The Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management enables students to build on their strengths and interests, broaden their knowledge of the industry, sharpen their management skills, and incorporate 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 the thriving hospitality, tourism, and event industry.
The program offers thesis and non-thesis 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 non-thesis option is intended for students who anticipate a managerial and leadership position in the hospitality and tourism industry. The emphasis of the non-thesis option is on coursework, practical experience, and real-world insight. You can complete your degree either fully online, 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. A maximum of three credit hours of restricted elective may be taken as an independent study.
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's 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. However, the thesis option is not available to students who study fully online, and 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 UCF Global. 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 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 or applied quantitative analysis 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 two undergraduate courses "may" be required to be completed with a grade of "B" or higher within the first year of coursework in the program (decisions are made at the discretion of the Graduate Recruitment Team).
- HFT 2401 - Hospitality Industry Financial Accounting
- HFT 3431 - Hospitality Industry Managerial Accounting
Students would also have to have successfully completed an undergraduate course in statistics or applied quantitative analysis with a grade of "C" or higher within the first year of coursework in the program. The following undergraduate courses "may" be required to be completed with a grade of "B" or higher within the first year of coursework in the program (decisions are made at the discretion of the Graduate Recruitment Team).
- Statistics: HFT 3465 or STA 2014 or STA 2023
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
18 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- HMG6228 - Critical Issues in Hospitality Human Resources (3)
- HMG6245 - Managing Hospitality and Guest Services Organizations (3)
- HMG6477 - Financial Analysis of Hospitality Enterprises (3)
- HMG6585 - Data Analysis in Hospitality and Tourism Research (3)
- HMG6596 - Strategic Marketing in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6296 - Hospitality/Tourism Strategic Issues (3)
Thesis Option/Nonthesis Option
15 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Thesis Option- Complete all of the following
- 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.
- Complete the following:
- HMG6586 - Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- HMG6971 - Treatise (Thesis OF Research Report) (1 - 99)
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- FSS6365 - Management of Food Service Operations (3)
- HMG6227 - Advanced Training and Development in the Hospitality Industry (3)
- HMG6251 - International Lodging Accommodations Analysis (3)
- HMG6267 - Case Studies in Lodging and Restaurant Management (3)
- HMG6291 - Hospitality Entrepreneurship: Concept Creation to Capitalization (3)
- HMG6347 - Contemporary Issues in the Resort Industry (3)
- HMG6446 - Hospitality/Tourism Information Technology (3)
- HMG6476 - Feasibility Studies for the Hospitality/Tourism Enterprises (3)
- HMG6528 - Convention and Conference Sales and Services (3)
- HMG6529 - Contemporary Issues in Resort Sales Management (3)
- HMG6533 - Hospitality/Tourism Industry Brand Management (3)
- HMG6556 - Digital Marketing and Big Data Management for Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6565 - Social Media in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6566 - Principles of Destination Marketing and Management (3)
- HMG6710 - International Tourism Management (3)
- HMG6738 - Tourism Industry Analysis (3)
- HMG6756 - Mega-Events (3)
- HMG6797 - Event Administration (3)
- HMG6466 - Applied Revenue Management Techniques in Hospitality (3)
- HMG6229 - Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry (3)
- HMG6449 - Smart Travel and Tourism (3)
- HMG6757 - Advanced Theme Park and Attraction Management (3)
- HMG6810 - Food Supply Chain Management (3)
- HMG6811 - Beverage Supply Chain Management (3)
- HMG6224 - Leadership in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6223 - Leading Innovation and Change in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6299 - Contemporary Issues in Hospitality and Tourism Leadership (3)
- HMG6011 - Contemporary Issues in Event Management (3)
- HMG6568 - Destination Planning for Events (3)
- HMG6481 - Hospitality Intelligence and Analytics (3)
- HMG6221 - Employees Wellbeing in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
Nonthesis Option- Complete all of the following
- An appropriate culminating academic experience is required of all master's degree candidates. For students in the non-thesis 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.
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following:
- FSS6365 - Management of Food Service Operations (3)
- HMG6227 - Advanced Training and Development in the Hospitality Industry (3)
- HMG6251 - International Lodging Accommodations Analysis (3)
- HMG6267 - Case Studies in Lodging and Restaurant Management (3)
- HMG6291 - Hospitality Entrepreneurship: Concept Creation to Capitalization (3)
- HMG6347 - Contemporary Issues in the Resort Industry (3)
- HMG6446 - Hospitality/Tourism Information Technology (3)
- HMG6476 - Feasibility Studies for the Hospitality/Tourism Enterprises (3)
- HMG6528 - Convention and Conference Sales and Services (3)
- HMG6529 - Contemporary Issues in Resort Sales Management (3)
- HMG6533 - Hospitality/Tourism Industry Brand Management (3)
- HMG6556 - Digital Marketing and Big Data Management for Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6565 - Social Media in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6566 - Principles of Destination Marketing and Management (3)
- HMG6710 - International Tourism Management (3)
- HMG6738 - Tourism Industry Analysis (3)
- HMG6756 - Mega-Events (3)
- HMG6797 - Event Administration (3)
- HMG6466 - Applied Revenue Management Techniques in Hospitality (3)
- HMG6229 - Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry (3)
- HMG6449 - Smart Travel and Tourism (3)
- HMG6757 - Advanced Theme Park and Attraction Management (3)
- HMG6810 - Food Supply Chain Management (3)
- HMG6811 - Beverage Supply Chain Management (3)
- HMG6224 - Leadership in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6223 - Leading Innovation and Change in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6299 - Contemporary Issues in Hospitality and Tourism Leadership (3)
- HMG6586 - Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6221 - Employees Wellbeing in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
- HMG6011 - Contemporary Issues in Event Management (3)
- HMG6568 - Destination Planning for Events (3)
- HMG6481 - Hospitality Intelligence and Analytics (3)
Independent Learning
0 Total Credits
- 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 non-thesis 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.
Grand Total Credits: 33
Application Requirements
Application Deadlines
Admission Requirements
