An MBA in tourism and hospitality, taken online or in a classroom, often includes course work in marketing, facilities management, hotel and restaurant management and event planning. Many programs put students through a general MBA curriculum, with additional courses in tourism and hospitality that amount to a concentration.
Some MBA programs require prospective students to have completed an undergraduate degree. Many of the online programs admit students who have completed a minimum number of semesters of undergraduate work but have not taken a degree. Others require some prerequisite course work in hospitality and business. MBA admissions also takes work, military and other life experience into consideration when determining a prospective student's eligibility.
You should also expect to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and submit your scores to the program you choose.
Distance MBAs in tourism can be taken through traditional colleges and universities that offer special correspondence programs or through schools that exist primarily on the Internet. Columbia Southern University in Alabama and Schiller International University in Florida, for example, both offer their curricula in tourism entirely online. The University of Houston and East Carolina University offer both classroom and online programs.
According to the University of Houston, travel and hospitality is a $1.5 trillion industry. Advanced education in this industry, along with work and internship experience, can qualify students for upper-level employment in resorts, clubs, casinos, events planning firms, restaurants and, of course, hotels and travel companies.
Tuition for an MBA can vary somewhat, but it is always a significant investment. At traditional schools, for example, state and in-state tuition differs. The cost per credit hour for Eastern Carolina University's program, for example, is $272 for North Carolina residents, and $777 for others, as of 2010. Sometimes online universities are a bit cheaper. As of 2010, Columbia Southern University offers its MBAs at a cost of $260 per credit hour for all students, with a discount for active-duty military. According to MBA.com, an MBA, not including prerequisite courses or undergraduate requirements, takes between 45 and 60 credit hours to complete.
Selecting the right program for you will take some time. You'll want to consider the costs--tuition, any time off from work you will need, etc.--and find the one that meets your needs without dismantling your life.
Distance education is a convenient option for those already in the work force and looking for career enhancement. If you already work in the tourism industry and want to move into upper-management and work with greater responsibility, an online MBA fits the bill. However, according to MBA.com, if you are looking to change fields, you might consider a low-residency or traditional MBA program for tourism, as the networking possibilities in a classroom are extensive, something that could be lacking in a distance learning program.