Why study Outdoor Studies and Tourism at MC?
With the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the east, Music City in the center, Graceland in the west and numerous historical and recreational sites in between, Tennessee enjoys a tourism industry that adds several billion dollars to its economy annually. As the tourism and hospitality sector grows, so too does its intersection with issues of sustainability. Managing travel and adventure with their impacts on the environment is an increasingly important skill in the modern economy.
Maryville College’s Outdoor Studies and Tourism major will uniquely prepare you for careers that emphasize the importance of the natural environment, how humans can respectfully enjoy and interact with nature, and the value of active, safe, outdoor experiences. The curriculum equips you with the leadership skills and knowledge necessary to create, manage and evaluate effective outdoor experiences and sustainable tourism programs.
Our Fit.Green.Happy.® initiative provides strong connections between our Mountain Challenge program, our curriculum and our location, giving you numerous opportunities for relevant experiences and research.
ON CAMPUS OPPORTUNITIES
Founded on the MC campus in 1987 by alumnus Bruce Guillaume ’76, Mountain Challenge, LLC, is an outdoor adventure and teambuilding program serving students and businesses that strives “to provide high-quality, safe outdoor experiences designed to change the world for the better, one person at a time.” Mountain Challenge activities are incorporated into Orientation classes and, year-round, students can sign up for offcampus trips to canoe, hike, raft, bike, rock climb and cave.
Meet a Current Scot
Catelee “Crow” Crow
Hometown: Clinton, Tennessee
Crow didn’t know what they wanted to with their life when they first toured Maryville College but seeing the beautiful outdoor oriented campus, the small community and learning about the Outdoor Studies and Tourism major, they knew they wanted to come to MC. “I enjoy being an Outdoor Studies and Tourism major because the professors always want to take the classroom outside. Class sessions can be hikes, paddling trips, rock-climbing and other physical learning experiences,” they said.
In addition to being a Mountain Challenge fellow, Crow was also the President of the MC Pride Club for two years and credits this experience with helping them to grow and become a leader in their community.
Meet a Recent Grad
Matt Quizi ’23
Currently: Wildlife Keeper at Ober Mountain Adventure Park and Ski Area in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Coming from Canada to Maryville College, Matt found his love for the outdoors through campus, athletics (he played on the Scots’ Golf Team) and Mountain Challenge events. As a wildlife keeper at Ober Mountain, Matt performs daily husbandry duties for a collection of native wildlife, including American black bears, river otters, bobcats, fox, raccoons, snakes, turtles and raptors. He also provides education to guests on the biology and ecology of the Smoky Mountains. He wants to continue working with animals and broaden his understanding of the natural world.
“Maryville College allowed me to realize what aspects of life I found most important and then showed me how to get myself into an environment that reflects those values,” he said.