Program Overview

MS in Hospitality Management

The School of Hospitality Administration’s two-year, research-focused MS degree is designed for full-time students who wish to pursue a secondary degree in hospitality research. Unlike the Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH), which is designed for professional careers, the thesis track of the MS degree is focused on academic research and to formally prepare students for PhD programs in hospitality and tourism management. The non-thesis track of the program is suited for students looking to develop a research and analytics mindset and skillset to work in the hospitality industry.

Learning Outcomes

With the successful completion of the MS program, students demonstrate the ability to:

• Describe the segments, history, icons, market leaders, lexicon, and service elements of the continually expanding hospitality landscape.
• Learn, master, and apply the research methods and skills in a specific discipline of hospitality for an in-depth study; functional areas can include finance/accounting, revenue management, experience design, operations, human resources/people strategies, real estate, marketing, senior living, and more.
• Learn, master, and apply the quantitative skills to synthesize core functional areas of hospitality systems, including finance, operations, human resources/people strategies, and marketing and experience design, real estate, senior living, and more.
• Present and articulate data and primary and secondary research to deliver meaningful analyses and recommendations applicable to the practice of global hospitality.
• Clearly and effectively write academic papers and results of research, quality for publication, and presentation.

Curriculum

The degree consists of 44 units as follows.

Unit Requirements–Summary

Thesis Track

• Required courses: 16 units
• SHA elective courses: 16 units
• Research electives: 12 units
• Total units: 44 units

Non-Thesis Track

• Required courses: 20 units
• SHA elective courses: 16 units
• Research electives: 8 units
• Total units: 44 units

Course Numbers and Course Titles

Thesis Track

Required Courses (16 units)

• GRS MA 614 Statistical Methods 2 (4 units)
• SHA HF 801 Hospitality Research (4 units)
• SHA HF 822 Faculty-Directed Research (4 units) (taken twice for 8 units total)
• SHA HF 840 Self-Directed Research (0 units)
• SHA HF 899 Thesis (0 units)

SHA Elective Courses (16 units)

Two of:

• SHA HF 701 Hospitality Operations Analysis (4 units)
• SHA HF 711 Hospitality Financial Management (4 units)
• SHA HF 733 Hospitality Organizational Leadership (4 units)
• SHA HF 762 Hospitality Marketing and Branding (4 units)

Two of:

• COM CM 722 Communication Research Methods (4 units)
• QST SI 839 Design Thinking and Innovation (3 units)
• SHA HF 619 Hotel Development and Deal Making (4 units)
• SHA HF 621 Advanced Food & Beverage Management (4 units)
• SHA HF 631 Workplace Experiences in Hospitality (4 units)
• SHA HF 667 Fundamentals of Digital Content Development (4 units)
• SHA HF 679 Financial Reporting and Analysis (4 units)
• SHA HF 702 Innovation & Disruption (4 units)
• SHA HF 707 Hospitality Entrepreneurship (4 units)
• SHA HF 717 Real Estate Finance and Feasibility (4 units)
• SHA HF 750 The Business of Seniors Housing (4 units)
• SHA HF 752 Monitoring the Resident Journey Experience (4 units)
• SHA HF 754 Senior Living Operations (4 units)
• SHA HF 760 Strategic Marketing (4 units)
• SHA HF 768 Digital Marketing Strategies (4 units)
• SHA HF 771 Hospitality Revenue Management Strategies (4 units)
• SHA HF 777 Meeting Planning and Special Events Management (4 units)
• SHA HF 778 Hospitality Analytics (4 units)
• SHA HF 781 Future of Restaurant Business (4 units)

Research Electives (12 units)

Three of:

• MET UA 703 Urban Research Methods (4 units)
• WED RS 600 Intro to Research (4 units)
• WED RS 652 Qualitative Research Methods (4 units)
• WED RS 653 Quantitative Research Methods (4 units)

Non-Thesis Track

Required Courses (20 units)

• GRS MA 614 Statistical Methods 2 (4 units)
• SHA HF 740 Graduate Internship in Hospitality Management (0 units)
• SHA HF 778 Hospitality Analytics (4 units)
• SHA HF 799 Research-Based Professional Paper (4 units)
• SHA HF 801 Hospitality Research (4 units)
• WED RS 652 Qualitative Research Methods (4 units)

SHA Elective Courses (16 units)

Two of:

• SHA HF 701 Hospitality Operations Analysis (4 units)
• SHA HF 711 Hospitality Financial Management (4 units)
• SHA HF 733 Hospitality Organizational Leadership (4 units)
• SHA HF 762 Hospitality Marketing and Branding (4 units)

Two of:

• QST SI 839 Design Thinking and Innovation (3 units)
• SHA HF 619 Hotel Development and Deal Making (4 units)
• SHA HF 621 Advanced Food & Beverage Management (4 units)
• SHA HF 631 Workplace Experiences in Hospitality (4 units)
• SHA HF 667 Fundamentals of Digital Content Development (4 units)
• SHA HF 679 Financial Reporting and Analysis (4 units)
• SHA HF 702 Innovation & Disruption (4 units)
• SHA HF 707 Hospitality Entrepreneurship (4 units)
• SHA HF 717 Real Estate Finance and Feasibility (4 units)
• SHA HF 760 Strategic Marketing (4 units)
• SHA HF 768 Digital Marketing Strategies (4 units)
• SHA HF 771 Hospitality Revenue Management Strategies (4 units)
• SHA HF 777 Meeting Planning and Special Events Management (4 units)