Degree Title: Master of Science in Human and Consumer Sciences

Program Name and Number: Hospitality and Tourism – MS6359

Department/Unit: Department of Human and Consumer Sciences

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Terms of Entry: [ANY – Rolling Admissions for any term; students with financial support are typically awarded for a Fall entry]

Program Mission: The Hospitality and Tourism major master’s offers preparation with an experiential as well as scholarly foundation for professionals seeking either industry positions or doctoral studies in the future.

Program Learning Objectives:

• Community: Students will consider perspectives outside their own experiences to value their community and better understand society and culture promoting public good.

• Problem-Solving: Students will be able to synthesize historic and current events to creatively and critically analyze and solve contemporary problems to enhance consumer well-being in local, national, and global environments.
• Advocacy: Students will be able to appreciate, interpret and translate diverse perspectives to effectively communicate with and advocate for a variety of audiences.
• Diversity: Students will learn how to identify individual strengths within diverse backgrounds and leverage them to enhance communities.
• Social Responsibility: Students will develop a sense of personal and social responsibility in their roles as life-long learners within their communities and professions.
• Life-Long Learning: Students will be able to evaluate, adapt and respond to evolving industry and learning environments in a productive and professional manner.
• Reflection: Students will respond, provide and reflect upon constructive feedback to achieve continuous improvement in personal and professional endeavors.
• Communication: Students will be able to effectively listen, speak, write, and create visual communication. 
• Hands-On Experience: Students will participate in experiential learning opportunities in- and outside the classroom.
• Ethics: Students will uphold strong ethical standards through actions and behaviors in both personal and professional relationships.
• Professionalism: Students will establish and maintain professional relationships with faculty, peers, alumni, and industry leaders.

Program Overview: The Hospitality and Tourism major, affiliated with the Restaurant, Hotel and Tourism undergraduate program, offers preparation with an experiential as well as scholarly foundation for professionals seeking either industry positions or doctoral studies in the future.

Students who seek industry positions will be prepared to take on leadership roles in hospitality and tourism operations and management. Those who seek doctoral studies will be trained to be researchers and/or college-level teachers. Students are encouraged to do multidisciplinary research when appropriate. Students are required to have completed a basic hospitality course (comparable to RHT 1100.) which is required as prerequisite to program completion and must be completed during the first year of graduate study at Ohio University at the undergraduate level. Students may select either a thesis or professional project option. Most students will enroll with the expectation of completing this program in two academic years.

Concentrations:  Recommended concentration areas include (but are not limited to) business, communication, education/statistics, international studies, nutrition, psychology, recreation studies, and sociology. Graduate students will be encouraged to do multidisciplinary research when appropriate. Additionally, students (in consultation with and approval with the major advisor) may design a unique program to fulfill the concentration requirements. 

Opportunities for Graduates: Graduates of the Hospitality and Tourism program can continue with doctoral studies, pursue teaching careers in post-secondary education, and enter industry careers with leading companies in the hotel, restaurant, and tourism industries.

Link to Program: www.ohio.edu/education/academic-programs/human-and-consumer-sciences/hospitality-and-tourism.cfm

Link to Program Handbook: Please contact Sandy Chen, Ph.D., Graduate Program Coordinator, at chens5@ohio.edu

Graduation Requirements: Conferral of the degree requires at least a 3.0 grade point average.

1. Students enrolled in a thesis program are required to complete 30 semester hours in order to earn the degree.
2. All students in the Hospitality and Tourism program must complete either a thesis or professional paper as part of their degree requirements.
3. All students must submit a proposal including the concept and plans for the thesis or professional paper. 
4. All students are required to orally (e.g., Oral Examination) defend the results of their thesis.
5. The expected time to degree if studying full time is two years.
6. No qualifying or comprehensive exam is required as a requirement of the program.  

Culminating Experience: The Hospitality and Tourism Master’s Program with a thesis provides a strong foundation for students who plan to continue with doctoral study. Additionally, both thesis and professional project graduates of the program seek careers in the hospitality and tourism industry, government agencies, and consumer organizations, both global and domestic.

Admission Requirements: The following materials are required for admission to a Master’s Degree Program in the Department of Human and Consumer Sciences (online application process only):

1. A Bachelor of Science, Arts, Business, or related degree from an accredited college or university.
2. A minimum of 12 semester hours of undergraduate preparation in the specific or closely related program to the graduate major
3. A completed Graduate Admissions Application and non-refundable application fee
4. Official Academic Transcripts
   • Minimum overall GPA of 2.7 with a 3.0 on the final 90 hours (4.0 scale) is recommended.   
5. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores
   • The applicant’s scores will be considered along with all other application materials.
6. Letter of Intent and Statement of Goals
7. Resume/Vitae
8. Three (3) letters of recommendation,
9. Letter for Graduate Assistantship (if desired)
10. Evidence of English proficiency, international students