Graduate Bulletin

Tourism and Hospitality Management — Executive Program, M.T.H.M.

SCHOOL OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall:  April 15

Applications are processed as they arrive through the deadline.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be requested from individuals who are capable and prepared to make judgments on the applicant's ability to complete graduate study. Undergraduate faculty and advisors are the best sources. Character references are acceptable, but at least one letter should be from an individual in higher education.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

No specific coursework is required.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should be 350-500 words in length and should include three components: your academic/professional goals; your personal strengths that will contribute to success in the graduate program; and your personal weaknesses that may inhibit success in the program.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE/MAT is required. Scores are expected to be in the 60-70% range.

Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 79 iBT or 550 PBT.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Transfer Credit:

Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred into the program. The credits must be equivalent to coursework offered at Temple, and the grade must be a "B" or better in order to transfer. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 36

Required Courses:

TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT CORE (21 s.h.):

STHM 5111:  Research and Quantitative Methods

STHM 5311:  Management of Organizations in Tourism and Hospitality

STHM 5313:  Financial Management in Tourism and Hospitality

STHM 5314:  e-Business for Tourism and Hospitality

STHM 5315:  Marketing in Tourism and Hospitality

STHM 5485:  Graduate Internship

STHM 9995:  Master's Project

OR

STHM 9996:  Master's Thesis

Students choose between tracks. Each track requires the completion of the Tourism and Hospitality Management Core (21 s.h.), two courses from the Fox School of Business and Management, and three courses specific to the track.

TRACK 1:  MANAGEMENT (15 s.h.):

STHM 5312:  Legal Issues in Tourism and Hospitality

AND

STHM Management Electives (6 s.h.):

STHM 5323:  Tourism Development

STHM 5324:  International Tourism

STHM 5325:  The Gaming Industry

STHM 5326:  Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality

STHM 5327:  Service Management in Tourism and Hospitality

STHM 5421:  Meeting, Conference, and Event Management

STHM 5422:  Entrepreneurship and Real Estate

TRACK 2:  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (15 s.h.):

STHM 5332:  Management Information Systems in Tourism and Hospitality

STHM 5333:  Seminar for Information Technology in Tourism and Hospitality

Electives

TRACK 3:  RESEARCH* (15 s.h.):

GUS 5065:  Geographic Data Systems

STAT 8109:  Regression, Time Series, and Forecasting for Business Applications

OR

STAT 8111:  Survey Techniques for Business Applications

STHM 5321:  Advanced Data Analysis for Tourism and Hospitality Research

Electives

* Prerequisite is STAT 5001: Statistical Analysis

Internship:  An internship is required. All students must complete a minimum of 3 s.h. (180 clock hours) of internship (STHM 5485).

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Thesis:

The master's thesis is an original empirical study that demonstrates the student's knowledge of both research methods and a mastery of her/his primary area of interest. The thesis should be rigorously investigated under the direct supervision of a major advisor and should be limited to a specific problem in tourism and hospitality management. Students are required to defend their theses publicly to the academic community.

A student preparing to defend a thesis should confirm a time and date with the Master's Committee and register with the Graduate Coordinator. After the time, date, and room are approved, the Graduate Coordinator posts flyers announcing the defense.

The student's Master's Committee is responsible for evaluating the thesis and the defense. No thesis should go to defense unless it is ready for public scrutiny. The Committee evaluates the student's ability to express verbally her/his research question, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications. The Committee votes to pass or fail the thesis and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation. If the student must make revisions, those changes must be approved as arranged by the Committee.

Master's Project:

The master's project is intended to give students the opportunity to engage in systematic inquiry, while allowing for creative expression in the development of a final product. After identifying a specific problem or area of investigation, the final product for the project may take such forms as a videotape, a program evaluation, a demonstration, a new design, a research paper for publication, a grant proposal, or a manual. The project may be specific to an agency.

The student must complete all course requirements before submitting a written project proposal to the Project Committee. The proposal should identify the area of investigation, state the significance, outline the steps to be used in systematic inquiry, and describe the nature of the final product. The Project Committee is composed of two Graduate Faculty members in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management who are selected by the student. One member serves as the major advisor for the project.

Upon completion of the master's project, the student must formally present the project to the Project Committee at a final meeting. After the candidate leaves the room, the Committee decides if the project is approved.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.sthm.temple.edu

Department Information:

School of Tourism and Hospitality Management

Speakman Hall (006-68)

1810 N. 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122
sthm@temple.edu
215-204-8701

Department Contacts:

Admissions and Recruitment:

Michael Usino, M.L.A.

musino@temple.edu

215-204-3103

Director of Master's Degree Programs:

Seoki Lee, Ph.D.
seokilee@temple.edu
215-204-0543

Chairperson:

R. Aubrey Kent, Ph.D.
aubkent@temple.edu
215-204-3810

About the Program

The goal of the graduate program in Tourism and Hospitality Management is to develop advanced professionals in the field of tourism, hospitality, and commercial recreation management. Education should enable professionals in this field to be expert managers, marketers, and planners in the public, private, and commercial sectors. The program prepares students to be middle-level and, eventually, upper-level managers in the tourism and hospitality industry. The degree program is based not only on the practical application of management techniques, but also on the theoretical foundation that defines the profession. This makes the degree program clearly distinct from generic management curricula that do not include an industry-specific core. (Students interested in studying at the doctoral level should refer to the Ph.D. program in Business Administration with a concentration in Tourism offered by the Fox School of Business and Management.)

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location:

Main

Students may take their two business electives at the Fort Washington, Ambler, or Center City campuses.

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered after 4:30 p.m. Students are also able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

School of Tourism and Hospitality Management

Speakman Hall (006-68)

1810 N. 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122
sthm@temple.edu
215-204-8701

Interdisciplinary Study:

The program encourages interdisciplinary coursework, research, and interactions among faculty and students with interest in management, information technology, and research.

Affiliation(s):

The program in Tourism and Hospitality Management is affiliated with the Fox School of Business and Management at Temple University.

Study Abroad:

Students who wish to do their internships abroad work closely with academic advisors who will assist with the necessary contacts and supervision.

Ranking:

While there is no formal ranking of programs in Tourism and Hospitality Management, the program at Temple University has received national recognition as a new program combining tourism and hospitality management.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

The three areas of specialization include Management, Information Technology, and Research. The Management track, with a traditional curriculum, is designed for individuals who want to increase their management knowledge and advance in management positions. Information Technology is designed for individuals who are seeking a career in the dynamic, fast-growing tourism.com industry or who want to further their knowledge about the latest industry-specific advancements in managing information electronically. The Research track is designed for individuals who desire a career in tourism marketing and research, whether commercial businesses or public governmental entities.

Job Placement:

Students typically find placements in convention and visitor bureaus, event management companies, convention centers, hotels, and resorts.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy:

Students who are eligible for admission may take up to 9 s.h. of coursework on a non-matriculated basis. If accepted into the program, the courses may be approved toward the degree program.

Financing Opportunities

Teaching and Research Assistantships and Externships within the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management are reserved for students who are capable of teaching undergraduate classes in specialized academic areas or assisting in faculty research. TAs, RAs, and Externs are expected to provide 20 hours per week of service throughout the academic year. A nine-month stipend is offered along with full (9 s.h.) tuition remission for the Fall and Spring semesters. Teaching and Research Assistantship and Externship applications will not be evaluated until a Graduate School application and all appropriate materials have been received. Assistantships and Externships are available only to admitted students. The evaluation of applicants for Teaching and Research Assistantships and Externships begins by March and continues until all positions have been filled.

Created 8.31.10

Updated by GS 10.17.12