The Hospitality and Tourism program has a rich history of graduates employed in a wide variety of domestic and international businesses and associations.
Focused Curriculum
The 36-credit program offers a special curriculum consisting of a group of core courses that all graduate students must complete. Students choose curriculum that allows them to focus on individual interests, and provides flexibility in selecting courses from a variety of disciplines.
Thesis and Non-Thesis Program Options
Campus-based students choose from two research options to complete their graduate degree plan. For those students interest in pursuing terminal degrees, a six-credit theory-based thesis is available. Campus and online students seeking an applied context may complete their degree with a three-credit applied case study or site-specific research project.
Students may elect to complete their graduate program without completing a traditional thesis. The non-thesis option requires students to participate in a one week, on-site seminar course.
Program Objectives
At the completion of this program, graduate students will increase their abilities to:
- Understand societal needs for leisure and business travel activities, and how to develop and implement hospitality and tourism programs responding to these needs.
- Critically analyze contemporary issues, problems and research in the hospitality and tourism industry.
- Develop and refine leadership and management skills critical to success in the hospitality and tourism industry.
- Understand the context of hospitality and tourism as it ranges from local to global perspectives.
Professional Development Certificates
Graduate certificates provide development in specific professional areas and may also serve as an entry to further graduate study. Graduate certificates offered through this department are in the areas of:
- Foundations in Hospitality and Tourism (online)
- Strategic Management in Hospitality (online)
- Service Administration
Students must be admitted and enrolled in the Hospitality and Tourism program in order to apply certificate credits toward the M.S. degree.