The Master of Science degree program in Travel Industry Management (MSTIM) is designed to provide a specialized education through coursework and research to master a broad and sophisticated set of interdisciplinary skills and knowledge. Students develop analytical abilities and the critical thinking skills necessary for careers in the travel and tourism industry. The master's degree is a broader preparation for graduates to take the first step into leadership roles. Given the program’s focus, students are expected to engage in understanding and execution of rigorous research activities which could also lead to further advanced education.
The program prepares students for advanced careers and leadership roles across the spectrum of the travel industry including tourism, hospitality, and transportation management as well as areas integrating the entire industry including information technology, finance, marketing, policy, and planning. Students may also explore specific topics of interest including sustainable tourism, eco-tourism, electronic commerce, social and cultural aspects of travel and tourism, among many others. The program and faculty also have a strong emphasis and expertise in travel and tourism in the Asia-pacific region. Students come from many countries with strong representation from Asia as well as North America and Hawaiʻi.
MSTIM Faculty Director
Kwanglim Seo, Ph.D.
kwanglim@hawaii.edu
(808) 956-4884
Admissions
Candidates for the MSTIM degree are required to satisfactorily complete 30 credit hours of graduate coursework. Each candidate may select either Plan A (thesis option) or Plan B (non-thesis option). Plan A provides an opportunity to develop a significant contribution to the growing body of travel industry research. This provides the opportunity for students to explore research in their individual area of interest. Candidates selecting Plan B to complete TIM 694 Professional paper and an additional 12 elective credits.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in travel-related, hospitality management, or business filed from an accredited US college or university or its equivalent from a recognized foreign institution of higher learning. Applicants with degrees in other fields are encouraged to apply.
- Minimum GPA of at least 3.0 in the baccalaureate work and in the last two years of undergraduate work.
- Two years of full-time work experience is preferred, but not required.
- Applicants are required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). (Note: the GMAT is waived for 2024.)
- Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 560 for the paper-based test, or 220 for the computer-based test, or 80 iBT score. IELTS test is also accepted. For the IELTS, the minimum score is 6.5. The TOEFL/IELTS requirement is waived only for applicants who have earned a bachelor's or advanced degree within the last 5 years from an accredited institution in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.
- Submit resume, statement of goals and objectives, and three (3) letters of recommendation addressing the ability of the applicant to succeed in graduate study and to make future contributions to the travel industry. At least one letter should be from a person familiar with the applicant’s academic work. Letters must be written in English and include the writer’s signature and contact information.
- Academic preparation: there are 3 courses necessary for candidacy. If the student did not take these 3 courses, the student will need to take them during the first academic year.
- Introduction to Statistics
- Introduction to Micro-Economics
- Introduction to Financial Accounting
For questions or more information:
- Kwanglim Seo, Ph.D.
- Director of the TIM MS Program
- kwanglim@hawaii.edu
- (808) 956-4884
- Marc Endrigat
- Director of MBA Admissions
- endrigat@hawaii.edu
- (808) 956-2911
Core Courses:
TIM 601 – Research Application in Hospitality, Tourism, and Transportation (3)
Analysis of methodologies appropriate for research in travel industry management. Survey of the literature of applied techniques and approaches including exploratory approaches. Familiarization with research design and implementation of development of research proposals. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
TIM 602 – Strategic Marketing in Hospitality, Tourism, and Transportation (3)
In-depth study of marketing principles and problems related to travel industry organizations. Emphasis on strategic marketing. Research applications, international and domestic marketing of travel industry services. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
TIM 603 – Information Technology, e-Commerce, and Travel Industry in Hospitality, Tourism, and Transportation (3)
Planning, implementation, management, evaluation, and impact of information and electronic communication technologies, including e-commerce applications in the travel industry. Analysis of new information technology use as an area of research and strategic application. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
TIM 605 – Hospitality Management (3)
Advanced human relations and operating issues; use of accounting, behavioral, financial, marketing, and informational systems in managing hospitality organizations. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
TIM 606 – Managerial Economics in Hospitality, Tourism, and Transportation (3)
Advanced study analysis of economics and management of passenger transportation systems serving the travel industry. Emphasis on topics such as government policy, transport economics, marketing and management, and the relationships between transportation systems and tourism development. Pre: graduate standing or consent
Elective Courses:
Graduate students can take courses numbered at the 400 level and 600 level or higher as electives. In addition to TIM courses, students may select appropriate courses from other departments on campus. Elective courses also can be used to earn graduate certificates in areas such as historic preservation, Pacific Islands studies, public administration, public policy, and urban & regional planning. On an exception basis, two 300-level courses may be used as elective courses with the approvals of both the graduate chair and course instructor, subject to the requirement of completion of a major research paper or equivalent work in addition to regular course requirements.
All elective credits must be approved by the graduate chair prior to registration to count toward the 36 total credit requirements for the degree.
(Click the tabs to chose between a list of TIM electives, and Other electives)
TIM 402 – Resort Mixed Use Development (3)
Critical and essential aspects of developing and managing resort mixed use facilities. Includes multidimensional and dynamic interrelationships of site development and facilities, business mix, management structures and systems, and industry practices. A-F only. Pre: 313 or 369 and 314. Recommended: 333 and 401. Fall only.
TIM 420 – Sustainable Tourism Policies and Practices (3)
Seminar examining the social, environmental, economic factors of sustainable tourism development. Emphasis on methods and processes and the role of stakeholders (government, industry, host community, tourists). Group projects. A-F only. Pre: 101 and departmental approval.
TIM 442 – Advanced Topics in Transportation (3)
Advanced level of discussion in terms of air transportation, including management, economics, strategy, regulation, operating performance, fleet management and network management. Pre: TIM 353 (undergraduate) or by consent (graduate).
TIM 500 – Master’s Plan B/C Studies (1)
Enrollment for degree completion. Pre: master’s Plan B or C candidate with consent.
TIM 607 – Global Tourism Analysis (3)
International trade theory and regional analysis methodologies applied to tourism and the service industry, including travel balance account, inter-regional transactions flow, economic impacts, environmental economics, demand theory and forecasting. A-F only. Pre: graduate standing or consent.
TIM 640 – Financial Management of the Travel Industry (3)
Applications of financial analysis to both the domestic and international travel industry.
TIM 645 – Tourism Field Studies (3)
Integration of concepts and application of knowledge and skills from other courses to s selected field study project. Pre: Any two TIM 600-level courses completed and a third concurrent; or consent.
TIM 694 – Professional Paper (3)
Independent project or paper under faculty supervision in lieu of Plan A, TIM 700 thesis. Requires proposal approved by supervisor and graduate chair prior to registration. A-F only. Pre: three 600 level TIM courses completed or consent.
TIM 695 – Seminar: Travel Industry Management Policy (3)
Integration of learning through analysis of policy issues, trends, and problems in the travel industry. A-F only. Pre: three 600-level TIM courses completed or consent.
TIM 699 – Directed Reading (V)
Independent study of approved, advanced reading with faculty supervision. Requires proposal prepared by student and approved by supervisor and graduate chair before registration. Repeatable one (1) time.
TIM 700 – Plan A Thesis (V)
Independent supervised research. Formal oral and written presentation of research findings. Repeatable up to six (6) credits.
Communications Department:
- COM 421 – Public Relations Strategies
- COM 422 – Public Relations Tactics
- COM 436 – Media Effects
- COM 634 – Social Media
Economics:
- ECON 420 – Mathematical Economics
Education Psychology:
- EDEP 601 – Introduction to Quantitative Methods
- EDEP 604 – Applied Regression and Analysis of Variance
Human Resources Management
- HRM 468 – Training and Development
Information Technology Management:
- ITM 660 – Current Topics in Information Systems
Law:
- LAW 509 – Contracts
Management:
- MGT 320 – Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship (For PAMI Certificate only)
- MGT 450 – Family Business
- MGT 645 – New Venture Management
- MGT 671 – International Strategic Management
- MGT 681 – Asia/Pacific Entrepreneurship
Marketing:
- MKT 411B – Imagination, Entrepreneurship and Business Problem Solving
- MKT 653 – International Marketing Management
- MKT 657 – Services Marketing
- MKT 658 – Marketing for the Information Age
Natural Resources and Environmental Mgt.:
- NREM 420 – Community and Natural Resource Management
- NREM 450 – Wildlife Ecology and Management
- NREM 477 – Geographic Information Systems for Resource Managers
Ocean & Earth Science & Tech:
- OEST 422 Environmental Management Systems (OEST 442/PLAN 442/TIM 462 cross listed)
Sociology:
- SOC 478 – Analysis in Field Research Methods
- SOC 607 – Seminar in Methods of Content Analysis
- SOC 608 – Survey Research Design and Analysis
- SOC 609 – Seminar Qualitative Research
Urban and Regional Planning:
- PLAN 473 – GIS for Community Planning
- PLAN 632 – Planning in Hawaii and Pacific Islands
- PLAN 647 – Urban and Regional Planning for Sustainability
TIM MS Program Specific Requirements
- Three letters of recommendation addressing the ability of the applicant to succeed in graduate study as well as to make future contributions to the travel industry. At least one letter should be from a person familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
- Two years of work experience or equivalent is preferred but not required.
- GMAT waived for 2024 applicants (subject to change).
The following should be sent directly to our school:
- One copy of your resume including academic and professional background
- Three letters of recommendation in English
- Applicant’s statement of goals and objectives
Send your letters of recommendation, resume, and your statement of goals and objectives to:
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Office of Graduate Student Services
2404 Maile Way
BusAd G-202
Honolulu, HI 96822
Consideration of admission to the MS/TIM program will start after the receipt of all application materials.
Academic Preparation
Our students come from diverse academic backgrounds which contribute to a rich and stimulating classroom environment. There are, however, certain subjects that entering students must be familiar with in order to work from a common knowledge base in our courses. These subjects are: 1) introductory economics, 2) introductory financial and managerial accounting, and 3) introductory statistics. While these subjects are NOT REQUIRED for admission, feel free to contact us if you have questions about your preparation in these areas and your options for meeting this guideline.
December 1, 2023 (for Spring 2024)
May 1, 2024 (for Fall 2024)
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