Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management M.S.

Concentration

A concentration is a subprogram in a major that is approved by the Graduate Council and may appear on the student transcript. Concentration options include:

• Tourism Concentration (8 credits)
• Natural Resource Recreation Concentration (9 credits)

Specialization

A specialization allows students maximum flexibility to choose prescribed coursework that relates to personal and career interests. Specializations do not appear on student transcripts. Specialization options include:

• Tourism Analytics Specialization (12 credits)
• Destination Development and Crisis Management Specialization (9 credits)
• Online Hospitality Business Management Specialization (12 credits)

Certificate

A Graduate Certificate program is a formal collection of courses that together form a coherent program of study offered through an academic unit. As such, all Graduate Certificates must follow the requirements of admission, successful completion of approved graduate level coursework, application to receive the credential and enrollment during the term in which the certificate is awarded and posted to the transcript.

Additional information can be obtained from the academic unit offering the certificate or by viewing the graduate catalog.

Common graduate certificates for THEM majors:

• Historic Preservation
• Tropical Conservation and Development
• Tourism and Hospitality Business Management

How to apply for a graduate certificate:

1. Review the certificate requirements and contact the department with any questions.
2. Obtain approval from your THEM graduate supervisory committee.
3. Apply for a certificate program through UF admissions, if you haven’t done so already.
4. Complete the certificate requirements.
5. During the term you are to graduate, submit an application to graduate from the desired certificate program.

Certificate Application Questions: certificates@admissions.ufl.edu

The Graduate Coordinator will assign the student to a graduate faculty advisor prior to his/her first semester of enrollment. The student has until the end of the first semester of enrollment to select a different supervisory committee chair if desired.

There must be a minimum of three supervisory committee members for thesis students and a minimum of two committee members for non-thesis master students (this includes the supervisory committee chair). Note that each member must hold graduate faculty status.

It is strongly recommended that the supervisory committee members be selected by the end of the first semester of enrollment. However, in no case shall they be selected later than the end of the second semester of enrollment.

If the student selects the thesis option, one supervisory committee member must be from outside the student’s major department. If the student selects a minor, one supervisory committee member must be from the minor department.

If the student desires to change his/her supervisory committee chair or members, he/she must petition to the department graduate committee, who makes a recommendation to the Department Chair for final approval.

Minimum Committee Member Requirement

• Non-Thesis: Chair + 1 Member
• Thesis: Chair + 1 Member + 1 External Member

The student and advisor select elective coursework based on the student’s career or research interests. Projects relating to interest areas can be completed as non-lecture coursework. Coursework taken outside of the THEM department must be approved by the student’s advisor.

Undergraduate courses (1000-2000) may not be used as any part of graduate degree requirements. All 1000- and 2000- level courses may be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis to enhance one’s background knowledge, if enrolled as a graduate student, but do not count towards the credits needed for an M.S. degree.

Six credits of upper-level undergraduate courses (3000-4000) outside the THEM department may count when taken as part of an approved graduate program. Consult your Academic Advisor/Committee Chair before registering to determine if the proposed course is acceptable to your degree plan. Enrollment without approval may result in the course being evaluated as inadequate to count towards the M.S. degree.

To register for independent study, internship, or supervised research courses, students must complete and submit a THEM Special Course Registration Form (PDF) or to their advisor for approval, and then to the Graduate Program Assistant for processing.

Practicum (LEI6944)

• Should be completed during final 2 semesters of study
• Every 48 clock hours = 1 credit hour of coursework
• Registration credits vary from 1-3 credits with a maximum of 6 credits
• The student’s supervisory committee chair/advisor will assist with the practicum placement and serve as the university practicum supervisor
• LEI 6944 (PDF)

Professional Paper (LEI6905)

• Should be completed during final 2 semesters of study
• THEM Special Course Registration Form (PDF)
• TRM Professional Paper Syllabus (PDF)

The purpose of the Capstone Project is threefold:

• Documents that the student is able to take newly acquired knowledge and skills and apply them to professional practice
• Helps the student understand their weaknesses and strengths when seeking employment
• Prepares the student in organizing information that will help them in seeking employment by effectively promoting themselves
• Should be completed during final semester of study

• The student develops a prospectus.
• The supervisory committee chair approves the prospectus.
• The student works with his/her advisor to select the additional supervisory committee members.
• The student writes the first three chapters (Introduction, Review of Literature and Methods) and presents the proposal in a public forum.
• The student completes and defends the thesis in a public forum.
• All forms must be completed and submitted per the university’s schedule.
  • Thesis Checklist (PDF)
  • THEM Grad Thesis Defense Packet (PDF)

Note: Students must defend their thesis during their last two semesters of study.

The Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management is able to develop a concurrent plan with several other programs on campus. The purpose of a “concurrent” program is to allow students to pursue more than one graduate degree at the same time, with the opportunity to share credits. We strongly prefer our concurrent degree students to take at least one or two THEM classes each semester or alternate semesters.

Any student interested in pursuing two master’s degrees in two different programs or two master’s degrees in the same program concurrently should discuss the proposed study with Graduate Student Records before applying. Written approval is needed from each academic unit and the Graduate School Dean.

The student must be officially admitted to both programs through regular procedures. No more than 9 credits from the first program may be applied toward the second.

Only graduate-level (5000-7999) work with a letter grade of B or better is eligible for transfer of credit. A maximum of 15 transfer credits are allowed. This total can include no more than 9 credits from institutions approved by UF, with the balance obtained from post-baccalaureate work at the University of Florida.

Credits transferred from other universities are applied toward the degree requirements, but grades earned are not computed in the student’s grade point average. Acceptance of transfer of credit requires approval of the student’s supervisory committee and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Petitions for transfer of credit for a master’s degree must be made during the student’s first term of enrollment in the Graduate School.

The supervisory committee is responsible for using established criteria to ensure the academic integrity of coursework before accepting graduate transfer credits.

Any student who will not register at UF for a period of more than one semester needs prior written approval from the supervisory committee chair for a leave of absence for a designated period of time. This approval remains in the student’s departmental file. The Graduate School does not require notification. The student must reapply for admission upon return.