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Graduate Program

The School of Travel Industry Management offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Science (MS) degree. The program is designed to develop a general understanding of the travel industry at both domestic and international levels and in-depth knowledge of a specialized aspect of the field that is appropriate to individual interests and goals. The general objectives of the program are as follow:

1. Provide advanced studies at the graduate level for persons with managerial/professional experience in the travel industry;
2. Increase the supply of personnel who have the capacity for decision-making on travel industry policy issues at the highest levels within the state, national, and international communities;
3. Promote and advance travel industry research in order to increase existing knowledge and understanding of travel industry trends and their impacts;
4. Support the quality development of the travel industry in Hawai'i and the Asia Pacific region through advanced studies, research, and training; and
5. Establish Hawai'i as a center of excellence in the international field of travel industry education and research beyond the baccalaureate level, thereby enhancing the reputation of both the University of Hawai'i and the state.

Areas of Specialization

Four areas of specialization are offered: tourism and travel; hotel, restaurant, and institutional management; transportation; and travel industry education.

Tourism and Travel is an emphasis intended for individuals who wish to focus on public and private aspects of the tourism industry, which may lead to careers in public policy, tourism planning and development, applied and theoretical research, marketing and promotion, consultancy, and other travel and tourism services.

Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management is an emphasis intended for individuals who wish to concentrate on managerial and operational aspects of hospitality with possible careers as executives, corporate officers, and entrepreneurs.

Transportation is an emphasis intended for those who wish to develop expertise in transportation management leading to careers as supervisors and managers in government, airlines, ground transportation, cruise industry, and transportation research and planning.

Travel Industry Education is an emphasis intended for individuals interested in becoming involved in tourism education and training, which may lead to careers as community college teachers, recreational directors and coordinators, curriculum specialists, and administrators for school systems.

Admission Requirements

The MS in travel industry management is designed for individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree in a travel-related, hospitality management or business field. Applicants with degrees in other fields will be required to complete appropriate prerequisites prior to admission to candidacy. These generally include microeconomics, financial and managerial accounting, management, marketing, statistics, and finance.

Minimum admission standards include a GPA of at least 3.0 in the baccalaureate work or in the last two years of undergraduate study. Applicants must attain a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and, where applicable, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 560.

Three letters of reference are required addressing the ability of the applicant to succeed in graduate study and to make future contributions to the travel industry. In addition, work experience, preferably at the supervisory or managerial level, is highly desirable.

Degree Requirements

The MS is a 36-credit program. Both Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis) options are available. Plan A and Plan B students must meet the following requirements: TIM 602, 603, 605, 691, 693, and 695, and a quantitative reasoning course at the 400- or 600-level that has been approved by the graduate chair.

Plan A (Thesis)
The following are additional requirements for Plan A only: (a) three specialization elective courses (9 credits) approved by the graduate chair; and (b) TIM 700 (6 credits).

Plan B (Non-thesis)
The following are additional requirements for Plan B only: (a) Four specialization elective courses (12 credits) approved by the graduate chair; and (b) TIM 699 (3 credits).

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