Christopher M. Harris, Ed.D.
Director of Graduate Marketing and Recruitment
College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
Ph.D. Program Highlights
- USC is ranked among the top 12 programs in the U.S. for hospitality and tourism management.
- South Carolina’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is home to world-renowned faculty and research centers — providing exceptional opportunities for graduate student research and publications.
- Ph.D. students have the opportunity to get involved in funded grants and industry research projects and work with institutes and faculty.
- The program allows doctoral students to teach, providing experience needed for industry and entry-level faculty positions.
- The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is home to top-tier journal editor Fang Meng, Ph.D. — Tourism Analysis: An Interdisciplinary Tourism and Hospitality Journal.
- Our graduate students have found positions at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Houston, and University of Central Florida, just to name a few.
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Career Success
Diego Bufquin earned his Ph.D. from USC in 2015 and is now a professor of practice at Tulane University's A.B. Freeman School of Business.
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Here to Help
Want more information or to speak with someone regarding our Ph.D. in hospitality management? Fill out our form and our program director will reach out to you.
Admissions Process
The application deadline for the Ph.D. program is Jan. 15.
Applications will be reviewed and assessed individually by the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management's graduate faculty based on the applicant's:
- Official university transcripts (work done at the master’s and bachelor’s levels)
- GMAT / GRE
- Personal statement
- CV / Resume
- A minimum of two letters of recommendation
- TOEFL / IELTS / Duolingo / PTE (for international students)
- Promise of ability to adequately pursue advanced study and research
- Professional experience
- In-person and / or online interviews
- Identification of School of Hospitality and Tourism Management faculty member(s) willing to champion their application process. Please contact hospitality and tourism faculty whose research interests align with yours.
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. in hospitality management is based on a four-year period of residential study following the completion of a master’s degree with an undergraduate or graduate degree in hospitality and tourism management or related fields. The Ph.D. program requires 60 credit hours. To finish the Ph.D. program, a student must successfully complete a qualifying exam, comprehensive exam, propose and complete a dissertation study, and successfully pass a final examination on the dissertation administered by the advisory committee.
Additional information and details on degree requirements can be found at the academic bulletin.
Package for Fully Funded Ph.D. Students
- Paid tuition and fees (60 credit hours)
- Teaching/research assistantship
- Summer fellowship stipend
- Medical insurance
- Travel grant
- Data collection fee
- A laptop and monitor, and more.
Assistantships and Fellowships
Additional assistantships and fellowships are awarded to graduate students on a competitive basis from the Graduate School. A fellowship makes you a vital part of the college through teaching, research and other meaningful educational experiences. Stipend rates are competitive, tuition reductions are included and assistance is provided for research conferences. Visit the Graduate School to learn more about assistantships.
Conferences
Ph.D. students regularly collaborate with our faculty and present their research findings at major conferences such as the 28th Annual Graduate Education & Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism hosted by The Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona over Jan. 5-7, 2023.
Ph.D. in Hospitality Management Degree Common Questions
GRE or GMAT score is required for all applicants. In exceptional cases, applicants with outstanding qualifications may be considered for a waiver. Please note that admission decisions are based on the entire application package. The absence of a GRE/GMAT score may negatively affect the assessment of your application, depending on the strength of your other credentials and the overall competitiveness of the application pool. If you choose not to take GRE/GMAT, under the Academic Tests section of the application, you need to upload a brief statement outlining your rationale and qualifications for a test score waiver.
Please refer to the Graduate School policy: All international applicants are required provide English language proficiency exam scores unless they are from a country where English is an official language, or they have earned a degree in a country where English is an official language. We do not waive the requirement based solely on language of instruction. If you earned a degree where the language of instruction was English in a country where English is not an official language, then you will be required to submit scores.
Please check details on the Graduate School webpage.
Yes. You are required to contact the faculty member(s) who you want to work with for your doctoral study and clearly identify the name(s) in your Personal Statement. You must have a departmental faculty member who is willing to serve as your advisor prior to admission. Please note that securing an advisor is a prerequisite, not a guarantee of admission.
No. You only need to indicate your interest by checking the corresponding box on your PhD application. Assistantship decisions are based on the strength of your application and the availability of funding. For additional details, please see the Assistantships and Fellowships section.
The curriculum emphasizes hospitality and tourism theory, research methods, statistical analysis, and specialization in a focus area such as hotel, restaurant, tourism, or event management. Students are trained to conduct impactful academic and industry-related research.
Students receive rigorous training in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, advanced statistical techniques, and data analysis. The program prepares graduates to produce original research that advances knowledge in hospitality management.
Graduates are prepared to become leading scholars, researchers, and educators in hospitality and tourism. They are equipped to contribute original research, teach at major universities, consult for global hospitality organizations, and influence industry policies and practices.
In addition to research expertise, students develop advanced critical thinking, academic writing, teaching methodologies, leadership abilities, and global industry insights — all essential for success in academia and high-level industry positions.
Get in Touch
Use our interest form to get more information or reach out directly to Christopher M. Harris, Ed.D.
Program Director
Fang Meng, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Program Director and Professor
School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
htmphd@mailbox.sc.edu
803-777-0631
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