GRADUATE PROGRAM

The M.S. in Hospitality Management (HM) program will prepare students for managerial and leadership positions within the hospitality, tourism, and sport industries such as Director of Sales and Marketing, Director of Food and Beverage, Director of Convention Sales, and Director of Sport & Entertainment for a variety of venues, such as theme parks, sports arenas, motor speedways, and convention centers. The M.S. in Hospitality Management is offered as an on-campus program and as an online program. Earning a graduate degree in Hospitality Management will also serve as a qualification for entering a doctoral program in Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Sport and Entertainment Management.

M.S. Hospitality Management (on campus program)

Students will select one of the 2 curriculum plans:

Thesis Option: Students must earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit, including HES 509, and 18 hours in HM courses. Plan I students must complete at least 6 semester hours of thesis research and write a thesis. A final oral examination is required upon completion of the thesis, and a manuscript of publishable quality based on thesis research is expected of each Plan I degree candidate. Student must schedule an appointment with his/her advisor to discuss their thesis topic within the first 4 weeks enrolled in graduate school.

Non-Thesis Option: Students must complete 30 credit hours of coursework and successfully pass a comprehensive exam or complete a Capstone Special Project. Students must schedule an appointment with their advisor to begin discussing their special project topic during the first 10 weeks of their first semester in graduate school.

For both options, a grade of “B” or higher must be earned in all courses.

To be considered for admission, an applicant for the MS in Hospitality Management, must have the following:

• One of the following:
  • Minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA on last 60 hours
• Three letters of recommendation
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose (Include in the Header: Hospitality Management, concentration in Sport Hospitality). Students should also include in their statement why they have chosen this area of study and how it will apply to their personal and/or professional goals.

M.S. in Hospitality Management (online program)

Information can be found at UA Online: Hospitality Management click here.

SUGGESTED PLAN OF STUDY FOR THE HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

30 CREDIT HOURS

Fall Semester (choose 9-12 credit hours)

• RHM 596 Seminar in Hospitality Mgmt. (3 credits)
• RHM 576 Strategic Mgmt. in the Hospitality Industry (3 credits)
• RHM 521 Hospitality Law (3 credits)
• RHM 580 Consumer Behavior in Hospitality or an elective (3hrs)

Spring Semester (choose 9-12 credit hours)

• HES 509 Research Methods (3 credits)
• RHM 575 Financial Mgmt. and Hospitality Operations (3 credits)
• RHM 570 Leadership in the Hospitality Industry (3 credits)
• Elective (3 credits) for non-thesis and RHM 599 Research Hours for thesis track

Summer (choose 6-10 credit hours)

• RHM 592 Special Problems in Hospitality Mgmt. (3-6 credits) or an Elective
• Elective (3 credits) for non-thesis and RHM 599 Research Hours for thesis track

If students make below a “C” in any course, the class credit hours will not be counted toward the 30 required credit hours. For both thesis and non-thesis options, a grade of “B” or higher must be earned in all courses taken in the College of Human Environmental Sciences.

Recommended Graduate Course Electives

RHM 551: Sport Properties and Venue Management
RHM 561: Marketing, Sales & Public Relations in Sports
RHM 555: Sports Sales and Entrepreneurship
RHM 559: International Strategies in Sports
RHM 570: Leaders Mgmt. Hospitality & Sport
RHM 576: Strategic Management in Hospitality and Tourism
RHM 596: Seminar Hospitality Management
CSM 525: Conflict Resolution Workplace
CSM 527: Emotional Intelligence
CSM 528: Processes of Negotiation
CSM 572 Needs Assessment Plan & Evaluation
CSM 575 Entrepreneurship in HES

Graduation Requirements:

GPA of 3.0 or higher 
Successfully completed and defended a thesis, or Capstone Special Project or
Comprehensive Exam Completed at 30 credit hours

Hospitality Management graduate students must successfully complete a written comprehensive exam to fulfill graduation requirements. The comprehensive exam must be scheduled with the faculty advisor during the first 2 weeks of final semester taking courses. The comprehensive exam coordinator is Dr. Yeon Ho Sin yshin9@ches.ua.edu.

Additional information
To request further information regarding the Hospitality Management Program, contact Dr. Kimberly Severt at ksevert@ches.ua.edu or at (205) 348-8169.