Recreation and Tourism Management

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. The program is designed for those seeking advancement in their career settings or a change in career settings. The selection of courses allows students to pursue one of three options: (a) Recreational Sport Management/Recreation Management, (b) Tourism Management or (c) Hospitality Management.

The option in Hospitality Management is designed to prepare graduate students for leadership roles in the global hospitality industry. The comprehensive program develops leadership effectiveness for hospitality sectors such as food and beverage and accommodations. Leadership and team building for organizational effectiveness as well as response to crisis events is part of the program. The program provides leaders with a combination of theory and practical applications for the diverse issues in the hospitality 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 they must successfully complete approved foundation courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA in addition to their graduate coursework.
2. 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 the selected option in the Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality, and Recreation Management.

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

B. Advancement to Classified Status

Applicants may be admitted as a classified graduate or conditionally classified graduate. Those admitted as a conditionally classified graduate must be advanced to classified status prior to the completion of 12 units of graduate coursework. Advancement to classified graduate status in the program requires:

1. Completion of any required foundation courses with a grade of “B” or higher.
2. Passing score (8 or above) on the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam.
3. A score at or above the 50th percentile on at least one of the three sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for students admitted to the program with a GPA below 3.0.

C. Degree Requirements

Students pursuing the M.S. degree must maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) average in the formal program and the cumulative grade point average. No grade below a “C” can be counted in the formal program. Any grade of “C-” or below in the formal program must be repeated after an approved course repeat form has been filed. If the student does not receive a “C” or better on the second attempt, the student will be disqualified from the program.

D. Course Requirements

1. Required Core Courses (15 units)

RTM 510 Trends and Issues in Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation (3)
RTM 540 Human Resources in Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation (3)
RTM 550 Marketing and Promotion in Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation (3)
RTM 660 Crisis Management for Tourism, Hospitality, or Recreation Organizations (3)
RTM 684 Research Methods and Design (3)

2. Hospitality Management Option (12 units)

Required Course (3 units)

ACCT 505 Financial and Managerial Accounting in Industry (3)

Electives (9 units)

Select from the following with approval from an advisor or culminating experience chair:

RTM 614 Advanced Food and Beverage Management (3)
RTM 620 Effective Teams and Leaders in Tourism, Hospitality, and Recreation Organizations (3)
RTM 634 Contemporary Issues in Accommodations Management (3)

3. 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

For more information about this program, please contact rtmgradprog@csun.edu.