Information on Master’s Degree Programs in Hotel Administration
Majors Overview June 4, 2015This article talks about master’s degree programs in hotel administration and their education requirements, coursework, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Master’s Programs in Hotel Administration
Students enrolled in master’s degree programs in hotel administration are prepared for advanced executive or leadership positions within resorts, hotels and other lodging establishments or careers in academia or research.
Schools that offer Master of Science (M.S.) in Hotel Administration programs often gear them towards experienced professionals; incoming students are required to possess 1-3 years of hospitality experience in either managerial or non-supervisory positions. Enrolled students may choose to specialize in a particular hotel administration concentration, such as information systems management, marketing and sales, food service management, or event administration. A thesis typically marks the culmination of the program.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree, and in some schools, a hospitality-related undergraduate major is insisted. Incoming students must have completed undergraduate courses in statistics, economics, and accounting before being allowed to seek admittance to the hotel administration master’s degree program. They may also have to submit Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, a personal essay, a resume, and recommendation letters.
Coursework
Program coursework in the majority of master’s degree programs in hotel administration includes the completion of a senior thesis on a relevant topic of interest. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Business ethics
•Food service regulations
•Research methods in hotel administration
•Hotel operations analysis
•Personnel management
•Hospitality laws
•Analysis of hotel financials
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 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, these professionals brought in an average annual wage of $46,810 (BLS).
Continuing Education Choices
Program graduates may want to continue their education by earning a doctoral degree in related fields, such as hotel administration, which could lead to a career in academia or research.
