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Tourism Sociology and Psychology


Module name (EN):
Name of module in study programme. It should be precise and clear.
Tourism Sociology and Psychology
Degree programme:
Study Programme with validity of corresponding study regulations containing this module.
International Tourism-Management, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2013
Module code: BITM-W-12
SAP-Submodule-No.:
The exam administration creates a SAP-Submodule-No for every exam type in every module. The SAP-Submodule-No is equal for the same module in different study programs.
P440-0093
Hours per semester week / Teaching method:
The count of hours per week is a combination of lecture (V for German Vorlesung), exercise (U for Übung), practice (P) oder project (PA). For example a course of the form 2V+2U has 2 hours of lecture and 2 hours of exercise per week.
4SU (4 hours per week)
ECTS credits:
European Credit Transfer System. Points for successful completion of a course. Each ECTS point represents a workload of 30 hours.
5
Semester: 4 or 5
Mandatory course: no
Language of instruction:
German/English/French/Spanish
Assessment:
Project work (Can be repeated annually)

[updated 23.10.2026]
Applicability / Curricular relevance:
All study programs (with year of the version of study regulations) containing the course.

DFBTO-W-08 (P620-0483, P620-0536) International Tourism Management, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2018 , semester 5, optional course
DFITM-W-12 International Tourism Management, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2025 , optional course
BITM-W-12 (P440-0093) International Tourism-Management, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2013 , optional course
BITM-W-12 (P440-0093) International Tourism-Management, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2015 , optional course
BITM-W-12 (P440-0093) International Tourism-Management, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2017 , optional course
BITM-W-12 (P440-0093) International Tourism-Management, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2020 , optional course
Workload:
Workload of student for successfully completing the course. Each ECTS credit represents 30 working hours. These are the combined effort of face-to-face time, post-processing the subject of the lecture, exercises and preparation for the exam.

The total workload is distributed on the semester (01.04.-30.09. during the summer term, 01.10.-31.03. during the winter term).
60 class hours (= 45 clock hours) over a 15-week period.
The total student study time is 150 hours (equivalent to 5 ECTS credits).
There are therefore 105 hours available for class preparation and follow-up work and exam preparation.
Recommended prerequisites (modules):
BITM-111 Principles of the Tourism Sector
BITM-240 Marketing and Market Research in Tourism
BITM-320 Management in the Tourism Industry


[updated 29.10.2012]
Recommended as prerequisite for:
Module coordinator:
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Heuwinkel
Lecturer:
Dozierende des Studiengangs


[updated 29.10.2012]
Learning outcomes:
After successfully completing this module, students will have developed and deepened their knowledge of:
- the terminology and concepts of tourism sociology and psychology.
- the dimensions of tourism sociology and psychology
- the links between tourism and society
- the theoretical understanding of general concepts in the psychology and sociology of tourism
- the social context for travel and tourism/travel
- the analysis and design-(ability) of special forms of travel based on sociological and psychological concepts.
- Tourism criticism
 
After successfully completing this module, students will:
- have gained insights into the principles of tourism sociology and psychology
 
International and intercultural relevance:
- Dealing with (inter-) national phenomena concerning tourism and
  society
- Cultural roots of travel
 
Practical references:
- Sociological and psychological science and
  management concepts in tourism and society
- Sociological and psychological methods in tourism
- Social competence
- in particular sociological and psychological science and
  management concepts and methods that are important for a sustainable and responsible
  tourism industry
 
Students will expand and deepen their ability to use modern presentation techniques, their project and team work skills, as well as their scientific working skills.
 
 


[updated 23.10.2026]
Module content:
- The principles of tourism sociology and psychology
- Theories and methods of the sociology and psychology of tourism
- Social conditions for travel and tourism
- Social consequences of tourism
- Analysis and design of special forms of travel
- Areas of application


[updated 23.10.2026]
Teaching methods/Media:
- Seminar
- Case studies
 
 
 


[updated 23.10.2026]
Recommended or required reading:
Required reading:
Heuwinkel, K. (2023). Tourismussoziologie. 2. A. München: UTB
 
Other recommended reading:
Apostolopoulos, Y./Leivadi, St./Yiannakis, A. (Hrsg.) (1996), The Sociology of Tourism. Theoretical and Empirical Investigations, London.
 
Berger/Luckmann (1996): Die gesellschaftliche Konstruktion der Wirklichkeit. Eine Theorie der Wissenssoziologie. Fischer, Frankfurt
 
Cohen, E. (Hrsg.) (2004). Contemporary Tourism: Diversity and Change. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
 
Elias, Norbert (1993): Was ist Soziologie? 5. A., Weinheim.
 
Enzensberger, H. M. (1964, 1976), Eine Theorie des Tourismus, in: ders., Einzelheiten. Bd. 1: Bewußtseins-Industrie, Frankfurt a. M. 1964.
 
Goffman, E. (2003). Wir alle spielen Theater. München: Piper.
 
Krippendorf, J. (1986). Die Ferienmenschen. Für ein neues Verständnis von Freizeit und Reisen. München: dtv.
  
MacCannell, D. (1976). The Tourist: A New Theory of the Leisure Class. London: Routledge (2. A. 1989 mit neuer Einleitung, 3. A. 1999 mit Vorwort von Lucy Lippard)
 
Sharpley, R. (2018). Tourism, Tourist, and Society. 5. A. London: Routledge
 
Spode, H., Ziehe, I. (Hrsg.) (2005) Gebuchte Gefühle. Tourismus zwischen Verortung und Entgrenzung. München/Wien: Profil-Verlag. 3-89019-556-3
 
Vester, H.-G. (1988). Zeitalter der Freizeit. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft.
 
Urry, J. (2011). The Tourist Gaze 3.0. Sage
 
Weber, M. (1995): Schriften zur Soziologie, Stuttgart: Reclam
 
 
 
 
In addition, topic-specific introductory reading materials will be announced as part of the course.
 


[updated 23.10.2026]
 
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