Along with the arrival of the 2026-27 school year comes two new degree programs. This fall, ETSU is launching a Master of Science in Environment, Health and Disaster Sciences as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

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The Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s approval for the programs “reflect ETSU’s ongoing commitment to developing academic programming that responds directly to the workforce needs of the region and state,” said O.J. Early, ETSU’s previous director of content strategy.

The M.S. in Environment, Health and Disaster Sciences is focused on the intersection of environmental resilience, public health and disaster response. It aims to prepare students in the program to understand and respond to a variety of environmental challenges while also strengthening community resilience.

The program will benefit students seeking to make a difference amid disasters faced in the local region as well as prepare them with skills in demand globally. The program is the first of its kind in Tennessee and is available both online and in person.

“ETSU is committed to addressing the evolving needs of our communities through the development of new academic programs,” said ETSU President Brian Noland. “These programs have been intentionally designed in direct response to the feedback we receive from our communities, employers and students.”

The B.B.A. in Hospitality and Tourism initially began as a concentration within the Management major. After growing from only 18 students in 2023 to 47 in 2025, more than doubling its size, ETSU was able to obtain approval for the new major. The major combines business fundamentals with hands-on hospitality and tourism experience.

Tourism in Tennessee has grown 40% since 2018, almost double the national growth rate of 22%, with the Appalachian region playing a key factor in that growth.

The program will be offered at ETSU’s main campus as well as at the ETSU Sevierville Center, one of the state’s key areas for tourism.

“Students are looking for degrees that connect directly to real-world impact,” said ETSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly McCorkle. “Whether addressing environmental and public health challenges or helping drive one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing industries, these programs give students opportunities to build careers that make a difference in the communities they serve.”

Anyone interested in these programs can learn more on ETSU’s website at etsu.edu

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