Find the Right Degree for You

Four graduate students attending a research session

Which Degree is Right for Me?

Our specialized, unique graduate programs each offer a wealth of opportunities and advancement, but designed with different goals in mind. Check out our Degrees at a Glance to see which works best for you:

Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.)

Professional development-oriented
Designed to accelerate careers in hospitality management and related fields
Hybrid-delivery blended model gives students impressive flexibility in completing their degree
Select courses taken from Smeal College of Business MBA program
Perfect for industry professionals seeking advancement within their field and current undergraduates looking toward furthering their education

Learn more about the M.P.S. program

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Research-focused
Designed to enable mastery of both content area(s) and research skills
Access to one of the world's most prestigious hospitality management research faculty
Incorporates an impressive teaching development component
Great choice for individuals pursuing a career as a researcher or professor

Learn more about the Ph.D. program

Entering Your Desired Degree

Part 1

All School of Hospitality Management graduate degrees have the following Penn State Graduate School entrance requirements:

A completed online Graduate School application
Undergraduate or Graduate Degree(s) as required per country of admission by the Graduate School confirmed with submission of copies of official transcripts / documentation (for institutions outside the U.S. documents may include marksheets, record of courses, degree/study certificate, original diploma, etc.) from all post-secondary institutions attended (and official English translations if the language of instruction is not English)
English proficiency (if required per country of admission by the Graduate School)
Payment of a non-refundable application fee (decided by the Graduate School)

Part 2

In addition to the Graduate School requirements above, each School of Hospitality Management graduate degree has unique, additional entrance requirements:

Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.)

An undergraduate degree (in any field)
A resume or CV
Two letters of recommendation (preferably one professional and one academic)
A statement of career and educational goals in essay format (2-3 pages in length)
Submission of a recorded video interview

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The equivalent of a master's degree with an undergraduate or graduate degree in hospitality management
A minimum of one year of work experience in the hospitality industry
GMAT / GRE score(s)
A resume or CV
Three professional references with letters of recommendation
A statement of career and educational goals in essay format (2-3 pages in length)
Ability to partake in a live video interview

Want to learn more? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.