Innovation and Entrepreneurship Concentration—Master of Management in Hospitality

MMH students are required to complete 32 credit hours (8 courses) of study, including 16 credit hours in four required courses taken during the fall semester to learn fundamental hospitality operation knowledge as well as leadership skills. After completion of the required courses, students build their professional skill set through 16 credits in four specialized courses in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship concentration. 

Full-time students can complete the MMH degree in as little as one three-semester year. 

In addition to coursework, the MMH program involves a summer internship that allows students to dive headfirst into practical experiences that give them advanced knowledge and useful skills in the hospitality industry. If a student already has relevant hospitality experience, the internship requirement can be waived.

MMH students are required to complete four prerequisite courses: HF701, HF711, HF762, and HF733, before taking any other elective courses. These required courses lay a solid foundation for students to understand the hospitality industry and business operations. Through the four required courses, students can expect to learn:

• Tools and skills to analyze and solve problems in daily hotel, lodging, and restaurant operations
• Essential financial and accounting skills to budget, invest, and evaluate business decisions
• Marketing tactics and skills to gain customer loyalty, increase brand equity and improve profitability
• Leadership skills and human resources knowledge to hire, manage talent, and build a healthy company culture

After completing the required courses, MMH students in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship concentration take four additional courses, 16 credit hours, to develop essential skills specific to hospitality entrepreneurship. 

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship concentration classes are designed specifically to launch the students’ intellectual ability to respond to disruptors, create disruption, strategize creatively, and think entrepreneurially. Explore the Innovation and Entrepreneurship concentration coursework below.

We understand that many working professionals need to maintain full-time employment while pursuing a Master of Management in Hospitality degree. Thus, our MMH program allows students to finish their degrees on a part-time basis. To accommodate part-time students’ work schedules, we offer evening classes that students can take after work hours.

Part-time students follow the same program structure as full-time students; however, part-time students may take only one or two classes per semester. Therefore, part-time students may finish their MMH degree in two years, while full-time students are able to complete their degrees within a year.

Located in Boston, a hub for hospitality, the MMH Innovation and Entrepreneurship concentration equips students with essential business skills and industry knowledge to launch start-ups or lead in the field. This program prepares you to handle diverse roles, whether you’re starting your own restaurant, hotel, travel agency, or online booking platform.

Entrepreneurs enjoy benefits like flexibility, independence, and unlimited earning potential. Alternatively, the MMH degree opens doors to roles such as:

• Product Manager
• Finance Manager
• Management Analyst

If being a business owner is not your path, earning an MMH degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship can still lead to other lucrative careers. Examples of career opportunities in the hospitality industry include product manager, finance manager, and management analyst. Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, product managers can earn an annual income of $107,480, finance managers at $129,890 per year, and management analysts at $85,260 per year.

Our Career Services, in collaboration with the Marriott Career Center, helps students explore all the possibilities this city offers. As you complete your MMH degree, stop by for workshops, corporate recruitment periods, and additional hiring opportunities. 

Learn more about SHA’s dedicated Career Services center and how it benefits our student body. 

Our MMH Alumni Profiles show how our graduates have applied their degrees and knowledge. 

Ready to start your application for the Master of Management in Hospitality program with an Innovation and Entrepreneurship concentration? The following is a list of materials that must be submitted with the online application:

• An official copy of your undergraduate transcript
• 2-3 letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• A one- to three-minute video
• 500-700 word written personal statement 

Standard test scores such as GRE and GMAT are not required in the application. However, international applicants must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores to demonstrate their English proficiency. They must meet the minimum requirements of 84 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS. 

Full List of MMH Degree Application Requirements