The Hospitality Management master's program prepares students wishing to advance and to excel in leadership/executive positions in the hospitality, tourism, and sport industries. A thesis option within this program will prepare students who wish to extend their education by providing a robust research foundation to be successful in a doctoral program in Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Sport and Entertainment Management, Business Management, and Law. The Sport Hospitality concentration prepares students for success in a wide variety of sport, hospitality, entertainment, and tourism careers along with the opportunity to meet and interact with experienced industry professionals. The hospitality, tourism, and sport industries touch the lives of all citizens and provide economic and social benefits to the State of Alabama and the United States.
Admissions
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose (Include in the Header: Hospitality Management). Students should also include in their statement why they have chosen this area of study and how it will apply to their personal and/or professional goals.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
| Thesis Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HES 509 | Research Methods | 3 |
| HSM 521 | Hosp. Law and Risk Mgt. | 3 |
| HSM 570 | Leadership Hospitality & Sport | 3 |
| HSM 575 | Sport & Hosp Financial Mgt | 3 |
| HSM 576 | Strategic Mgt in Hosp. Tourism | 3 |
| HSM 580 | Consumer Behav Hosp & Tourism | 3 |
| HSM 596 | Seminar Hospitality Management | 3 |
| HSM 599 | Thesis Research | 6 |
| Select 1 course from the approved electives list to complete the 30 credit hour requirement. | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| Non-Thesis Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HES 509 | Research Methods | 3 |
| HSM 521 | Hosp. Law and Risk Mgt. | 3 |
| HSM 570 | Leadership Hospitality & Sport | 3 |
| HSM 575 | Sport & Hosp Financial Mgt | 3 |
| HSM 576 | Strategic Mgt in Hosp. Tourism | 3 |
| HSM 580 | Consumer Behav Hosp & Tourism | 3 |
| HSM 596 | Seminar Hospitality Management | 3 |
| Select from the list of approved electives to reach the 30 credit hour requirement. | 9 | |
| Comprehensive Exam | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| Approved Electives | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HSM 500 | Sport Mgt Principles & Pract. | 3 |
| HSM 551 | Sport Properties Venue Mgt | 3 |
| HSM 552 | Sport Bus. Mgt. Trends/Issues | 3 |
| HSM 555 | Sports Sales & Entrepreneurs | 3 |
| HSM 559 | International Strat in Sport | 3 |
| HSM 561 | Mktg. Sales & PR in Sport | 3 |
| HSM 592 | Special Topics in Hospitality | 1 to 6 |
| CSM 515 | Customer Service Management | 3 |
| CSM 525 | Conflict Resolution Workplace | 3 |
| Any 500 level course may be submitted to your advisor for consideration. | ||
Sport Hospitality Concentration
Curricular Requirements
| Thesis Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HES 509 | Research Methods | 3 |
| HSM 500 | Sport Mgt Principles & Pract. | 3 |
| HSM 521 | Hosp. Law and Risk Mgt. | 3 |
| HSM 551 | Sport Properties Venue Mgt | 3 |
| HSM 555 | Sports Sales & Entrepreneurs | 3 |
| HSM 559 | International Strat in Sport | 3 |
| HSM 561 | Mktg. Sales & PR in Sport | 3 |
| HSM 575 | Sport & Hosp Financial Mgt | 3 |
| HSM 599 | Thesis Research (3 credit hours for 2 semesters) | 6 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| Non-Thesis Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HSM 521 | Hosp. Law and Risk Mgt. | 3 |
| HSM 551 | Sport Properties Venue Mgt | 3 |
| HSM 555 | Sports Sales & Entrepreneurs | 3 |
| HSM 559 | International Strat in Sport | 3 |
| HSM 561 | Mktg. Sales & PR in Sport | 3 |
| HSM 575 | Sport & Hosp Financial Mgt | 3 |
| HES 509 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Choose 3 courses from the list of approved electives | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| Approved Electives | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HSM 500 | Sport Mgt Principles & Pract. | 3 |
| HSM 560 | Fellowship in Sport Mgt. | 3 |
| HSM 552 | Sport Bus. Mgt. Trends/Issues | 3 |
| HSM 570 | Leadership Hospitality & Sport | 3 |
| HSM 576 | Strategic Mgt in Hosp. Tourism | 3 |
| HSM 580 | Consumer Behav Hosp & Tourism | 3 |
| HSM 592 | Special Topics in Hospitality | 3 |
| HSM 596 | Seminar Hospitality Management | 3 |
Transfer Credit
Courses completed at other postsecondary institutions and accepted for UA graduate credit are given a grade of “P” and are not calculated in the overall graduate GPA.
Graduate School information on Transfer Credit.
Accelerated Master’s Program Information
The Hospitality Management program has an approved AMP program through the Graduate School. Please refer to the official information on the Graduate School's website. If you are interested in the AMP program, please schedule a meeting with the program director.
Graduate School information on the Accelerated Master's Program.
Comprehensive Examination/ Capstone Project
All students must complete either a comprehensive exam or a capstone project (thesis or non-thesis project) to meet the graduation requirements. Students need to contact their graduate advisor and convey their decision regarding which option by the end of the second semester. Students selecting the thesis track need to contact their advisor during the first semester taking courses.
Comprehensive Examination
Students who choose the non-thesis Hospitality Management option will be required to take a comprehensive exam or complete a Capstone Project (see below). At the beginning of the final semester, you will receive an email from the Comprehensive Exam Coordinator with specific information about the exam along with important dates. You are required to confirm your graduation intent with the Comprehensive Exam Coordinator or your advisor within 2 weeks of the final semester. Upon confirmation, the student will be added to a Blackboard course where detailed exam information can be found along with the comprehensive exam guidelines. Students are required to take the comprehensive exam the last semester taking courses. The comprehensive exam is an essay exam that integrates prior learning. Students are provided with three questions and have 1 week to complete the exam.
Evaluation: Two HM graduate faculty members will independently answer to each exam question using a blind evaluation process. Each question will be scored as either pass, marginally pass, or fail. If a student fails any or all of the questions, they may retake the exam once during the current semester. If the student chooses to take the exam the following semester, the student must register for another graduate course.
Notification of Passing/Failing: Students will be emailed the results of the examination within 2 weeks after the exam period.
Capstone Special Project
Students not completing a thesis or comprehensive exam must complete a special project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. This project will allow students to work with an industry professional on a topic or issue where the results will benefit the hospitality organization. Students must gain approval to complete the Capstone Special Project.
Plan I- Thesis Process Requirements
Student interested in a thesis option should contact their advisor by the end of the first semester of graduate studies. Students completing a thesis will need to sign up for a total of six hours of HSM 599. These hours can count toward the required 18 hours in RHM designated courses needed for the degree. To complete the thesis option, students will need to:
- select a designated mentor (Chair) from the UA Hospitality/Sport faculty who is willing to serve as your chair
- select a thesis committee of at least three members including their mentor
- write a proposal that includes an extensive review of the literature and proposed methods that will be used in the study
- receive approval of the proposal from the designated mentor
- seek guidance from committee members prior to collecting data
- formally propose the research plan to the committee and respond to feedback
- receive IRB approval for the project in their own institution and UA
- collect data
- analyze data
- interpret the data and write up the results
- discuss implications of the study
- seek final approval from committee members and formally present the research to the committee members and other faculty
- and electronically publish the thesis according to The University of Alabama’s guide guide for “Electronic Theses and Dissertations.”
Students completing a thesis should ensure that they can meet the Graduate School’s deadlines for students.
Plan II- Non-Thesis Process Requirements
Students must complete 30 credit hours of coursework and successfully pass a comprehensive exam or complete a Capstone Project. Sport Hospitality students must schedule an appointment with their advisor to begin discussing their Capstone Project during their first semester in graduate school. Hospitality Management students must schedule an appointment with their advisor the first semester in graduate school to confirm the non-thesis option. Students must also contact their advisor the semester prior to the last semester to schedule the comprehensive exam.
Time Limits for Degree Completion
Graduate School information on Time Limits for Degree Completion.
Academic Misconduct
Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence
Under compelling circumstances beyond the student’s control, a graduate student may request that the department petition the Graduate School with the rationale for granting a leave of absence. If granted by the Graduate School, a leave of absence will cover one or more upcoming semesters rather than any prior semester(s). A leave of absence is not a method of avoiding continuous registration requirements, and it does not lengthen the time limit. When a student returns from a leave of absence, the Graduate School must be notified and will work with the department and student to determine the number of semesters remaining on the time limit and the degree requirements that remain.
Graduate School information on Withdrawals and Leaves of Absence.
Academic Grievances Information
Graduate School information on Academic Grievances.
Grades and Academic Standing
Graduate School information on Grades and Academic Standing.
Graduate School Deadlines Information
Information on Graduate School Deadlines.
Application for Graduation Information
Graduate School information on the Application for Graduation.
Overview
Graduate assistantships at the University of Alabama may be available to students. For an overview of information regarding eligibility criteria, class hour requirements, and Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) levels for holding an assistantship, see the Graduate School catalog under Assistantships: Admission Status, Class Hours, and FTE Level.
Acquisition of Financial Support
Faculty vote to admit a limited number of students based on the availability of positions within the department. Unconditionally admitted full-time graduate students may seek and receive financial assistance in the form of a graduate assistantship. Graduate assistantships are highly competitive and being admitted into the graduate program does not in any way guarantee an assistantship award. Accepted students may receive up to three years (fall and spring) of funding if requirements are met (see below). When a student is admitted to the program with financial support, the stipend level is specified, but the source of the financial support may vary from semester to semester. In general, the majority of MS students within this program do not receive departmental financial support.
Types of Financial Support
Financial support for graduate students may include teaching assistantships, research assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, or combinations of these sources.
Graduate Research Assistant. Faculty members with awarded, external research funding may be able to support a graduate research assistant (GRA) for one or more semesters. Benefits associated with external research funding are determined by the funder and budget allocations within the grant.
Graduate Teaching Assistant. Alternatively, the Department offers a limited number of graduate teaching assistantships (GTA) available that may be used to financially support students. The responsibilities of these assistantships can vary based on departmental needs, such as serving as an instructor of record, lab instructor, or grader.
Fellowship Nominations: Additional support is available in the form of fellowships, available from the University and other funding agencies. Eligible students may be nominated by the Department for UA fellowships. Nominees are selected by departmental faculty based upon prospective nominee research productivity, academic performance, and contributions to the Department or field. Fellowship recipients are guaranteed paid tuition and fees, a stipend, and benefits at least commensurate with those provided through GRA or GTA support.
Performance Expectations for Continuing Financial Support:
The student must be in good academic standing in their designated program.
The student must complete all mandatory annual training and abide by all rules and policies held by The University of Alabama, The UA College of Human Environmental Sciences, UA Environmental Health and Safety, and the Department of Human Nutrition, Hospitality and Sport Management.
Graduate teaching assistants must adequately perform all duties assigned to them in a timely manner as defined by the instructor of record or their designee for all courses to which the student is assigned teaching, grading, and/or laboratory preparative responsibilities.
Conditions for Termination of Financial Support:
Students who meet one or more of the following criteria will be subject to termination of financial support pending Department administrative review. Depending upon the severity of the infraction or the extent of non-compliance, the Department Chair and Graduate Director, with input from the Graduate Committee, may recommend immediate termination of financial support, termination of financial support at the end of the current semester, or termination of financial support (partial or full) at the end of the following semester.
Dereliction of duty. Dereliction of duty includes but is not limited to: failure to comply with all UA safety and interpersonal conduct policies; absence from scheduled obligations without prior notification to the instructor of record or designee and/or the research advisor; failure to satisfactorily complete all activities associated with the funded position as defined by the instructor of record or designee and/or by the research advisor and the student’s departmental memorandum of appointment; or failure when publishing to adhere to the ethical principles in publishing. For more information, review the University’s Policy on Academic Misconduct in Scholarly Activities (Appendix F).
Loss of good academic standing. Students not in good academic standing have one probationary academic semester after notification of their change in academic status to return to good academic standing—with the non-passing grade exception noted below. Financial support may be terminated if good academic standing is not restored by the end of the probationary academic semester. Students who earn more than two grades of ‘C’ or at least one grade of ‘D’ or ‘F’ in graduate courses will have a compulsory academic performance review by the Graduate Committee. This review will determine whether the student should continue to receive financial support and/or be dismissed from the program at the end of the semester in which the non-passing grade is earned or at the end of the following semester. A decision will be rendered within two weeks after the end of the semester in which a third ‘C’ and/or a ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade is reported.
The Department is not obligated to provide funding for students terminated from their positions. It should be noted that a loss in funding does not equal dismissal from a program, for students in good academic standing and who have not been found to have committed misconduct worthy of dismissal.