Master of Science in Hospitality Management
About the Program
Master of Science: 45.0 quarter credits
This two-year online master’s program provides a solid education in management, travel and tourism and allows students to choose concentrations in global tourism or gaming and casino management. Career paths include senior management of hotels and resorts, convention services, strategic development for online distribution of travel services, real-estate development projects and business ownership.
Both at the national and international level, travel and hospitality have become primary industries that require increasing numbers of professionals at all skill levels. Additional educational opportunities at the graduate level will be required to fill the needs of the tourism industry. Top professionals with an MS degree have excellent prospects at home and in the global marketplace.
Drexel University has a professional and technological emphasis as well as a track record of supporting the relationship between academics and industry. The Master of Science degree in Hospitality Management is designed to prepare graduates to be key decision makers in the hospitality industry.
This two-year online master’s degree will include courses such as program planning and creativity as well as specialized preparation in a concentration of either Tourism or Gaming and Casino Management.
For additional information, visit the College's Master of Science in Hospitality Management page.
Admission Requirements
Classes start in the Fall and Spring terms. Applications are submitted throughout the year. Admission requirements include:
- a completed application form
- a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (graduate degree GPAs will be considered along with the undergraduate GPA)
- official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended.
Applicants must supply transcripts regardless of the number of credits earned or the type of school attended. If an applicant does not list all post-secondary institutions on the application and these are listed on transcripts received from other institutions, processing of the application will be delayed until the remaining transcripts have been submitted. - two letters of recommendation
- a personal essay
- a resume
- International students must submit a TOEFL score of 550 or higher. For more information regarding international applicant requirements, view the International Students Admissions Information page.
Visit the Graduate Admissions website for more information about requirements and deadlines, as well as instructions for applying online.
Or, for additional questions, contact the MS in Hospitality Management program advisor: Ruth Lee, 215-895-2836.
Degree Requirements
45.0 quarter credits
The Master of Science in Hospitality Management requires completion of 45.0 credit hours (quarter) of study. The curriculum includes a core of 11 required courses (33.0 credits), including a research course where students consult with a faculty advisor to identify a suitable problem area in hospitality management and develop and carry out appropriate methodology to address the problem. In addition students take 12.0 credits in a concentration, either Global Tourism or Gaming and Casino Management.
| Goodwin College of Professional Studies Core Courses | ||
| CRTV 501 | Foundations in Creativity | 3.0 |
| PROJ 501 | Introduction to Project Management | 3.0 |
| PRST 503 | Ethics for Professionals | 3.0 |
| PRST 504 | Research Methods & Statistics | 3.0 |
| Hospitality Management Required Courses | ||
| HRM 501 | Foundations of the Hospitality Industry | 3.0 |
| HRM 505 | Customer Service for Professionals | 3.0 |
| HRM 520 | Hospitality Management Information Systems | 3.0 |
| HRM 555 | Hospitality Human Resource Management | 3.0 |
| HRM 650 | Strategic Management & Leadership in Hospitality | 3.0 |
| HRM 997 | Research Project in Hospitality Management | 3.0 |
| Concentrations | 12.0 | |
| Students select a concentration in either Global Tourism or Gaming and Casino Management | ||
| Global Tourism | ||
| Select four of the following: | ||
| Destination and Resort Management | ||
| Economics of Tourism | ||
| The Global Tourism System | ||
| Tourism and Sustainability | ||
| Tourism Development | ||
| Tourism Marketing and Branding | ||
| Gaming and Casino Management | ||
| Select four of the following: | ||
| Destination and Resort Management | ||
| Gaming Information Systems | ||
| Current Issues in Gaming | ||
| Casino Financial Analysis | ||
| Security and Risk Management | ||
| Tribal Gaming Management | ||
| Casino Marketing | ||
| Total Credits | 42.0 | |
Facilities
The major facility of the Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts and Food Science programs is located on the sixth floor of the Academic Building. It is a 6,500 square foot space that includes three state-of-the-art commercial kitchens and laboratories, as well as the Academic Bistro, the student-run restaurant, bar and lounge. The facility also includes a conference room and the Les Dames d'Escoffier Library, which currently holds over 1,200 publications.
Philadelphia Location
A unique feature of the Hospitality Management program at Drexel is that it is located in Philadelphia, with close proximity to New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, as well as the resort centers on the Atlantic seacoast and in the Pocono Mountains. These regions include hundreds of hotels, restaurants, resorts, and casinos that are used for field trips and campus visits by hospitality resource professionals. Students also gain hands-on experience through faculty-directed field trips throughout the region.
Courses
HRM 501 Foundations of the Hospitality Industry 3.0 Credits
This is a gateway course to provide students of various backgrounds the information and conceptual tools needed to grasp the fundamentals of the global hospitality industry as understood in its widest sense. Students will become familiar with the production and distribution of hospitality products. Trends in the industry will also be discussed.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
HRM 505 Customer Service for Professionals 3.0 Credits
This course covers the principles of managing in a service environment with an emphasis on procedures and results that are necessary for all service organizations. Analysis, planning, and problem solving strategies will be examined to empower successful customer oriented employees along with consideration of factors that influence customer service organizations.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 515 Destination and Resort Management 3.0 Credits
A study of destination and resort management from a global perspective including strategic planning and competitive analysis of domestic and international resort destinations. Students will study the various aspects of resort management in the context of high levels strategic planning that includes market research, market positioning, feasibility studies, and revenue forecasting for resort destinations.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 520 Hospitality Management Information Systems 3.0 Credits
Covers the use of technology and computer information systems in the hospitality industry. The course emphasizes high level strategic planning for leveraging technology and information systems to gain competitive advantages and improve a business¿s position in the marketplace. Includes structured decision making in the acquisition and implementation of technology including feasibility analysis and financial forecasting.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 555 Hospitality Human Resource Management 3.0 Credits
This course will study the human resource function from a strategic and developmental standpoint within a variety of hospitality and tourism contexts.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 572 Gaming Information Systems 3.0 Credits
Covers the use of technology and computer information systems in the casino industry. The course emphasizes high level strategic planning for leveraging technology and information systems to gain competitive advantage and improve a casino¿s position in the marketplace. Includes structured decision making in the acquisition and implementation of technology including feasibility analysis and financial forecasting.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 520 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 575 Current Issues in Gaming 3.0 Credits
This course will examine current issues in the casino and gaming industry. An in-depth examination of trends, policies, and impacts on gaming operations with an emphasis on casino operations will be potential topics for discussion.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 595 Economics of Tourism 3.0 Credits
This course explores the economic issues that influence the tourism industry and examines the sociological dynamics shaping the tourism environment.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 610 The Global Tourism System 3.0 Credits
An in-depth investigation of the components of the global tourism system to provide the conceptual framework for students to understand the economic dynamics of tourism. The course will familiarize students with the major areas of production and distribution of hospitality products. Future trends in tourism will be examined.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 612 Tourism and Sustainability 3.0 Credits
Students in this course will examine limits to mass tourism and alternatives such as ecotourism, community-based-tourism pro-poor tourism, and their contributions to sustainable world development. Other topics include how environmental changes affect tourism and how tourism affects the environment and the role of tourism in economic development.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 614 Tourism Development 3.0 Credits
This course will provide an in-depth evaluation of the major issues in travel and hospitality development. It will review the relationships among development and tourism development, differences between attractions and products, defining target markets, elaborating development plans, destination management, and measuring success.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 616 Tourism Marketing and Branding 3.0 Credits
This course will cover the major issues related to the marketing of travel and tourism products according to the specific nature of the travel and tourism industry. The course will include strategic marketing, travel market analysis, and the major tools available for creating successful marketing and branding of travel and tourism products.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 650 Strategic Management & Leadership in Hospitality 3.0 Credits
This course covers the concepts of strategic management in the hospitality business environment and the role of strategic leadership practices. Strategic decision making principles will be examined to create competitive advantages for hospitality industry leaders and organizations.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C] and PRST 503 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 670 Casino Financial Analysis 3.0 Credits
This course covers the unique aspects of analyzing the financial results of casino programs and product offerings including marketing promotion analysis, special even manifest analysis, player development, executive profit and loss, table game mix, and slot floor product and position analysis. Volume forecast methods will also be studied.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 520 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 672 Security and Risk Management 3.0 Credits
This course covers strategic issues in casino security including high-level planning and risk analysis. Students will complete an in-depth case study analysis of court cases in the casino and hospitality industry that can potentially have a significant impact on capital expenditures and operating strategies. Students will learn to analyze risk and make effective strategic decisions regarding loss prevention.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 572 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 674 Tribal Gaming Management 3.0 Credits
This course explores the topics of gaming, casino management, sovereignty, and other public policy issues. In addition, tribal casino management will be emphasized to examine the unique operational and developmental aspects of this type of gaming.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 676 Casino Marketing 3.0 Credits
This course covers the unique aspects of casino marketing including player loyalty programs, promotional strategies, customer relationship marketing, branding, database marketing, player development and junket programs. The course is taught from a global perspective with an emphasis on strategy and positioning in the marketplace.
Repeat Status: Not repeatable for credit
Prerequisites: HRM 505 [Min Grade: C]
HRM 680 Special Topics in Hospitality Management 1.0-12.0 Credit
Covers special topics of interest in hospitality management. This course may be repeated.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 4 times for 12 credits
HRM 898 Independent Study in Hospitality Management 1.0-12.0 Credit
Provides individual study or research in hospitality management under faculty supervision. This course may be repeated for credit.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 4 times for 12 credits
HRM 997 Research Project in Hospitality Management 1.0-12.0 Credit
Students consult with a faculty advisor to identify a suitable problem area in hospitality management and develop and carry our appropriate methodology to address the problem. This course may be repeated for credit.
Repeat Status: Can be repeated 4 times for 12 credits
Prerequisites: HRM 501 [Min Grade: C] and PRST 504 [Min Grade: C]
