MASTER OF SCIENCE IN TOURISM STUDIES
Applicants to the School must submit a Graduate Application for Admission to the University and must follow the regular University admission procedures described in the FIU Graduate Admissions web site (the 'Admissions & Applications' link on the left navigation bar leads to the site). Applicants must be eligible for admission to the University before admission to the School.
Admissions standards for the Master of Science degrees in Hospitality Management and Tourism Studies are an earned bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 written or 213 computer based is required for international applicants.
An applicant who feels the earned GPA is not indicative of his or her ability to be successful in a graduate degree program may also submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) which will be taken into consideration by the admissions committee in its evaluation of the application.
Applicants who meet admissions criteria, but do not have undergraduate preparation in Hospitality Management or Tourism Studies, may be required to complete a series of undergraduate preparatory courses. Specific courses will depend upon the individual’s undergraduate preparation. Fifteen credit hours of preparatory courses for Hospitality Management or fifteen credit hours of preparatory courses for Tourism Studies normally will be required. Undergraduate prerequisite courses may be taken at FIU in combination with required graduate courses. A maximum of six semester hours of related graduate credit may be transferred from another university or from the graduate programs of this University.
There is a requirement that all students complete 1000 hours of practical training work experience in the Hospitality or Tourism Industry in addition to the Graduate Internship of 300 hours. A minimum of 800 hours of the total 1300 hours must be completed while enrolled at FIU. Work experience documentation is required. All graduating students are required to attend the “Life After College” Workshop.
Cost
The cost of the program is based on tuition per credit hour and University fees. Click here to view the Tuition Chart.
Degree Requirements
To be eligible for a Master’s degree, a student must:
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Satisfy all University requirements for a master’s degree.
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Complete a minimum of 39 semesters credit hours of graduate level course work in the Hospitality Management curriculum.
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Earn a minimum grade point average of ‘B’ (3.0) in all approved courses in the student’s graduate program of study.
No courses, in which a grade below ‘C’ is earned, may be counted toward the Master’s Degree. However, all approved work taken as a graduate student will be counted in computing the grade point average, including courses graded ‘D’ or ‘F’.
Undergraduate Prerequisites: 15 credit hours
ECO 2013 Macroeconomics (3)
ENC 3311 Advanced Research Writing (3)
HFT 3403 Accounting for the Hospitality Industry (3)
HFT 4465 Finance for Tourism (3)
HFT 4509 Tourism Marketing (3)
Core Requirements: 24 credit hours
HFT 6472 Feasibility Studies for Tourism (3)
HFT 6507 Tourism Marketing on the Internet (3)
HFT 6562 Global Destinations Marketing Organizations (3)
HFT 6586 Research and Statistical Methods (3)
HFT 6706 Environmental Management Systems for Tourism (3)
HFT 6711 Tourism and Economics (3)
HFT 6712 Tourism Planning and Regional Development (3)
HFT 6715 Problem Solving in Travel and Hospitality (3)
Graduate Electives: 15 credit hours
Students select an area of specialization (some courses may be taken outside the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Students must have advisor’s approval and signature).
- select from -
Marketing
HFT 6555 e-Commerce for Hospitality and Tourism (3)
HFT 6596 Marketing Management (3)
HFT Approved Elective (3)
HFT Approved Elective (3)
HFT Approved Elective (3)
-or-
Management (select 5 courses)
HFT 6225 Multicultural Human Resources Mgmt for the Hospitality Industry (3)
HFT 6226 Motivation and Leadership (3)
HFT 6245 Hospitality/Tourism Service Operations Management (3)
HFT 6246 Organizational Behavior in the Hospitality Industry (3)
HFT 6278 Time Share Management (3)
HFT 6296 Strategic Management for Hospitality and Tourism (3)
HFT 6299 Case Studies in Hospitality Management (3)
HFT 6756 Convention and Meeting Management (3)
-or-
Environmental Issues (select 5 courses)
ANT 5548 Ecological Anthropology (3)
EVR 5065 Ecology of the Costa Rican Rain Forest (3)
EVR 5066 Ecology of the Amazon Rain Forest (3)
EVR 5183 Environmental Resource Policy (3)
EVR 5300 Urban Ecology (3)
EVR 5320 Environmental Resource Management (3)
EVR 5360 Protected Area Management (3)
EVR 5907 Independent Study in Environmental Studies (3)
EVR 5936 Special Topics-Pollution Ecology (3)
LAA 5235 Theory of Landscape Architecture (3)
REL 5183 Ethics and the Environment (3)
-or-
Advertising and Public Relations (select 5 courses)
ADV 6805 Creative Advertising and Public Relations Execution (3)
MMC 6416 The Literature of Integrated Communication (3)
PUR 5406 Multi-Cultural Communications (3)
PUR 5607 Advertising and Public Relations Management (3)
PUR 5806 Integrated Advertising and Public Relations (3)
PUR 6935 Advanced Public Relations Seminar (3)
-or-
Leisure Studies (select 5 courses)
LEI 5110 Program Administration in Parks, Recreation and Sports (3)
LEI 5440 Program Development in Parks, Recreation and Sports (3)
LEI 5503 Liability and Law in Leisure, Recreation and Sports (3)
LEI 5595 Seminar in Parks and Recreation Management (3)
LEI 5605 Philosophical and Social Bases of Parks and Recreation Planning (3)
LEI 5907 Directed Study in Parks and Recreation Management (3)
LEI 6577 Leisure Services Marketing (3)
Others (to be submitted by student and approved by Graduate Advisor)
Graduate Internship
Required for all graduate students unless prior experience warrants a waiver of this requirement (see advisor for information).
Industry Experience Requirement: 1300 hours
1000 hours of hospitality related practical training work experience is required plus 300 hours for the Graduate Internship. A minimum of 800 hours must be completed while enrolled in the graduate program at FIU. Work experience documentation is required.
Thesis Track
Undergraduate Prerequisites: 15 credit hours
ECO 2013 Macroeconomics (3)
ENC 3311 Advanced Research Writing (3)
HFT 3403 Accounting for the Hospitality Industry (3)
HFT 4465 Finance for Tourism (3)
HFT 4509 Tourism Marketing (3)
HFT 6472 Feasibility Studies for Tourism (3) HFT 6507 Tourism Marketing on the Internet (3) HFT 6562 Global Destinations Marketing Organizations (3) HFT 6706 Environmental Management Systems for Tourism (3) HFT 6711 Tourism and Economics (3) HFT 6712 Tourism Planning and Regional Development (3) HFT 6715 Problem Solving in Travel and Hospitality (3) HFT 6xxx Thesis (9) STA 5206 Design of Experiments (3) STA 6166 Statistical Methods in Research I (3) STA 6167 Statistical Methods in Research II (3)Graduate Internship
Required for all graduate students unless prior experience warrants a waiver of this requirement (see advisor for information).
Industry Experience Requirement: 1300 hours
1000 hours of hospitality related practical training work experience is required plus 300 hours for the Graduate Internship. A minimum of 800 hours must be completed while enrolled in the graduate program at FIU. Work experience documentation is required.