Hospitality Business Management Master of Science Degree

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RIT’s hospitality management master’s degree develops business management leaders who successfully create and deliver world class experiences and services in hospitality and across all industries.

#4

Best Master’s in Hospitality Management in U.S.A., Ranked #19 Globally

Eduniversal, 2022

#8

Best Hospitality Management Master's Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

College Factual, 2023

#27

Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools in the World

CEOWORLD Magazine, 2023

Overview for Hospitality Business Management MS

Why Study RIT’s Hospitality Management Master’s Degree

  • STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
  • Complete the degree online or on campus.
  • Advance your career in lodging, events, food and beverage, cruise lines, convention and visitors bureaus, and travel technology.
  • Develop and deliver world-class experiences in hospitality, tourism, and any industry.
  • A cutting-edge curriculum at the forefront of industry trends in technology, analytics, customer experience, and sustainability.

RIT’s master’s in hospitality business management specializes in enhancing analytics and technology skills essential for leadership positions in the hospitality industry. A comprehensive curriculum empowers career changers and working professionals to excel in sales, marketing, revenue management, business strategy, customer experience design and management, sustainability, data analytics, as well as hotel real estate development and investment. This hospitality management master’s degree offers you a transformative experience that propels your career to new heights, granting your a competitive edge and unlocking exciting opportunities in the ever-evolving hospitality sector.

RIT’s Hospitality Management Master’s Degree: Study Online or On-Campus

Recognized by Forbes, Travel Weekly, Nation’s Restaurant News, and Corporate Travel magazines, RIT’s master’s in hospitality management enables you to build upon your previous course work and skills in management, hospitality, tourism, and retail with a focus in a range of areas, including accounting, business analytics,  entrepreneurship, finance, human resources, management, marketing, and supply chain management. This versatility unlocks abundant job opportunities, enabling you to pursue diverse career paths beyond the hospitality industry. The program is available online and on-campus.

This program is offered on-campus or online.

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The program director being interviewed about the program.

Department Chair Edwin Torres Areizaga discusses the Hospitality Business Management program

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Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

Business Development Customer Experience Director Director of Operations
Events Manager Executive Conference Manager Food and Beverage Manager
General Manager Group Sales Manager Guest Services Supervisor
Guest Relations Manager Hospitality Specialist/Consultant Hotel Asset Manager
Hotel/Travel/Food Columnist/Journalist/Blogger Sales and Event Manager Vacation Planner
Wine/Spirits Business Manager

Post-Graduation Salary and Career Info for Hospitality Business Management MS

Hospitality Business Management Careers

Graduates of RIT's master of science in hospitality business management are prepared for outstanding career opportunities in a range of positions within hospitality and across all industries. Our alumni are employed at diverse firms such as Amazon, D3, Hello!, Hyatt Regency, Marriott, and more. Our Hospitality Advisory Board helps students prepare for their careers by ensuring the curriculum is continuously updated to meet employers needs while providing networking and mentorship opportunities.

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Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Hospitality Business Management MS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

View Printable Curriculum

Hospitality Business Management, MS degree, typical course sequence

Course Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
HSPT-735
Hospitality and Tourism Customer Experience and Engagement
Creating memorable experience is a crucial differentiator for hospitality and tourism enterprises. Guided by the concepts of “hospitality” and “being hospitable”, this course introduces theories and methods that can be utilized during the service encounter to trigger optimal customer experiences through physical, social, and cultural interactions. This course addresses the co-creation of the experiences and value not only from hospitality and tourism service providers but also from the engagement of customers. The course puts an emphasis on the design of the customer journey, including theming, storytelling, and sensory, as well as unfolding customer experience in the phygital (physical and online) platform. Lecture 3 (Fall).
 3
HSPT-745
Advanced Lodging Operations
This course provides an overview of lodging operations from a variety of aspects. These include types of lodging operations and ownership (chain, franchise, leasing, and management contract), guest cycle and the establishment of organizational structures. Also covered are lodging revenue management from forecasting, pricing models, overbooking, interpreting financial statements, and the application of lodging technology to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the lodging operations. Lecture 3 (Fall).
 3
HSPT-755
Advanced Food and Beverage Business Management
 3
HSPT-760
Hospitality Asset Management
This course introduces students to the role and functions of a hospitality asset manager. This course provides students the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to apply real estate tactics and strategies to maximize asset performance. Students will learn the different analyses that lead to investment, branding, and operational decisions. Asset managers are responsible for capital investment decisions, negotiating hotel management contracts, and creating value for investors and brand owners. Students will learn how to balance the interests of investors, owners, and franchisors to create maximum value for each through appropriate operational and financial decisions. (Prerequisites: HSPT-730 and HSPT-745 and HSPT-755 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
 3
HSPT-780
Hospitality Analytics
This course introduces students to the application of data analytical methods and software in the analysis and management of hospitality operations. The hospitality industry is among the most data-intensive industries and this course prepares students to identify, collect, and analyze data in support of organizational decision-making. Students will learn the application of data analytics in improving industry revenues, optimizing and managing marketing programs, and in human capital management. (Prerequisites: HSPT-730 and HSPT-745 and HSPT-755 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
 3
HSPT-797
Capstone Project in Hospitality and Tourism
This course is practical, project-based approach to a more traditional master's thesis. Students in the course will design and develop a project which reflects a viable option for an existing or putative organization. After a review of essential project management and planning skills as well as financial skills, the student designs and develops the project with continual review and feedback from the supervising faculty. Project 3 (Spring, Summer).
 3
 
Graduate Level Business Courses*
 12
Total Semester Credit Hours
30

* Graduate Level Business Course will be approved by the program director.

Note for online students

The frequency of required and elective course offerings in the online program will vary, semester by semester, and will not always match the information presented here. Online students are advised to seek guidance from the listed program contact when developing their individual program course schedule.

Admissions and Financial Aid

This program is available on-campus or online.

On Campus

Offered Admit Term(s) Application Deadline STEM Designated
Full-time Fall Rolling Yes
Part-time Fall or Spring Rolling No

Online

Offered Admit Term(s) Application Deadline STEM Designated
Full-time Fall or Spring Rolling No
Part-time Fall or Spring Rolling No

Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Hospitality Business Management MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.

TOEFL IELTS PTE Academic
88 6.5 60

International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

How to Apply Start or Manage Your Application

Cost and Financial Aid

An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree.

A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree

Additional Information

Online Degree Information

This online program is designed to be done part-time, taking one or two classes per term. The program is 10 classes (or 30 credits) to completion. The average time to earn the degree is 2.5 to 3 years. The 6 core courses will be offered asynchronously. The 4 elective courses could be synchronous or asynchronous, depending on the student's choice. For specific details about the delivery format and learning experience, contact the Program Contact listed on this page. RIT does not offer student visas for online study.

Online Tuition Eligibility
The online Hospitality Business Management MS is a designated online degree program that is billed at a 43% discount from our on-campus rate. View the current online tuition rate.

Online Study Restrictions for Some International Students

Certain countries are subject to comprehensive embargoes under US Export Controls, which prohibit virtually ALL exports, imports, and other transactions without a license or other US Government authorization. Learners from the Crimea region of the Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria may not register for RIT online courses. Nor may individuals on the United States Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the United States Commerce Department’s table of Deny Orders. By registering for RIT online courses, you represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.

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Offered within
Saunders College of Business