Hospitality and Tourism Management

Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst offers students a comprehensive education designed to prepare them for dynamic careers in the global hospitality, tourism, and travel industries. This program combines rigorous academic coursework with practical industry experience, equipping students with the essential skills in management, marketing, operations, and customer service. Students will explore various facets of the hospitality sector, including hotel and resort management, event planning, food and beverage services, and sustainable tourism practices. The curriculum emphasizes leadership development, strategic decision-making, and analytical thinking to meet the challenges of a competitive and ever-changing marketplace. Through internships, industry partnerships, and real-world projects, students gain invaluable hands-on experience that enhances their employability upon graduation. The program is designed to foster critical thinking, cultural awareness, and innovative problem-solving approaches, preparing graduates to excel in diverse hospitality environments both nationally and internationally. Whether aiming to manage luxury hotels, innovative tourism ventures, or large-scale events, students will develop a versatile skill set tailored to the demands of this vibrant industry. With dedicated faculty who are experts in their fields, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong network of industry contacts, the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Hospitality and Tourism Management program offers an ideal pathway for aspiring professionals committed to shaping the future of hospitality and tourism worldwide.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 36 credits to fulfill the requirements for the master’s degree. The degree requirements are as follows:

1. Students must demonstrate competency in the following areas: 1) computer literacy (word processing, spread sheets), 2) marketing, 3) economics, 4) statistics, 5) accounting, 6) finance and 7) foundations in the hospitality industry. Students lacking a basic foundation in any of these areas must complete courses to remedy such deficiencies (0-21 credits).

2. Professional Foundation (3-6 cr) 
One or two background courses in HTM are required for students without prior coursework in the hospitality field.

3. Professional Core (18 cr)

• Every student is required to take the following six HTM courses:
• 644 Strategic Management in the Hospitality Industry
• 666 Human Resources Management in the Hospitality Industry
• 685 Hospitality Marketing Management
• 691 Seminar in Advanced Financial Analysis Management 
• 694 Seminar in Research Methods and Applications
• 697 Hospitality Industry Project (non-thesis)

4. Specialty Area (18 cr)
Students are required to choose a specialty area based on their individual needs. The specialty area consists of: two HTM courses, two SCH-MGMT courses, and a graduate-level course from any department (with approval from the Graduate Program Director).

5. Thesis Option (6 credits)
Students electing the thesis option may use thesis credits within the Specialty Area.

• A completed Application Form.
• A $75 application fee. This fee cannot be waived or deferred.
• International Student Sponsor Statement is required of all international students.
• One official transcript from all colleges/universities attended, undergraduate and graduate, where (nine) 9 or more credits were taken are required. If they are not mailed directly from the college/university, they should be enclosed in sealed envelopes signed by the college/university.  If the official transcripts and/or degree certificate(s) are not in English, notarized English language translations in duplicate must accompany them. Do not list colleges/universities where (eight) 8 or fewer credits were taken.
• Letters of recommendation (academic references) from two (2) professors or instructors who have taught you in courses in the field you are applying to here. After submission of the electronic application, we will send an email to each referee giving them instructions on how to electronically deliver the recommendation to the Graduate School. All recommendations will be considered confidential unless the applicant doesn't waive his/her right of access.
• Scores from the following standard examinations:
  • GRE (Graduate Record Examination)-General Test required by nearly all graduate programs - (refer to Degrees and Programs Offered)
  • GRE SUBJECT TEST (not a universal requirement-refer to the Programspage for those programs requiring a Subject Test)
  • GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test)-for graduate applicants to Management, Hospitality & Tourism Management, and Sport Management


  • English Language Test: Either TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or IELTS (International English Language Testing System)-only the academic version of test is accepted, or PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)

Scholarships

The University does not award student funding of any kind unless this is explicitly stated in writing by the graduate department to which the applicant has applied. Assistance in the form of a teaching or research assistantship is becoming increasingly limited. Tuition scholarships and fellowships are few and are not usually awarded during the first year of attendance, before the student has an academic performance record at the University itself. All applicants should plan on being self-financed, without recourse to part-time employment at the University, at least through the first academic year, unless they have specifically been offered some form of assistance by the department.

 Recommendations from the student's academic program play an important part in determining who will be awarded these waivers of tuition, and competition for the tuition scholarships is great. Those incoming graduate students who have not received any other type of financial assistance and who are interested in applying for a tuition waiver should contact their department directly. Applicants should be aware that the competition for new student tuition waivers is intense. Very few waivers are granted to new students and the few that are granted, are based only on departmental recommendations.

Graduate Assistantships


The University offers a number of teaching and research assistantships in the instructional and research programs of various departments. Stipends vary greatly from as little as $5,000 for a half assistantship to $16,000 for a full assistantship for the calendar year. International applicants who are awarded assistantships, and who have no supplemental means of support, must make sure that the assistantship is adequate to meet their minimum financial needs, refer to Estimate of Expenses. Graduate assistants are not required to pay tuition charges provided their stipend is $5,000 or higher ($ 2,500 is the minimum for a one semester waiver of tuition and most fees). Assistantships are awarded for a maximum of one academic year at a time. A graduate assistantship is not a scholarship, and a full assistantship requires a work contribution by the student averaging 20 hours per week, and Federal and State income taxes will be withheld from earnings.

Research Assistantships


A number of research assistantships, with no teaching duties, are available to qualified graduate students in various departments. Funds are provided by either private industry, the U.S. Government (especially in agriculture, engineering, and the sciences), or by the University itself.

Teaching Assistantships


Many departments offer teaching assistantships to qualified, enrolled graduate students. International applicants are eligible for these assistantships. Since teaching assistantships involve instruction, all incoming students who have been awarded a teaching assistantship and whose native language is not English must demonstrate oral English proficiency, either by passing the Test of Spoken English administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) before their arrival on campus at their own expense or by passing the SPEAK test upon arrival at no cost to the student. In order to pass the TSE or SPEAK test, students must score 50 or above.

University Fellowships


These Fellowships are awarded to graduate students on a very competitive basis and are intended to help superior students pursue graduate study without a work requirement and obtain a degree in the minimum possible time. They are normally awarded only after a graduate student has completed two semesters at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A University Fellowship is for only one year. A tuition waiver accompanies a University Fellowship, and no service is required.

The Hospitality and Tourism Management program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst offers a comprehensive education designed to prepare students for dynamic careers within the global hospitality and tourism industries. The program emphasizes a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, equipping students with the expertise needed to excel in various sectors such as hotel management, event planning, travel services, and leisure management. Students benefit from a curriculum that covers core areas including hospitality operations, tourism development, marketing, finance, and sustainable practices. The university provides state-of-the-art facilities, including dedicated hospitality labs and industry partnerships that facilitate internships, co-op experiences, and networking opportunities. Faculty members are experienced professionals and researchers who bring real-world insights into the classroom, fostering an environment of active learning and innovation. The program also encourages specialization through elective courses, allowing students to focus on areas like resort management, restaurant operations, or event planning. Additionally, students have access to student organizations, study-abroad programs, and industry conferences that enhance their professional development. Graduates of the program are well-prepared for leadership roles in hotels, resorts, travel companies, event management firms, and other sectors integral to the hospitality and tourism field. The university’s location and connections offer valuable opportunities for experiential learning and employment in the vibrant hospitality hubs of the Northeast and beyond.