Hospitality and Tourism Management (MS)

Program Description

The Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management enables students to build on their strengths and interests, broadens their knowledge of the industry; sharpens their management skills; and incorporates their professional and extracurricular experiences. The Rosen College of Hospitality Management candidates are especially attractive hires for hospitality and tourism organizations around the globe.

The typical Hospitality and Tourism Management MS candidate:

• Is a professional working in a position related to hospitality, tourism or events.
• Holds an undergraduate degree in hospitality, business management, or a related discipline.
• Understands that advanced educational training is required to be competitive in thriving hospitality, tourism and event industry.

The program offers thesis and nonthesis options. The thesis option is intended for students who are interested in the scientific study of the various aspects of the hospitality and tourism industry and who may anticipate pursuing a doctoral degree or a professional research position. The nonthesis option is intended for students who anticipate a leadership position in the hospitality and tourism industry. The emphasis of the nonthesis option is on coursework, practical experience, and real-world insight.

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management aims to provide students with an outstanding graduate hospitality management educational experience and serve other stakeholders with continuing education, research, and service. The College is committed to UCF goals by providing intellectual leadership through quality hospitality education, international prominence by means of educational and research programs, promotion of a global perspective, nurturing inclusiveness and diversity, and partnerships with local, national, and international hospitality and tourism constituencies.

Please note: Hospitality and Tourism Management (MS) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.

International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit http://global.ucf.edu/. If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at 407-823-2337.

UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to State Restrictions for current information.

Program Tracks

• Hospitality and Tourism Management MS, MD Track

Curriculum

The Hospitality and Tourism Management MS program requires a minimum of 33 credit hours for students who choose the thesis option or non-thesis option. For both options, 18 credit hours are required core courses. Students in the thesis option must also take nine credit hours of a restricted elective and six credit hours of thesis work. Students in the non-thesis option must take 15 credit hours of electives. You can complete your degree either fully online or face-to-face, or customize it through a mix of both to fit your schedule and budget although the thesis option is not available to students who study fully-online.

Total Credit Hours Required: 33 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor’s Degree

Candidates for the MS degree are constantly challenged with numerous requirements to engage in independent learning throughout the program of study through special projects and papers. For example, the capstone course (i.e., the last one that you complete prior to graduation), HMG 6296 - Hospitality/Tourism Strategic Issues requires a critical strategic audit project and a reflective paper. The project demonstrates a range of cross-discipline knowledge and analytical skills to perform an executive-level analysis of an enterprise. The reflective paper has guiding questions that are subjective in nature and successful completion requires a thorough, insightful, and well-articulated document that describes the learner’s value proposition to industry and society.

Required Courses: 18 Credit Hours

• HMG 6245 - Managing Hospitality and Guest Services Organizations 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6477 - Financial Analysis of Hospitality Enterprises 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6596 - Strategic Marketing in Hospitality and Tourism 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6228 - Critical Issues in Hospitality Human Resources 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6585 - Data Analysis in Hospitality and Tourism Research 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6296 - Hospitality/Tourism Strategic Issues 3 Credit Hours (Capstone course)

Thesis Option: 15 Credit Hours

An appropriate culminating academic experience is required of all master’s degree candidates. For those students in the thesis option, a thesis defense is required. Thesis defenses will be approved by a majority vote of the thesis advisory committee. Further approval is required by the Dean of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the UCF College of Graduate Studies before final acceptance of the thesis in fulfilling degree requirements.

• HMG 6586 - Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6971 Thesis 6 Credit Hours (research for thesis option only)
• Electives chosen from the list below 6 Credit Hours

Nonthesis Option: 15 Credit Hours

An appropriate culminating academic experience is required of all master’s degree candidates. For students in the nonthesis option, an appropriate culminating academic experience is the successful completion of HMG 6296 - Hospitality/Tourism Strategic Issues, a required course in the curriculum that is designated as a capstone course. This capstone course acquaints students with the principles of strategic decision-making in various sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry. Students are required to apply skills, knowledge, and understanding in order to identify areas of concern encountered by managers responsible for formulating and implementing operational strategies.

• Electives chosen from the list below 15 Credit Hours

Elective Courses

A maximum of three credit hours of restricted elective may be taken as an independent study.

• FSS 6365 - Management of Food Service Operations 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6251 - The Management of Lodging Operations 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6291 - Hospitality Entrepreneurship: Concept Creation to Capitalization 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6710 - International Tourism Management 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6586 - Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6227 - Advanced Training and Development in the Hospitality Industry 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6446 - Hospitality/Tourism Information Technology 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6466 - Applied Revenue Management Techniques in Hospitality 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6529 - Contemporary Issues in Resort Sales Management 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6556 - Digital Marketing and Big Data Management for Hospitality and Tourism 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6565 - Social Media in Hospitality and Tourism 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6566 - Principles of Destination Marketing and Management 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6533 - Hospitality/Tourism Industry Brand Management 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6476 - Feasibility Studies for the Hospitality/Tourism Enterprises 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6267 - Case Studies in Restaurant Management 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6347 - Contemporary Issues in the Resort Industry 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6528 - Convention and Conference Sales and Services 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6738 - Tourism Industry Analysis 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6756 - Mega-Events 3 Credit Hours
• HMG 6797 - Event Administration 3 Credit Hours

Independent Learning

Candidates for the MS degree are constantly challenged with numerous requirements to engage in independent learning during the program of study through special projects and papers. For students in the nonthesis option, an appropriate culminating academic experience is the successful completion of HMG 6296 - Hospitality/Tourism Strategic Issues, a required course in the curriculum that is designated as a capstone course. HMG 6296 should be taken during the final term of study and enrollment is based on approval. This capstone course acquaints students with the principles of strategic decision-making in various sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry. Students are required to apply skills, knowledge, and understanding in order to identify areas of concern encountered by managers responsible for formulating and implementing operational strategies.

Application Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

Admission is restricted each semester to individuals showing high promise of success in postgraduate studies. In addition to the requirements noted below, other indicators of promise include the applicant’s extracurricular activities, work experience, job responsibilities, and leadership experience, which will be considered in making admissions decisions.

In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Goal statement (this is your opportunity to outline in 500 words why you wish to join the program, what you think you will contribute to the program, and how you feel the program will enhance you both personally and professionally)
• Résumé.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• The GRE/GMAT is not required, however, the Admissions Committee may ask for the GRE/GMAT to strengthen a candidate’s application package.
• Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Prerequisites

For students with undergraduate majors in Hospitality Management or Business Administration, there will be no undergraduate course prerequisites, provided they have successfully completed an undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of “C” or higher.

For industry professionals with an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than Hospitality Management or Business Administration, the following three undergraduate courses “may” be required to be completed with a grade of “B” or higher within the first year of course work in the program (decisions are made at the discretion of the Graduate Recruitment Team).

• HFT 3431 - Hospitality Industry Managerial Accounting
• HFT 3540 - Guest Services Management
• HFT 4295 - Strategic Management in Hospitality Industry

These students would also have to have successfully completed an undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of “C” or higher within the first year of course work in the program.

For applicants with undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than Hospitality Management or Business Administration and no significant hospitality industry experience, the following five undergraduate courses “may” be required to be completed with a grade of “B” or higher within the first year of course work in the program (decisions are made at the discretion of the Graduate Recruitment Team):

• HFT 1000 - Introduction to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
• HFT 3540 - Guest Services Management
• HFT 4295 - Strategic Management in Hospitality Industry
• HFT 2401 - Hospitality Industry Financial Accounting
• HFT 3431 - Hospitality Industry Managerial Accounting

These students would also have successfully completed an undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of “C” or higher within the first year of course work in the program.

Application Deadlines

Financials

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowships

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.