MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
 - Distance Program

Admission
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 twenty-one 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.

Distance Learning
The distance program is structured in a 'cohort' class rotation. Courses are offered over eight semesters (32 months), two or three courses per semester (two graduate courses and one undergraduate pre-requisite course if required). Classroom-based lectures with personalized instructions from the faculty members are provided on CD or DVD-ROM discs. Assignments, chat rooms, threaded discussions, bulletins, and testing are provided through an Internet-based program. Participants have a convenient one-on-one contact with their professors and peers via a dedicated email system, threaded discussion board postings, and live online meetings.

Cost
The cost for the Program is $30,000 for the 15 graduate courses ($2,000/course), plus $800 per each undergraduate pre-requisite course not satisfied in the Bachelor program. This includes classroom instruction on CD-ROM discs which are supplemented with Internet-based learning, course materials, support services, and miscellaneous fees. Students are responsible for the purchase of textbooks via the Internet or local providers.

Degree Requirements
To be eligible for a Master’s degree, a student must:

1. Satisfy all University requirements for a master’s degree.
2. Complete a minimum of 45 semesters credit hours of graduate level course work in the Hospitality Management curriculum.
3. 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: 3 credit hours
    ENC 3311 Advanced Research Writing (3)

Core Requirements: 45 credit hours
   HFT 5485 Financial Accounting and Analysis in the Hospitality Industry (3)
   FSS 5755 Food Production (3)
   HFT 6245 Hospitality / Tourism Service Operations Analysis (3)
    HFT 6246 Organizational Behavior in the Hospitality Industry (3)
    HFT 6257 Contemporary Issues in the Lodging Industry (3)
    HFT 6296 Strategic Management for Hospitality and Tourism (3)
    HFT 6299 Case Studies in Hospitality Management (3)
    HFT 6429 Hospitality Asset Management (3)
    HFT 6446 Hospitality Enterprise Technologies (3)
    HFT 6476 Feasibility Studies for the Hospitality Industry (3)
    HFT 6477 Financial Management for the Hospitality Industry (3)
    HFT 6555 e-Commerce for Hospitality and Tourism (3)
    HFT 6586 Research and Statistical Methods (3)
    HFT 6596 Marketing Management (3)
    HFT 6697 Hospitality Law Seminar (3)
    HFT 6946 Graduate Internship (0)

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.

Also available on campus.