Graduate Programs

Since 1983, the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida has established a standard of professionalism, leadership, and service excellence for hospitality and tourism leaders around the world.

The Master's Program in Hospitality and Tourism Management was developed specifically for candidates seeking a master's degree either on a full-time or part-time basis.

The PhD in Hospitality Education at the University of Central Florida is designed for individuals with demonstrated intellectual competency and creditable experience in hospitality and tourism organizations and industry associations.

Why Orlando and the University of Central Florida?
Location, location, and location are often touted to be the three most important factors for success in the hospitality and tourism industry. On this point, Orlando is the premier tourist destination in the world. Nearly every major aspect of the hospitality industry can be found here. It is the destination for over 42 million visitors each year, and has over 120,000 hotel rooms, 4,000 restaurants, and 75 theme parks and attractions. Founded in 1963, the University of Central Florida (UCF) is a comprehensive metropolitan university with its main campus located in Orlando, Florida. UCF offers comprehensive teaching, research, and service programs that promote the economic development and quality of life in central Florida and the state. The University of Central Florida has a diverse student body of over 35,000 students, 1,100 full and part-time faculty, and over 110,000 alumni.

The Master's Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management:
Since the 20th century, economists have consistently ranked the hospitality and tourism industry as exerting a significant impact upon the worldwide economies. As a result of this consistent worldwide impact, the hospitality and tourism industry has continually required that candidates remain versed in advanced skills that pertain to running competitive, multifaceted, and global businesses. This is a charge that the University of Central Florida has embraced and incorporated into its Master's of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Master's Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Curriculum
The program of study has a common core of 27 credit hours (nine courses) and 12 credit hours of restricted electives (4 courses) for students electing the non-thesis option (a total of 39 credit hours). For those electing the thesis option, the program of study has a common core of 27 credit hours (nine courses), 6 credit hours of thesis research, and 3 credit hours (1 course) of restricted electives (a total of 36 credit hours). All courses, required and restricted electives will be offered by the Rosen College of Hospitality Management. A maximum of one three credit restricted elective may be taken as independent study.

Students can pursue either of two options: thesis or non-thesis. The common core is identical for both options.

Thesis Option
The thesis option is intended for students who are interested in the scientific study of the various aspects of the hospitality and tourism industry and who may anticipate pursuing a doctoral degree or a professional research position. The emphasis of the six-hour thesis option is on conducting and reporting research.

Non-Thesis Option
The non-thesis option is intended for students who are anticipating a leadership position in the hospitality and tourism industry. The emphasis of the non-thesis option is on coursework and practical experience. This option requires 12 credit hours (four courses) of restricted electives.

For industry professionals with an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than Hospitality Management or Business Administration, the following three undergraduate courses are required to be completed with a grade of B or better within the first year of coursework in the program:

For applicants with undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than Hospitality Management or Business Administration and no significant hospitality industry experience, the following five undergraduate courses are required to be completed with a grade of B or better within the first year of coursework in the program:

Admission is restricted each semester to individuals showing high promise of success in postgraduate studies. Admission criteria include academic achievement as an undergraduate (minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours attempted as an undergraduate student) and satisfactory performance (475) on the GMAT or GRE (1,000). The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required (minimum score of 220 - computer-based test) when an applicant is from a country where English is not the primary language or when an applicant's bachelor's degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution. Other indicators of promise include the applicant's extracurricular activities, work experience, job responsibilities, and leadership experience, which will be considered in making admissions decisions.

In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:

• A one to two pages essay concerning your career goals
  
• A current copy of resume
• Three letters of recommendation
• If you attended a college/university outside of the United States, a course-by-course evaluation is required. Transcript evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Admission to the master's program can be in the fall, spring, or summer term for domestic applicants. For international applicants, admission can be in the fall or spring only.

Deadlines
An applicant will not be considered for admission until an official score on the GMAT or GRE and TOEFL (if appropriate) has been received in addition to transcripts showing proof of the attainment of the bachelor's degree and transcripts from all colleges attended. A committee of the faculty, selected by the Dean, will make admissions decisions.

*Students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply for the fall semester by the Fall Priority date.

Program Costs
For a current look at tuition costs at the University of Central Florida: Current Tuition and Fees ( click here )

Request Application
To request an application form: UCF Graduate Online Application ( click here )

Information on Graduate Studies at UCF ( click here )

Financial Aid
To request financial aid information: Student Financial Assistance ( click here )

Contact, Master's Program
Dr. Paul Rompf
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
9907 Universal Blvd
Orlando, Florida 32819
Office: (407) 903-8027
Fax: (407) 903-8105
Email: prompf@mail.ucf.edu

University of Central Florida—Ph.D. track in Hospitality Education

Focus of Program
The choice of a doctoral program is a very personalized and long-range decision.

The Ph.D. in Hospitality Education at the University of Central Florida is designed for individuals with demonstrated intellectual competency and creditable experience in hospitality and tourism organizations and industry associations.

The primary focus of the Ph.D. in Hospitality Education is designed to prepare you for a research-based career as a leading hospitality/tourism educator or researcher. The program recognizes the full range of skills needed for significant contribution in the complex fields of hospitality and tourism organizations and education.

An Interdisciplinary Program
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program in Education with an emphasis in Hospitality and Tourism Management is a joint program offered by the College of Education and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. This interdisciplinary program is administered through the faculty of hospitality and tourism management, a unit of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

It is the intent of this Ph.D. in Hospitality Education is to be interdisciplinary, allowing flexibility for candidates who will work on research with faculty on hospitality and tourism related research. The program includes coursework, examinations, and the completion of a dissertation, which contributes to the body of knowledge in hospitality and tourism systems.

A Doctoral Program with a Research Emphasis
Research is required of all graduate students. The research topic depends upon the candidate’s interests, work experience, course of study, and research interests of faculty members. All graduate students are encouraged to select faculty members to serve on their advisory and research committee who have an academic research and experience record which is consistent with their program focus. The opportunities for research are excellent since the college has established relationships with hospitality and tourism enterprises on local, state, national, and international levels.

The Ph.D. in Hospitality Education will give you
The opportunity to develop:

• A record of publication in leading hospitality and tourism journals
• A record of presentation at professional venues
• A record of successful teaching
• Competency in your area of specialization
• Competency in research methodology skills
• A national reputation centering on a threaded research stream

Program Plan: Doctor of Philosophy in Education
Minimum Hours Required for Ph.D.—99 Credit Hours; for the Hospitality Education Track, 69 Credit Hours plus 30 credit hours from an approved Hospitality or related Master’s degree program.

• Previous master’s degree in related area (up to 30 credit hours). Examples of acceptable master’s degrees include hospitality, tourism, recreation, leisure, food science and nutrition, and business.
  Cognate or elective; approved by adviser (9 credit hours)
  
• HFT 7258 Strategies and Tactics: Lodging (3 credit hours)
  
• HFT 7546 Strategies and Tactics: Guest Service Management (3 credit hours)
  
• HFT 7715 Strategies and Tactics: Travel and Tourism (3 credit hours)
  
• HFT 7876 Strategies and Tactics: Foodservice (3 credit hours)

Dissertation—24 Credit Hours Minimum
Doctoral students must present a prospectus for the dissertation to the doctoral adviser, prepare a proposal and present to the dissertation committee, and defend the final research submission with the dissertation committee.

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management

• Establish in 1983 as the department of Hospitality Management and granted college status in 2000
  
• Located in the heart of Central Florida’s tourism corridor, adjacent to the Shingle Creek Golf Course and the soon to be constructed Shingle Creek Resort and Spa.
  
• The Rosen campus is composed of the following components:
  
  • A 150,000 of educational building
    
  • A 160,000 of state-of-the-art housing complex that will house 400 students who would live and study on the premises
    
  • Is known as a leading hospitality/tourism management program in the USA with over 1000 undergraduate majors, 100 master and doctoral degree seeking candidates.
    
  • Home of the Dick Pope, Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies.
    
  • Embodies leading hospitality and tourism graduate faculty that are internationally recognized as leaders within their profession areas

Admission Standards
Applicants must provide the following items for consideration:

• Evidence of a master’s degree in Hospitality or its equivalent discipline and competency in statistics
  
• GPA of 3.0 and GRE of 1000 or GMAT of 475
  
• Three letters of recommendation
  
• Goal statement
  
• Resume
  
• Transcripts from all previously attended institutions
  
• For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.
  

Contact Information, PhD Program
For information please contact Dr. Paul Rompf, Graduate program director, at the Rosen college of Hospitality Management @ (407) 903-8027 or email – prompf@mail.ucf.edu. Visit the college on-line at http://hospitality.ucf.edu or for application information, visit the University of Central Florida’s Office of Graduate Studies website at http://www.graduate.ucf.edu