General Studies, Ecotourism Pathway
Associate of Arts
The Associate of Arts in General Studies with an Ecotourism pathway is a great way to begin or grow your career in ecotourism. Ellijay, home of Dalton State College’s Mountain Campus, along with other surrounding mountain areas dotting Gilmer County, is a center to a growing ecotourism industry. These include farms with apple-picking, strawberry-picking, apple festivals, pumpkin festivals, and other activities; outdoor recreation; restaurants; vineyards; and more. This pathway will improve your knowledge of ecotourism and your entrepreneurial skills with foundations in English and math, speech, the environment of business and even Appalachian history. Your second year includes courses in micro- and macro-economics, accounting, heritage tourism, and ecotourism. Once you complete the AA Ecotourism pathway, you are ready to work with local agencies, such as the Chamber of Commerce, to craft your business endeavor in this vibrant industry. More importantly, the AA Ecotourism pathway easily transitions to one of Dalton State College’s popular bachelor’s degrees in arts and sciences and business when you are ready. Take in the fresh air this degree brings to life.
| Area A: Essential Skills | ||
| ENGL 1101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 1102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| MATH 1111 | College Algebra | 3 |
| Area B: Institutional Options | ||
| COMM 1110 | Fundamentals of Speech | 3 |
| Choose one: | 1 | |
| Appalachian Hist-Special Topic | ||
| Perspectives in Liberal Arts | ||
| Area C: Humanities/Fine Arts | ||
| Required ENGL course | ||
| ENGL 2000 | Topics in Literature & Culture | 3 |
| Required HUMN course | ||
| HUMN 1202 | Expressions of Culture II | 3 |
| Area D: Science/Mathematics/Technology | ||
| Choose two lab science courses | 8 | |
| Environmental Studies | ||
| Principles of Biology I | ||
| Principles of Biology II | ||
| Math requirement: | ||
| MATH 1113 | Precalculus Mathematics | 3 |
| Area E: Social Sciences | ||
| HIST 2111 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| or HIST 2112 | United States Hist since 1877 | |
| POLS 1101 | American Government | 3 |
| ECON 2105 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 2106 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Area F: Major Related | ||
| ACCT 2101 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| BUSA 2106 | The Environment of Business | 3 |
| COMM 2000 | Intro to Mass Communication | 3 |
| ECOT 2000 | Introduction to Ecotourism | 3 |
| GEOG 2330 | Heritage Tourism | 3 |
| SUST 2000 | Intro Envir Sustainability | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Courses
GEOG 1100. Introduction to Geography. 3-0-3 Units.
Offers a broad introduction to the field of geography, with its various traditions, subfields, and associated technologies. Topic areas covered include the multiple aspects of cultural and physical geography and tools used in the discipline.
Prerequisites: ENGL 0999 unless exempt.
GEOG 1101. Intro to Human Geography. 3-0-3 Units.
Introduces the study of world geography with attention given to demographic, political, cultural, economic, and environmental characteristics of regions of the world.
Prerequisites: ENGL 0999 unless exempt.
GEOG 1111. Intro to Physical Geography. 3-0-3 Units.
Introduces the basic principles of geography as related to the physical elements of the human environment and area distribution throughout the world. Includes maps and locations, weather, climate, and natural resources.
Prerequisites: ENGL 0999 unless exempt.
GEOG 2330. Heritage Tourism. 3-0-3 Units.
Provides an overview of heritage tourism, tourism that focuses on the cultural and natural heritage of a region. Topics may include archaeological sites, indigenous culture, agriculture and foodways, industrial landscapes, religious sites, diaspora, and dark tourism interspersed with case studies from the Greater Chattanooga region and Georgia.
Prerequisites: HIST 2111 or 2112.
GEOG 3310. Historical Geography. 3-0-3 Units.
Investigates the changing landscape of North America from the Pre-Columbian era to the present. Surveys past places, spaces, regions, movements, environments, and landscapes.
Prerequisites: HIST 2111 or HIST 2112.
GEOG 3320. The African Americas. 3-0-3 Units.
Examines the influence of African peoples on regional formation in the Americas with a focus on the biophysical landscape and African adaptation/relationships, the geographic imagination of African American regions, and the relational approach in defining African American regional formation.
Prerequisites: HIST 2111 or 2112.