Tourism, Hospitality, and Outdoor Recreation (THOR) Minor

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The Tourism, Hospitality, and Outdoor Recreation (THOR) 18-credit multicampus minor offers students a broader understanding of the state of Maine as a whole in the contexts of tourism, hospitality and outdoor recreation, through hands-on learning, connections with workforce leaders, and comprehensive exploration of the cultural, historical, scientific and economic framework of this unique world-class travel destination.

Through completion of the minor, students will:

Identify how the tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation industries intersect to play a critical role in supporting Maine’s economy

Develop an understanding the diverse economic, environmental, and social challenges, opportunities, and trade-offs related to the THOR industries, particularly in Maine

Understand the importance of how business environment, recreation opportunities, seasonality, hospitality and lodging infrastructure, and supply of other tourist attractions all contribute to the complexity of the THOR industries

Students have the opportunity to complete this minor by selecting classes across multiple institutions within the University of Maine System.

Minor Requirements

Students must complete:

One 3 credit foundational course in Outdoor Recreation (course options outlined below in Table 1)
One 3 credit foundational course in Tourism Management (course options outlined below in Table 2)
One 3 credit foundational course in Hospitality Management (course options outlined below in Table 3)
The remaining 9 credits can be fulfilled through a combination of electives in tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation, allowing students the ability to curate their minor towards their professional pursuits. Elective courses may be selected from a large list of class offerings (over 100) across the University of Maine System. To view available courses, please visit the THOR Institute website.

No more than 1/3 of courses towards the THOR minor can come from the student’s academic major/other minor.

Course Options

Table 1 - Select one 3-credit class in the Introduction to Outdoor Recreation section
Campus	Course Code/ Number	Course Title	Modality
UMF	BUS 130	Introduction to Recreation	in person
UMFK	ENV 102	Introduction to the Wilderness and Outdoors
UMM	REM 110	Foundations of Recreation and Parks	in-person and distance synchronous
UMM	REM 121	Intro to Outdoor Recreation Management	in-person and distance synchronous
USM	REC 110	Foundations of Recreation and Leisure Studies	Taught online- asynchronous
USM	REC 121	Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation Services	hybrid, online is asynchronous
UM	SFR 228	Forest Recreation Management	in-person
UM	KPE 265	Outdoor and Adventure Activities	in-person
UMPI	REC 232	Program Development and Planning

Table 2 - Select one 3-credit class in the Introduction to Tourism Management section

Campus	Course Code/ Number	Course Title	Online, In-person, hybrid, other
UMM	REM 219	Introduction to Tourism	In-person and distance synchronous
USM	TAH 101	Introduction to Tourism & Hospitality	Hyflex
USM	TAH 241	Sustainable Tourism Development	Hyflex
UM	SFR 150	Introduction to Tourism

Table 3 - Select one 3-credit class in the Introduction to Hospitality Management section

Campus	Course Code/ Number	Course Title	Online, In-person, hybrid, other
UMF	BUS 222	Hospitality Management
USM	TAH 221	Hospitality Management	Hyflex

Table 4 - Select three THOR class electives from the list below on any campus

Note: The wide variety of electives offered is designed to ensure students have broad access to courses that align with their professional pursuits.

Campus	Course Code/ Number	Course Title	Online, In-person, hybrid, other
UMA	POS/BUA246E	Policy & Politics/Finance & Analytics	In-person, summer
UMA	POS/BUA247E	Laws & Licensing/Supply Chains & Operations	In-person, summer
UMF	BUS 130	Introduction to Recreation	In-person
UMF	BUS 222	Hospitality Management
UMF	BUS 229	Alpine Operations Leadership and Management
UMF	BUS 260	Resort Management	in person
UMF	EPP 260 /GEO 260	Sustainable Tourism	synchronous online
UMF	EPP 340 /GEO 340	Sustainable Land Use	in person and synchronous online
UMF	GEO 219	Geography of Maine	in person and synchronous online
UMF	REC 103	Principles and Practices of the River Industry	in person
UMF	REC 104	Principles and Practices of Camping and Hiking
UMF	REC 105	Principles and Practices of the Golf Industry	in person
UMF	REC 106	Principles and Practices of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Maine
UMF	REC 107	Principles and Practices of Adventure Education
UMF	REC 132	Recreation of Western Maine
UMF	REC 133	Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management
UMF	REC 177 / REC 277 / REC 377	Topics in Recreation
UMFK	ENV 102	Introduction to the Wilderness and Outdoors
UMFK	ENV 107	Fundamentals Of Outdoor Equipment
UMFK	ENV 108	Fundamentals of Outdoor Winter Recreation
UMFK	ENV 111	Water Recreation and Stewardship
UMFK	ENV 315	Principles of Captive Wildlife
UMFK	FOR 100	Introduction to Forestry
UMFK	HTY 382	Conservation and Environmental History
UMFK	PSA 230	Wilderness First Aid
UM	SFR 150	Introduction to Tourism
UM	SFR 228	Forest Recreation Management	in person
UM	SFR 301	Field Course in Parks, Recreation and Tourism	in person
UM	SFR 347	Special Problems in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
UM	SFR 393	Cooperative Education in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
UM	SFR 396	Internship in Parks, Recreation and Tourism
UM	SFR 399	Field Experience in Parks, Recreation and Tourism
UM	SFR 434	Recreation Site Planning and Management	in person
UM	SFR 437	Ecotourism: Principles, Trends, and Issues
UM	SFR 479	Environmental Attitudes and Behavior	in person
UM	SFR 480	Wilderness and Protected Area Management	in-person
UM	SFR 491	Senior Capstone in Parks, Recreation and Tourism
UM	SFR 493	Sustainable Tourism Planning
UM	GEO 212 / HTY 212	Geography of Maine
UM	MES 201	The Maine Coast
UM	KPE 280	Introduction to Paddling Safety and Instruction	online, followed by two week in person after spring semester ends
UM	KPE 286	Introduction to Outdoor Leadership and Facilitation	In-person, with required weekend trip. (This course is 1 credit.)
UM	KPE 450	Bringing the Classroom Outdoors	Hybrid online w/ required in person intensive week. This is a new course, still under review.
UM	KPE 311	Advanced Methods of Instructing Outdoor Activities
UM	KPE 411	Ethics and social justice in outdoor leadership	Online asynchronous
UM	KPE 265	Outdoor and Adventure Activities	in person
UM	KPE 209	Wilderness First Responder	hybrid online and 5 day in person intensive; Even spring semesters
UMPI	REC 232	Program Development and Planning
UMPI	REC 234	Outdoor Pursuits I	in person
UMPI	REC 235	Outdoor Pursuits II	in person
UMPI	REC 261 /CRJ 261	Outdoor wildlife	in person
UMPI	REC 262 /CRJ 262	Outdoor Recreational Safety	in person
UMPI	REC 374	Wilderness Expedition Skills
UMPI	REC 360	Ropes Course Management
UMPI	REC 495	Internship
UMM	REM 116	Basic Camping Skills	In-person, could be combined with REM 121
UMM	REM 117	Outdoor Recreation Activities (Topics course)	hybrid w/required in-person lab; could be combined with REM 121
UMM	REM 121	Intro to Outdoor Recreation Management	in-person and distance synchronous
UMM	REM 125	Sailing and Basic Seamanship	in-person, offerings vary.
UMM	REM 201	Activity Leadership and Facilitation	in-person
UMM	REM 210	Nature-Based Tourism & Sustainable Development
UMM	REM 211	Wildlife Law	in-person
UMM	REM 212	Wilderness First Responder	hybrid online w/required in-person 5 day session
UMM	REM 219	Introduction to Tourism	in-person and distance synchronous
UMM	REM 221	Fundamentals of Search and Rescue	in-person and distance synchronous, with required 2-day field experience
UMM	REM 222	Rescue Diver
UMM	REM 226	Recreation Program Planning	in-person
UMM	REM 227	Backcountry Expedition Skills	hybrid online w/required in-person 2-week field experience
UMM	REM 230	Outdoor Leadership	in-person
UMM	REM 231	Leave No Trace Trainer	hybrid online w/required in-person 2-day, overnight field experience
UMM	REM 311	Inclusive Recreation	in-person and distance synchronous
UMM	REM 314	Facility Operations & Design	distance synchronous
UMM	REM 317	Principles of Experiential Education
UMM	REM 327	Recreation Behavior & the Environment	in-person
UMM	REM 412	Interpretation of Natural & Cultural Resources	distance synchronous
UMM	REM 431	Visitor Management in Conservation Areas
UMM	REM 442	Recreation Seminar	in-person and distance synchronous
UMM	REM 443	Recreation Leadership Practicum
USM	ANT 262	Women, Arts & Global Tourism
USM	BUS 319	Sport Tourism
USM	REC 110	Foundations of Recreation and Leisure Studies	Taught online- asynchronous
USM	REC 121	Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation Services	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 223	Introduction to Nature Tourism	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 226	Lifetime Leisure Activities	online - asynchronous
USM	REC 231	Expressive Arts Programming	in- person
USM	REC 232	Methods in Therapeutic Recreation Program Design	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 233	Outdoor Recreation	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 241	Recreation Leadership	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 253	Implications of Disabling Conditions for Therapeutic Recreation	online - asynchronous
USM	REC 285	Perspectives on Animal-Assisted Therapy	online - asynchronous
USM	REC 311	Psychosocial Interventions for Older Adults	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 314	Wellness Education and Counseling	in- person
USM	REC 324	Inclusive and Special Recreation	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 367	Adventure Based Counseling	in- person
USM	REC 382	Assessment and Documentation in Therapeutic Recreation	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 383	Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 386	Recreation Facility Design and Maintenance	online - asynchronous
USM	REC 390	Topics in Recreation and Leisure Studies	Varies
USM	REC 398	Independent Study	Varies- online asynchronous
USM	REC 494	- Professional Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation Practice	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	REC 495	Internship	online - asynchronous
USM	REC 498	Management and Professional Development in Therapeutic Recreation	hybrid, online is asynchronous
USM	TAH 101	Introduction to Tourism & Hospitality
USM	TAH 150	Professional Practices Immersion in Tourism & Hospitality
USM	TAH 211	Tourism Entrepreneurship	hyflex
USM	TAH 221	Hospitality Management
USM	TAH 222	Food and Beverage Management	hyflex
USM	TAH 224	Off-site Catering
USM	TAH 226	Wellness Tourism
USM	TAH 228	Introduction to the Craft Beer Sector
USM	TAH 241	Sustainable Tourism Development
USM	TAH 250	Nature Tourism
USM	TAH 261	Cultural Tourism
USM	TAH 264	Culinary Tourism
USM	TAH 299	Topics in Tourism & Hospitality
USM	TAH 301	Global Issues in Travel & Tourism	asynch online
USM	TAH 302	Tourism Research Methods
USM	TAH 305	Culture & Communication in the Travel Industry
USM	TAH 307	Field Study in Tourism & Hospitality
USM	TAH 309	Tourism & Hospitality Internship
USM	TAH 311	Event Management	hyflex
USM	TAH 312	Tour Planning & Management
USM	TAH 320	Green Meetings and Events
USM	TAH 321	Lodging Operations & Systems
USM	TAH 331	Sustainable Hospitality Management
USM	TAH 361	Local Food & Agritourism	hyflex
USM	TAH 399	Advanced Topics in Tourism & Hospitality
USM	TAH 409	Capstone: Tourism & Hospitality Internship	scheduled with instructor
USM	TAH 415	Trends & Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality
USM	TAH 422	Hospitality Law and HR
USM	TAH 424	Hospitality Financial Management
USM	TAH 426	Beverage Operations
USM	TAH 432	Sustainable Tourism Policy & Planning
USM	TAH 497	Independent Study in Tourism & Hospitality