COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2013
1. COURSE NUMBER: STH 231
2. COURSE TITLE: Tourism, Cultures, and Places
3. CLASSROOM/MEETING TIMES: Bryan 104/Monday & Wednesday, 2-3:15pm
4. CREDITS: 3:3
5. PREREQUISITES/COREQUISITES: None
6. FOR WHOM PLANNED: Students majoring in the Sustainable Tourism and
Hospitality program and any UNCG student seeking a GN course to fulfill the General
Education program.
7. INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION: Zachary Cole
Email: zdcole@uncg.edu
Phone:
Office: Bryan 471
Office Hours: M/W 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
*I am in quite a bit; just give me a heads up if you plan on
stopping by (I can make appointments, too)
8. CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Study of tourism as a vehicle for increasing
understanding of cultural differences and spatial interaction within and between different
ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups across the world.
9. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of the course, the
student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Find, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information about diverse populations, cultures, religions,
identities, histories, economies, and political entities into the development of sustainable tourist
destinations and promotion of responsible tourist behavior, with substantial focus on tourism cases in
the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, and other non-Western tourist destinations.
Describe interconnections among the world regions, countries, cultures, religions in the context of
responsible tourism development and interdependencies fostering labor migration and travel behavior.
Delineate fundamental concepts used in human geography, including place, space, scale, landscape,
and human movement.
Articulate contemporary issues that today’s world faces in relation to cultural tourism and the
responsible development of cultural attractions, reflecting on tourist “bubbles” commodification of
culture, authenticity, and staged authenticity.
Use diverse cultural frames of reference to contrast concepts of hospitality across different cultural
and social groups.
Use diverse cultural frames of reference to analyze cross-cultural interactions between hosts and
guests in tourism destinations, with substantial focus on cultural encounters in the Caribbean, Latin
America, Asia, and other non-Western tourist destinations.
Use diverse cultural frames of reference to assess impacts of travel and tourism on local culture:
contrasting economic and social benefits of tourism with outcomes such as culture shock, host-guest
culture clashes, and impacts on indigenous identities and values.
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9. TEACHING METHODS:

Written, audio/visual, or other materials made available through assigned texts and
additional readings posted to BlackBoard or through online mediums (i.e.
Facebook, Twitter).

Virtual and face-to-face lectures, student presentations, debates and discussions
will be used on an ongoing basis. Active and problem-based learning is
emphasized.

Students are expected to plan and take responsibility for self-studies, including
reading assigned course literature, and structuring and completing assigned written
tasks.
10. EVALUATION AND GRADING:
Assignment/Activity
SLOs Measured
in this activity
1-7
1-7
1-7
1-7
1-7
1-7
Points Possible
2 Exams
100
2 Case Studies w/ presentations
200
Cultural Audit Project
250
Discovery Exercises
~100-200
Prop Responses
~100-200
Participation and Enthusiasm
150
Total
~900-1100 points
Directions for each assignment will be posted on Blackboard, and will be thoroughly
discussed in class. In addition, rubrics and other evaluative instruments will be posted on
Blackboard and discussed in class.
Exams (50 x 2 = 100 points):
To evaluate student understanding of the key concepts and terms discussed and used in
class, two exams will be given. The exams will be on the material covered during the
semester (in class, in assigned readings). Exam questions will include a variety of
formats: true/false, multiple choice, short answer, short essay. Exam 1 will address SLOs
1-3; Exam 2 will address SLOs 4-7.
Case Studies (75 + 125 = 200 points):
Student teams will be assigned to research and present two related case study discussions
during the semester. Each team will choose a relevant case (destination) within their
assigned region and conduct the following two analyses and presentations. For each,
students will lead a class discussion using AV materials. First case assignment will
address SLOs 1-4 and 7; the second cases emphasize SLOs 1-3, 5-6.
The first case study will be focused on a general description of an assigned region’s
representative culture(s) and tourism context. Group will evaluate information about and
envision a tourist experience of the destinations’ culture as represented, perceived, and
experienced (consumed) by diverse actors and audiences [insiders and others; media,
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businesses, and communities; hosts and guests]. Tourism topic areas for consideration
within each region/destination: geography, experience, space/place/landscape, and
cultural resources.
The second case study will require students to find, interpret, and validate information on
cultural tendencies related to communication and social values/behavior [and
perspectives of hospitality] and to prepare cultural briefings of their assigned
region/destination. Students are highly encouraged to interview members of selected
cultural/ethnic groups on the UNCG campus and reach out to tourism-associated
professionals in the region, incorporating information into this second case presentation.
Other required topics for inclusion: cultural impacts, stakeholder
negotiations/relationships, and commodification/authenticity.
Cultural Audit Project (250 points):
Students will work in groups of three to present a detailed culture/place audit of tourism
in a chosen destination and co-located hotel/tour operator. Consideration will be given to
documenting positive-negative dimensions of commoditizing culture and the cultural
space/place of tourism activity/experience, e.g., tourist “bubbles”, cultural
perception/image, and tourist flow patterns, using tourism and culture criteria established
by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and UNESCO. This assignment will address
SLOs 1 through 7.
Students will present part of the results from their cultural tourism audit to the class in a
professional manner, using audiovisual aids (maps, photos), graphs, etc. This portion of
student work will address SLOs 1 through 7.
Discovery Exercises:
To stimulate class discussions and critical thinking, the Professor will provide discussion
questions, case studies and/or exercises for either team or individual response. While a
majority will be completed in class, some exercises will require out-of-class work and
potentially group meetings to establish an appropriate position and/or response. Also, a
few online discovery exercises will be completed individually and turned in exclusively
via Blackboard. Exercises are designed to entice students to read assigned readings,
conduct further research, reflect, and integrate personal experiences and opinions. During
team Discovery Exercises, each team will develop a single response and receive a team
grade. All team members need to be listed in order to receive credit when turning in a
team response.
During team Discovery Exercises each student is expected to be a part of a team and fully
participate in all team exercises. There are no provisions for making up team Discovery
Exercises. All students should arrive by the start of class in order to receive credit for an
in-class exercise. NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE, PLEASE DO NOT ASK. For
team Discovery Exercises that require out-of-class meeting/organization, it is each
student’s responsibility to find a group if they were absent for the class period when
teams were determined.
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Prop Responses:
Throughout the semester I will utilize Blackboard, Twitter (@drzac), and Facebook (Doc
Cole) to ask reflective questions about course relevant stories from the popular media and
ask for a critical response via one of those mediums, adhering to the 140 character limit
regardless of platform used. Each response will garner 5 points. Pop Responses, as the
name implies, will not be planned or announced, but instead simply passed along as
applicable stories come along.
Marks:
Students will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. To receive credit for the
course, students must earn a letter grade of D- or higher on the weighted average of all
assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discovery exercises, etc.). Final grades
in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for percentage grades are as
follows:
A
AB+
B
BC+
= 93% & above
= 90% to 92.99%
= 87% to 89.99%
= 83% to 86.99%
= 80% to 82.99%
= 77% to 79.99%
C
CD+
D
DE
= 73% to 76.99%
= 70% to 72.99%
= 67% to 69.99%
= 63% to 66.99%
= 60% to 62.99%
= Below 60%
11. REQUIRED TEXTS:
Wearing, S., Stevenson, D. and Young, T. (2010) Tourist Cultures: Identity, Place and
the Traveller. London, UK: Sage Publications, Ltd.
Shaules, J. (2010) A Beginner's Guide to the Deep Culture Experience: Beneath the
Surface. Boston, MA: Intercultural Press.
**for recommended texts see list at end of syllabus
12. TOPICAL OUTLINE/CALENDAR:
This outline is tentative and merely provides a general framework regarding the
progression of topics. As such, readings and/or assignment dates may change throughout
the semester. Readings noted here are to be completed prior to the week they are
assigned, any changes and supplemental text will be announced in class.
Week
1
2
Topic Description
Course introduction/ outline and getting to
know each other.
Defining tourism, culture, and place through
the concept of sustainability.
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Assignment
Ch. Readings
Ch. 1
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Tourist/tourism geography and typology.
4
Tourism geography, tourist cultures, and
cultural tourism.
5
Tourism space, place, landscape, and values.
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Tourism experience, identity, and cultural
affect.
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Work day/Exam 1.
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Case study 1 presentations.
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Commodification and authenticity.
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Tourist bubbles, host/guest interactions, and
cultural perspectives of hospitality.
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Cultural impacts (and assessment) of tourism.
Ch. 6
12
Negotiating stakeholder values for sustainable
tourism.
Ch. 7
13
Case study 2 presentations.
Case Study 2
14
Case study 2 presentations.
Case Study 2
15
Work day/Exam 2.
Exam Two
16
Final presentations.
Cultural Audit
Ch. 5
Ch. 2 & 3
Exam 1
Case Study 1
Ch. 4
13. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY:
Each student is required to sign the Academic Integrity Policy on all major work
submitted for the course. Refer to the UNCG Undergraduate Bulletin or go to:
http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/complete/
14. ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are expected to attend and participate in the class. There will be many in-class
activities (e.g. Discovery Exercises), case studies, presentations, etc. and students’
participation in them will be reflected in their final grade (via 150 Participation and
Enthusiasm points).
15. CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
It is expected that all students arrive, on time, prepared for class and turn off all cell
phones and other electronic devices during class. Please reserve laptops use for notetaking in this course, as hard as it is to do so. Checking Facebook/Twitter/etc., reading
the newspaper, and/or surfing the web class is generally discouraged. However, there
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may be times during class activities where using those tools can be beneficial and even
encouraged, so don’t be surprised if you are asked to put them to use for the class.
If at any time you have a question or have the need for assistance and/or
information about absolutely anything concerning the course, see the Professor as
soon as possible.
16. LATE WORK:
25% off assignment score. Assignments must be submitted by the day and time they are
due. I will accept late assignments for one week after they are due, after which time none
will be accepted and a zero received for that assignment.
17. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
a. Students with documented disabilities requiring accommodation need to notify
the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
18. RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
Fouberg, E.H., Murphy, A.B., and H.J. deBlij (2012). Human Geography: People, Place,
and Culture. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Lanier, S.A. (2000*). Foreign to Familiar: Understanding Hot- and Cold-Climate
Cultures. Hagerstown, MD: McDougal Publishing.
Jack, G. and A. Phipps (2005*). Tourism and Intercultural Exchange. Buffalo, NY:
Channel View Publications.
Lanfant, M.F., Allcock, J.B., and E.M. Bruner (1995*). International Tourism: Identity
and Change. London, England: Sage Publications, Ltd.
Rojek, C. and J. Urry (Eds.) (1997*). Tourism Cultures: Transformations of Travel and
Theory. New York, NY: Routledge.
Selwyn, T. (Ed.) (1996*). The Tourist Image: Myths and Myth Making in Tourism. New
York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Smith, V.L. (1989*). Hosts and Guests. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania
Press.
Urry, J. (1990*). The Tourist Gaze. London, England: Sage Publications.
Van Den Berghe (1994*). The Quest for the Other. Seattle, WA: University of
Washington Press.
*Books that have stood the test of time as enduring background references. Utilize as
starting point/supplement to coursework (e.g. discussion, assignments, etc.) and/or if
further interested in course topics in future study/practice.
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