Degree Overview: Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Hospitality Management
Majors Overview May 17, 2015Get information about Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree programs in Hospitality Management and their education requirements, coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Programs in Hospitality Management
Students who would seek leadership roles in resorts and hotels, among other businesses in the industry could benefit by enrolling in a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program in Hospitality or Hospitality Management. Students can seek occupations with businesses that cater to domestic and international travelers alike. Internship or co-op opportunities may also be availed by them. Schools may offer program concentrations in areas such as event leadership and marketing, among others. Hospitality industry organizations offer voluntary certification options.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree, apart from meeting minimum grade point average requirements and provision of personal references. In some schools, prerequisite courses may have to be completed by incoming students in topic areas such as event management and hospitality law.
Coursework
Core business courses in economics and accounting are usually within the curriculum for an MBA program in Hospitality Management. Program coursework is devised to impart students with the leadership skills they would need in improving the customer service at a restaurant, staffing a hotel or increasing the revenues of a resort. Coursework can also include topics in research methods, career planning and ethical management. Core coursework may include subject areas such as:
•Event management
•Tourism issues and strategies
•Corporate managerial finance
•Decision-making and leadership
•Event marketing concepts and analysis
Career Choices
Armed with an MBA in Hospitality Management, graduates can seek positions in various businesses such as casinos, resorts and hotels. They may choose from popular career options such as:
•Lodging manager
•Director of special events
•Event producer
•Meeting and convention director
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2012 – 2022 decade, a slower-than-average job growth rate of one percent has been predicted for lodging managers. Over the same period, meeting, convention and event planners are expected to see a much faster-than-average growth of 33% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, lodging managers brought in an average annual wage of $46,810, while event planners earned $45,810 (BLS).
Continuing Education Choices
Those seeking careers in collegiate level teaching or research for government agencies and private businesses can pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in Hospitality Management. The emphasis or focus area of a program can include marketing and sales apart from hospitality real estate management. Additionally, professional organizations like the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute offer voluntary certifications such as the Certified Hospitality Supervisor, which is obtainable through the passage of exams and satisfaction of eligibility requirements.