Sandra De Urioste-Stone – Courses

SFR 150 Introduction to Tourism (3 credits)
Introduction to tourism is designed to help students of all disciplines understand one of the largest industries in the world. This course will introduce the nature, structure and complexity of travel and tourism with special emphasis on nature-based tourism – how it is defined, how it evolved, and its magnitude globally. Students will examine types and functions of various stakeholders in the creation and delivery of tourism including governments, private sector and communities. Finally, this course will explore the motivations for travel affecting demand for tourism.

SFR 226 Park Systems of the World (3 credits)*
An examination of national parks and protected areas as cultural identity.  Topics include the genesis and rate of spread of the national parks idea, the cultural/political/economic context of national parks and protected areas, protected areas and the natural environment, comparative protected area system administration, and the trend and condition of the world´s protected area system.

*Satisfies the cultural diversity and international perspectives general education requirement.

SFR 437 Ecotourism: Principles, Trends and Issues (3 credits)
Examines ecotourism as a growing and important sector of the tourism industry due to its focus on sustainability issues. This course covers the principles and fundamental concepts of ecotourism, and how the concept differs from other forms of alternative tourism. Contemporary issues such as marketing, governance, certification, and community engagement in both US and international contexts will be discussed via the use of case studies.

SFR 493/593 Sustainable Tourism Planning (3 credits)
Principles and practices of planning for sustainable tourism destination. The course provides a basis for a tourism destination service learning project involving natural and cultural attractions. The project will involve developing, facilitating, evaluating and documenting the tourism destination planning process. Specific topics include tourism potential evaluation, tourism sociocultural and environmental impacts, community-based tourism planning, tourism regional and site planning, and strategic tourism planning. The course requires field trips within and outside of scheduled class periods.

SFR 521 Research Methods in Forest Resources (3 credits)
Provides graduate students with the fundamental research skills needed to successfully prepare for their thesis research, as well as professional careers in scientific research. Students learn how to plan, write, and critique scientific research proposals. Instruction focuses on direct, hands-on learning by writing a proposal that can serve as a student’s graduate thesis research proposal. Students learn to pose relevant, interesting, and researchable questions; design testable hypotheses; develop research goals and objectives; and apply critical thinking skills to design appropriate research methods. Key elements of research planning include funding, project management, responsible conduct in research, and journal publications are covered. Graduate students taking this course will meet the University of Maine’s requirement for Responsible Conduct in Research training.
Prerequisites & Notes: permission

SFR 528 Qualitative Data Analysis in Natural Resources (3 credits)
Principles and practices of qualitative data analysis in natural resources. The course covers various interpretive analytical traditions in the social sciences, as well as strategies used in qualitative data analysis. Students will analyze previously collected qualitative data, and develop a written document that includes both narrative and visual displays. The course includes a hands-on NVivo training on coding data.

SFR 396: Internship in Parks, Recreation and Tourism
A professional activity under the general supervision of an experienced professional with a high degree of responsibility placed on the student. Learning objectives are pre-established and agreed upon between the faculty coordinator and the placement supervisor. Not normally repeated.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SFR 397: Field Experience in Forestry (0-6 credits)
A field experience is a professional activity participated in by students under the supervision of a practicing professional in the field. A high degree of responsibility is placed on the student for developing a study plan including learning objectives and their assessment. The study plan must be approved by a faculty member prior to the field experience. May be repeated. Can be taken for 0 credit as a Pass/Fail Grade only.
Prerequisites: Permission.
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

SFR 399: Field Experience in Parks, Recreation and Tourism (Ar credits)
A field experience is a professional activity participated in by students under the supervision of a practicing professional in the field. A high degree of responsibility is placed on the student for developing learning objectives and securing the approval of a faculty member for academic credit for the learning involved. May be repeated.
Course Typically Offered: 
Fall, Spring, Summer

SFR 498: Senior Research I (2 credits)
An original investigation of a problem in Forest Ecosystem Science, under the guidance of a faculty member. Students will select an area of study, perform a literature search and prepare a written study plan for their research.
General Education Requirements:  Writing Intensive and Capstone
Prerequisites: Permission and junior standing in Forest Ecosystem Science and Conservation.
Course Typically Offered: Fall & Spring

SFR 499: Senior Research II (2 credits)
Students will complete the research initiated in SFR 498 and prepare a written final report. The completed project should demonstrate the student’s ability to understand and apply scientific principles in research.
General Education Requirements:  Writing Intensive and Capstone
Prerequisites: SFR 498 and senior standing.
Course Typically Offered: Fall & Spring

SFR 613: Forest Recreation Problems (Independent Study)