development of ecosystems in insular and regional geography through the application of science to human activity.
- Understand human relationships from a psychosocial and multicultural perspective.
Skills
- Accurately apply quantitative skills in potential workplace scenarios of professional interest.
- Develop verbal and written communication skills in Spanish, English and French.
- Identify microenterprise projects that contribute to the economy and cultural activity of the region.
- Educate regarding culture, integral environmental conservation, and natural resources in social activities.
- Raise awareness of the importance of human relationships, the natural world and the need to restore balance between economic activity and the natural environment to promote a better quality of life.
Attitudes
- Demonstrate responsibility as a being of a changing and multicultural society.
- Develop ethical and humanistic commitment in response to the need for protection of the environment as an integral relationship to one’s own existence.
- Value the development of a culture of peace, respect for human dignity and Mother Earth.
Requirements for the Associate Degree in Cultural Management and Ecoturism
| General Education Requirements |
24 credits |
| Major Requirements |
36/38 credits |
| Total |
60/62 credits |
General Education Requirements - 24 credits
Major Requirements - 30 credits
| TURI 1020 | Fundamentals of Tourism | 3 |
| TURI 1201 | Natural Resources Interpretive Guide | 3 |
| TURI 2000 | Tourism Legislation | 3 |
| TURI 3010 | Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism | 3 |
| HIST 2220 | Puerto Rico and the Insular Caribbean in the 20th Century | 3 |
| ENTR 2200 | Foundations of Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| SOCI 2970 | Cultural Management and Ecotourism Workshop and Seminar | 3 |
| ANTH 3050 | Studies of Popular Culture | 3 |
| GEOG 3434 | Geography of Middle America And the Caribbean | 3 |
| GEOG 4494 | Geography of Puerto Rico | 3 |
Language Requirements 6 - 8 credits
Language requirements will depend on whether the student takes English or French.