Master of Science Hospitality Management: Mega Events Specialization

Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management has been distinguished as one of the top hospitality programs in the United States. Online students reap the benefits of education from FIU, which sits in one of the most strategic locations for any hospitality management school. South Florida is a global epicenter for the hospitality and tourism industries and is recognized as the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. The Chaplin School is also in close proximity to mega theme parks in Orlando and Tampa. Top hotel brands, restaurants, airlines, spas, clubs, golf destinations and cruise lines call Miami their home. In fact, Miami is known as the cruise ship capital of the world.

Partnerships
The Chaplin School, in partnership with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, supports the annual production of the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capitol One (SOBEWFF®). The event, which is the largest of its kind in the U.S., generates experiential learning opportunities for as many as 1,200 FIU students each year. Additionally, the Chaplin School has developed many other long-standing relationships with major global hospitality and tourism corporations such as Sandals Resorts, Carnival Corporation & PLC (funder of the Carnival Gold Scholars and the Carnival Student Center on our BBC campus) and Marriott International (namesake for the school’s Marriott Tianjin China Program). The school also has partnerships with some well-known names like the Fontainebleau Miami Beach which hosts the world renowned nightclub, LIV® and food and beverage producers such as Bacardi USA, and Badia Spices.

Career Path

Hotel General Manager, Food Service Manager, Entertainment Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, Convention Sales Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Cruise Operations Manager, Revenue Manager, Hotel Development, Entrepreneur.

Non-traditional Career Paths

HR Coordinator

Customer Service Manager

Sales Representative

Recruitment Consultant

Communication Coordinator

General Manager

Income Range

$34,000 - $198,000

Industry Outlook

FL: 11% ⬆️

US: 7% ⬆️

(Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics and onetonline.org)

• HMG 6257 Hospitality and Tourism Industry Research Analysis: 3
• HMG 6446 Hospitality and Tourism Technology Innovations: 3
• HMG 6477 Financial Management for the Hospitality Industry: 3
• HMG 6697 Hospitality Law Seminar: 3
• HMG 6280 Global Issues in Hospitality and Tourism: 3
• HMG 6296 Strategic Management for Hospitality and Tourism: 3
• HMG 6001 Event Feasibility: 3
• HMG 6500 Event Marketing and Sponsorship: 3
• HMG 6630 Event Safety & Security Planning: 3
• HMG 6200 Mega Events Management: 3
• HMG 6946 Graduate Internship

Admissions Requirements and Documents

The following must be submitted: 

Online master's programs application ($30).

GPA - Minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-division coursework.

GMAT/GRE –Not required if your undergraduate GPA is at least 3.0 in upper-division coursework.

Official transcripts -- All applicants must submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges/universities. Transcripts must be submitted in sealed envelopes directly from the respective institutions. A four-year bachelor degree from an accredited institution as well as a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in upper-division coursework is required. 

Proof of Degree -- Submit official proof of degree: a notarized copy of the original diploma is required if the degree is not posted on the official transcripts. 

Only those applicants who have submitted complete application packets will be considered. Meeting the minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admissions. 

International Students

• Proof of English Language Proficiency. If you earned a bachelor's degree in a country whose official language is not English, you must demonstrate English language proficiency by earning a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL required minimum score: 550 (paper-based exam) or 80 (internet-based). IELTS required minimum score: 6.5. When requesting official scores, please refer to FIU Institution code 5206. TOEFL / IELTS scores are valid for two years. View list of TOEFL/IELTS-exempt countries.

  • Graduate programs can use the Duolingo English Test for the entering graduate classes through Fall 2023.

  • Please visit Duolingo English Test for more information about how to register for the exam.

  • FIU Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 105

• Course by Course Evaluation. If your post-secondary educational history includes coursework outside the United States, you must submit a course-by-course credential translation and evaluation, with grade point average (GPA) calculation included, for all non-U.S. coursework. FIU accepts evaluations/translations from any NACES member evaluation service.

  • FIU accepts evaluations/translations from any NACES member evaluation services, below are a few FIU recommends:

    • Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., International Education Consultants

      7101 SW 102 Avenue
      Miami, FL 33173
      Phone: 305-273-1616 | Fax 305-273-1338
      www.jsilny.org | info@jsilny.com
      Visit https://www.jsilny.org/pdf/FloridaInternationalUniversity.pdf for an FIU specific evaluation form.

    • World Education Services

      PO Box 745
      New York, NY 10113-0745
      212-966-6311
      www.wes.org | info@wes.org

    • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.

      PO Box 514070
      Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
      414-289-3400 | www.ece.org

• Official Transcripts Translation. If official transcripts are not in English, a second copy of the transcript must be requested for translation. Both the official translation, as well as the original transcripts, must be submitted to FIU.

• Certified Copy of Diploma. If you obtained your degree at a foreign institution.

• As a fully online degree, this program is ineligible to grant/provide F-1 Student visas.

Official transcripts/translations must be submitted directly by the respective institution(s) in electronic format or mailed in a sealed institution envelope to: 

FIU Graduate Admissions, P.O. Box 659004, Miami, FL 33265-9004 

Address for Express Mail/Courier Services:

FIU Graduate Admissions, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, BT 201, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Transcripts from domestic universities can be sent electronically directly from the issuing institution to gradadm@fiu.edu. 

Pursuing your graduate degree is one of the best investments you can make – one that will open doors to personal and professional opportunities. Our tuition costs represent some of the best values in higher education, and we also offer financial aid support to help you reach your goals.

The total cost of the online Master of Science in Hospitality Management is $24,750 for Florida residents and non-Florida residents. Students pay for courses at the beginning of each semester. All fees are subject to change.

Scholarship opportunities available

Academic Works

FIU offers Academic Works, a website that matches students with relevant scholarship opportunities.  Find the one that’s right for you!  Academic Works is an online scholarship application tool where FIU students can browse and apply for more than 100 scholarships, made possible by the generosity of FIU alumni and friends.  Students can apply after they are matriculated into one of our programs.  For more information visit https://give.fiu.edu/business-governance/scholarships/.

Other Resources

There are other third party resources that prospective students can access while researching on how to pay for school.  Below are various links that provide more information on financial aid and scholarship opportunities:

• FinAid

• FastWeb

• BigFuture

Federal Financial Aid

For information on Federal Financial Aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), please visit our financial aid page.

Faculty value student exploration and encourage innovation. They serve as mentors and models who challenge and inspire students. Chaplin school faculty members combine strong academic credentials with excellent teaching skills and extensive executive-level industry experience to inspire students to become leaders in hospitality and tourism. Students learn from experts on all aspects on the field from wine tasting to leadership and entrepreneurship to sustainability. Professors are steeped in knowledge about the newest new inroads to outside fields such as healthcare, and the geopolitical influence on hospitality in emerging markets. Faculty also prepare students with sound approaches to financing and networking to help encourage opportunities and innovation.

	Lisa Cain Dr. Lisa Cain is an assistant professor in Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. She earned her PhD from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Hospitality Administration, her Master’s degree from Florida International University in Hospitality Management and her Bachelor’s degree from Smith College in English Language and Literature. She also spent a year studying at Oxford University in England. She currently teaches marketing management, and globalization and competitive methods in the hospitality industry and has previously taught organizational behavior, restaurant management and operations, and leadership, management and ethics. Dr. Cain’s research interests fall within the broad topics of organizational behavior and marketing with an emphasis on understanding internal and external customer behavior. Specifically, she has studied work life balance for executive chefs, substance abuse among hospitality workers, and loyalty in the hospitality industry. She continues to develop research in these topics as well as in the emerging topics of robotics and co-creation in hospitality.
	Joseph Cilli Joseph Cilli is the Department Chair, Associate Teaching Professor and Director of Distance Learning. With over 24 years of direct experience in the computer technology industry, Joseph Cilli currently serves as the Director of Distance Learning for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.  He has served as a professional speaker and educator.  Through his experience and educational pursuits, he has become a recognized expert in online learning and instructional technology. Mr. Cilli holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.A.) degree in marketing with a minor focus on computer science; a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in computer science from the University of Miami; and has pursued a Doctorate (Ph.D.) degree in computer science in the field of data mining. He has also completed a graduate certificate in E-Learning & Online Teaching in 2012 from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. His speaking engagements have included presentations on current trends in online learning, curriculum development for online programs, hospitality technology innovations, privacy and security, and customer expectations.  Although his primary role is related to online learning, he continues to teach various subjects related to computer technology. Originally from Hoboken, New Jersey, he lives in Pembroke Pines, Florida, with his wife and five children.  He is deeply involved in youth sports and community engagement, enjoys traveling, and cooking.
	Miranda Kitterlin Dr. Miranda Kitterlin is an Assistant Professor in the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University, where she teaches graduate level Hospitality Management courses.  She received her doctoral degree in May of 2010 in Hospitality Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. Prior to beginning a career in academia, Dr. Kitterlin worked for 11 years in the lodging and food and beverage industries in Louisiana, Michigan, and Las Vegas.  What began on a whim as an entry-level front-of-house position quickly developed into operational management, sales, and human resources management roles, and a lifelong passion for Hospitality Management.  During her industry career, Dr. Kitterlin encountered a number of employee issues that led her to seek answers in academic research.  Each scholarly investigative venture fueled the desire to begin another, resulting in her decision to pursue a terminal degree and a future in academia. Her first educational venture was as an instructor as St. Landry Accelerated Transition School, where she designed a Hospitality and Tourism curriculum and skills certification program for the vocational educational program.  During her university level academic career, Dr. Kitterlin has taught both traditional and online Hospitality Management classes at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, James Madison University, and now Florida International University, where she teaches Master’s degree classes in Hospitality Industry Organizational Behavior, and Case Studies in Hospitality Management. Dr. Kitterlin’s research focuses primarily on Food and Beverage, Human Resources, and Organizational Behavior issues.  She has published on topics of foodservice industry employee selection and screening, employee behavior and perceptions, training needs of hospitality employees, food-safety education, and hospitality student learning styles. Much of her work centers on employee substance abuse and employment drug-testing in the hospitality industry.

Learn more about the details of our program by listening in to our information session.