The master’s degree program is intended for persons interested in developing and/or improving their knowledge of recreation management, hospitality management or tourism management. It is designed for those seeking advancement in their career settings or a change in career settings. The selection of courses allows students to “specialize” in one of two specializations: (a) Recreational Sport Management/Recreation Management or (b) Tourism, Hospitality, and Travel Management.

The specialization in Recreational Sport Management/Recreation Management is designed to prepare graduate students for leadership roles in the recreational sport management industry. The program provides students the background in leadership for organizations that provide recreation and leisure services in a wide variety of venues. Career interest in managing campus recreational sport, outdoor adventure organizations, fitness clubs, and other recreational facilities and sport organizations fit well with this concentration. Taught by faculty with professional experience and academic expertise creates the right blend of theory and practice.

The specialization in Tourism, Hospitality, and Travel Management is designed to prepare graduate students for leadership roles in the global tourism travel and hospitality industry. The program provides students the background in tourism planning, sustainability, global tourism issues, cultural tourism and how these relate to the supporting travel and hospitality industries. The program provides leaders a combination of theory with practical applications for the diverse tourism field.

A. General Requirements for Admission to the Master’s Program

In addition to University requirements, the Department of Recreation and Tourism Management requires:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Studies or allied field. Students not so qualified remain eligible to apply and may be admitted, but must successfully complete approved foundation courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA in addition to their graduate coursework.
2. Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for all applicants with a GPA less than 3.0. Applicants may be conditionally admitted pending scores but must meet the GRE standard prior to enrollment.
3. Submission of the following, addressed to the department’s graduate coordinator:
   1. Two letters of recommendation.
   2. Statement of purpose discussing the applicant’s interests and goals as they relate to his or her selected specialization in the Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation Management.

New graduate students are accepted to begin in the Fall semester only.

B. Course Requirements

1. Required Core Courses (12 units)

RTM 540 Human Resources in Recreational Sport and Tourism (3)
RTM 550 Marketing and Promotions in Recreational Sport and Tourism (3)
RTM 684 Research Methods and Design (3)
RTM 693B Supervised Internship II (3)

2. Required Specialization Courses (12 units)

Select (a) Recreational Sport Management/Recreation Management or (b) Tourism, Hospitality, and Travel Management.

a. Recreational Sport Management/Recreation Management

RTM 520 Trends and Issues in Recreational Sport (3)
RTM 560 Facility Design in Recreational Sport (3)
RTM 600 Law, Risk Management and Ethics in Recreational Sport (3)
RTM 620 Effective Teams and Leaders in Tourism, Hospitality, and Recreation Organizations (3)

b. Tourism, Hospitality, and Travel Management

RTM 510 Trends and Issues in Hospitality and Tourism (3)
RTM 530 Cultural Aspects and Global Perspectives in Tourism (3)
RTM 580 Seminar in Tourism Planning: A Cultural and International Perspective (3)
RTM 610 Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism (3)

3. Additional Elective (3 units)

Select 3 units from graduate catalog listings according to career specialization and in consultation with an academic advisor.

4. Culminating Experience (3 units)

RTM 697 Directed Comprehensive Studies (3)
or RTM 698D Graduate Culminating Project (3)

Total Units Required for the M.S. Degree: 30