Program Overview

Introduction to the School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management PhD Program

The School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM) at Temple University, in conjunction with the Fox School of Business, offers a PhD degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Tourism and Sport. This program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is one of the few PhD degrees concentrated in tourism and sport management.

What Sets STHM Apart

The doctoral program at STHM provides an ideal environment for academic and research training, focusing on pairing in-depth research with a dedicated, highly-productive faculty member. The STHM faculty hold editorial board appointments at leading journals and regularly publish in prominent academic journals.

The Tourism and Sport PhD Program

The PhD program is designed to prepare students for faculty positions at universities offering sport, recreation, tourism, and hospitality degrees. The program starts in August of each academic year and is full-time, taking approximately 4 years to complete 54 credit hours.

Program Structure

• The concentration has 16 full-time faculty members who work closely with students on research projects and papers.
• Students are encouraged to work collaboratively in cohorts.
• Coursework takes approximately 2 years and offers students an appropriate blend of theoretical and methodological courses to support their research program.
• Each student will receive a faculty mentor to offer guidance on research projects and career development.
• PhD students work as research assistants on existing projects with faculty and industry professionals and also enter competitions to secure funding for their research.

Research Opportunities

STHM has two centers providing students the opportunity to work on research projects:

• Sport Industry Research Center
• U.S.-Asia Center for Tourism and Hospitality Research

PhD Admissions Requirements

The STHM admission process is based on the quality of applicants, with the number of admitted students varying each year. The school does not have strict eligibility minimums for GPA and standardized test scores. However, to be favorably considered in the admission process, applicants are suggested to have:

• A GPA of 3.5 or higher in any graduate work
• Score above the 75th percentile on the GMAT or GRE (verbal and quantitative combined) with Analytical Writing of 4.0 or higher

Application Checklist

• Current resume / curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement of goals
  • Two references
  • English language transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
  • Official GMAT / GRE Results (test results cannot be more than five years old)
  • TOEFL / IELTS Results are required for international applicants, unless they have completed a degree program from a US institution or are currently enrolled in a degree program at a US institution.

Financial Support

STHM offers a full assistantship including a financial stipend per year on a 12-month basis for 20 hours of service as a research assistant and/or teaching assistant. This assistantship also includes:

• Full tuition coverage
• Excellent health insurance
• A laptop or iPad
• Academic conference travel

The stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance are renewable up to three times for a total of four years, contingent on satisfactory performance in the program. Qualified applicants have the potential to be awarded an additional research fellowship each year, as well as nomination for Presidential and University Fellowships, reducing the number of service hours required.