by Mckayla Holson, Editoral Editor
A new master’s program might be making its way to Northwestern.
The master of arts in heritage tourism and conservation program would allow Northwestern’s students to gain knowlede on tourism, how to preserve culture and other tasks.
Dr. James Bell, associate vice president for academics and dean of faculty, said it is a multidisciplinary masters degree that will be targeted at people who have an interest in agritourism, running a bed and breakfast, working at a county extension agency, someone who wants to preserve natural areas, someone who wants to preserve something historical and other interests that could fit under the degree’s umbrella.
The program has not been approved yet, but it has been submitted to the board of regents and Northwestern’s administration said they could possibly know something as early as December, but it will likely be early spring before they hear anything.
If the program is approved by that time, it will be in the Fall 2020 catalog.
The program will be 32 hours and will include two American studies courses, two mass communication courses, some history and sociology courses, a practicum class and a readings class.
Some of the courses needed to complete the degree already exist within Northwestern’s catalog.
“It’s possible to start taking classes knowing you could apply them,” Bell said. “So you could take classes in the spring with that in mind.”
Bell said the practicum course would be nice because it can be tailored to the needs and interests of the students.
Bell said the lieutenant governor initiated a plan to beef up tourism as a state economic force.
According to an article written by Michael Overall from Tulsa World, Oklahoma raked in nearly $9 billion in 2017 from travelers. Overall got this data from the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. That is a 21% increase in tourism dollars since 2010 according to the department.
Tourism is a unique part of Oklahoma’s culture.
“Agri-tourism and tourism in general is a very important part of Oklahoma’s economy, especially here in northwestern Oklahoma,” said Dr. Shawn Holliday, associate dean of graduate studies and professor of English. “We have some examples here in town with the murals, some people come to town to see the murals, and we have the menagerie out west of town so this program helps students who might be interested in establishing something similar that deals with tourism and give them the knowledge needed to start such a small business or to put together some sort of tourist attraction on their home farms, ranches or even to help with the community.”
Both Bell and Holliday said the program could increase Northwestern’s student count.
“It allows us to expand our reach in terms of serving people from areas we haven’t been able to serve anymore,” Bell said. “It also just responds to the constituencies we serve.”
“I think it fills a niche.” Holliday said. “Most universities don’t offer this program, and this is something that might draw students from across the state.”
Holliday said the program could also be beneficial to nontraditional students.
“This might even be attractive to people who are nontraditional students who are older and who might be currently running something like a menagerie or some sort of agri-tourist venture,” Holliday said. “They may want to seek additional information and training.”