Hotel Administration M.S.

The 36-hour Master of Science in Hotel Administration degree program will prepare you for a successful career as an upper-level executive in the hospitality industry or as an instructor/researcher in a hospitality education program. You can choose from several tracks of study including food service management, hotel management, hospitality education, convention and meetings management or casino and gaming management.

Students will have the opportunity to conduct research on a subject that interests them by writing a thesis or a professional paper. This decision will be based upon the student’s goals and consultation with an academic advisor. Copies of the completed thesis must also meet the Graduate College guidelines and be completed according to published deadlines.

Admission Requirements

The student must satisfy the minimum admission requirements of the Graduate College and the Harrah Hotel College, including:

1. Submission of online completed application form and required admission fee.
2. Submission of two copies of official transcripts from all institutions attended after high school. One copy should be sent directly to the Graduate College and the other to the Harrah Hotel Graduate Studies Office.
3. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale, or 3.00 in the last two years of study.
4. A satisfactory composite score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (dept code 4208), minimum score 1150 or 50th percentile—with at least 35% on the verbal portion, or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) (dept code ZSC 3739), minimum score 550 – with at least 25% on the verbal portion. All scores must be sent directly from the testing center in the Harrah Hotel College Graduate Studies Office.
5. A minimum of one year of full-time work experience in a management/supervisory capacity in the hospitality industry, or three years of full-time, front-line experience.
6. A brief essay of approximately 500 words outlining the applicant’s career goals and how the applicant’s hospitality employment background has prepared him/her for graduate study.
7. Two letters of recommendation, one from a current or former employer and one from a college faculty member able to evaluate the applicant’s potential for success in a graduate program. If the applicant is no longer in touch with faculty members, letters from two employers will suffice.
8. A current resume with employer references. The resume should clearly indicate job titles, place and date of employment and specific job responsibilities.
9. International applicants: if English is not the applicant’s native language, and his/her baccalaureate degree was not from a school where English was the language of instruction, the applicant must complete one of the language tests listed below with the minimum score indicated or above: 

Unofficial scores may be submitted with the online application, but official scores must be sent directly from the testing center to the Graduate College to complete the application.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the general requirements established by the Graduate College, the candidate must meet the following Harrah Hotel College requirements:

1. Successfully complete a minimum of 36 graduate level credit hours, of which no less than 24 are in Hotel Administration. This allows for a variety of supplemental tracks including business, education, and foreign language. At least 27 credits must be at the 700-level.
2. Successfully complete supplemental courses as required by the academic advisor, if the student’s undergraduate preparation is insufficient. Generally, no more than six credits of supplementary courses will be required.
3. Required courses: