WASHINGTON—Leveraging key industry connections in the nation’s capital and abroad, Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies (SCS) has launched a new Master’s in Hospitality Management program that is accepting students for the fall 2014 term.
With disciplines ranging from lodging and tourism to restaurant management and event planning, the hospitality industry has an optimistic growth outlook. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, leisure and hospitality employment has increased by 512,000 since June 2012.
“Our new master’s program builds on our strong portfolio of globally-focused professional studies programs, including degrees in sports management, real estate and urban planning, to educate well-rounded leaders who are prepared to solve the most complex issues of their respective industries,” says Walter Rankin, interim dean of Georgetown SCS. “Our new downtown campus’ proximity to hospitality, event and tourism businesses – including the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and Verizon Center – gives our students opportunities to make critical connections between the classroom and workplace. And our curriculum has been built to prepare students for international and local markets.”
The program’s curriculum allows students to focus on core competencies including running an operation, managing a staff and building a brand. It can be completed in two years of part-time evening classes.
Students with an interest in working overseas may take an elective with a weeklong residency in an emerging global market.
“Our new master’s program gives students first-hand experience with an international hospitality organization,” explains Christopher Metzler, senior associate dean of the program. “Travelling directly to an emerging market overseas, they get an insider’s perspective while building skills and connections they can carry into the future.”
The D.C. metropolitan region is home to world-class tourist destinations, heritage sites, and some of the world’s largest hospitality chains, including Marriott, Hilton, Urgo, and Choice Hotels.
