Home » Academics » Professional Studies at the Mount » Tourism and Hospitality Management » Program Requirements

Program Requirements

2025-2026 Academic Year

Chair
Dr. Maria Matthews. BA Hons (BU), MBA (AIB), PhD (UOB), Associate Professor

Coordinator – Tourism and Hospitality Management
Jennifer Guy, Ph.D. (c), M.Ed., RD/P.Dt., Assistant Professor

The Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management program is designed to answer the need for university-educated professionals in the tourism and hospitality fields. The program builds on the strengths of a business education and integrates the theories of tourism development and hospitality management to give the graduate an understanding of the key areas of the industry.

Courses are offered on campus and at a distance. Courses may be completed through distance learning on a full-time or part-time basis. Students should seek academic advising from the department to plan their program.

Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management

The objective of the certificate program is to give the student a basic introduction to the concepts of tourism and hospitality management.

Admission requirements for the Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management are the same as for the Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Please refer to sections 2.1.4 Admissions Requirements and 2.1.6 Additional Admission Requirements for admission requirements.

Students can enroll in the Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management as a separate program or concurrently with another MSVU program. Both the certificate and degree may be taken concurrently. If taken concurrently, the Principles Governing the Awarding of Multiple Credentials will be in effect. If not earned concurrently, the University regulations regarding a second credential will be in effect. Students are advised to review sections 2.1.5 Holders of University Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates and 2.1.11 Principles Governing the Awarding of Multiple Credentials during program planning and completion.

The certificate may be completed online on a full-time or part-time basis.

Program Requirements
A Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management requires successful completion of the following 5.0 units:
❏ BUSI 2230 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2321 0.5 unit
❏ ECON 1101 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 1101 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 1116 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 1201 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 2216 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 2221 0.5 unit
❏ THMT/BUSI 2307 0.5 unit
❏ 0.5 unit of elective selected from the following:

THMT 2205 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 2430 0.5 unit
THMT 3401 0.5 unit
THMT 3403 0.5 unit
Or any Tourism electives listed below. (prerequisites must be met)

Work Experience Option
The work experience option allows students to build on previous academic or work experience and gain industry-related work experience. Students must complete a project/report undertaken in the context of the specific work environment of that work experience. Students must complete 455 hours of work. Students who complete the work experience option will graduate with a Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management (Work Experience Option).

Program Requirements
Students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ Successful completion of the Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality program
❏ THMT 2299 455 hours

Tourism Electives:
BUSI 3314 0.5 unit
BUSI 3330 0.5 unit
BUSI/WOMS 4406 0.5 unit
THMT 2201 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 2225 0.5 unit
THMT 2244 0.5 unit
THMT 2301 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 3311 0.5 unit
THMT 3316 0.5 unit
THMT 3317 0.5 unit
THMT 3323 0.5 unit
THMT 3380 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 3402 0.5 unit
THMT 4407 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 4410 0.5 unit
THMT 4411 0.5 unit
THMT 4421 0.5 unit
THMT 4444 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 4446 0.5 unit
THMT 4490 0.5 unit
THMT 4491 0.5 unit

Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management

The objective of the diploma program in tourism and hospitality management is to increase and enrich the knowledge acquired during the certificate program.

Students enrolled in the diploma program are required to complete a work experience term. The work experience term
allows students to build on previous academic or work experience and gain industry-related work experience prior to
graduation. Students must complete a project/report undertaken in the context of the specific work environment of the work experience term. For the work experience term, students are required to complete 455 hours of work.

Admission requirements for the Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management are the same as for the Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Transfer or non-degree students must have a GPA of 2.0 over 3.0 units. Please refer to 2.1.4 Admission Requirements and 2.1.6 Additional Admission Requirements.

Normally, a student may repeat a course in the Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management program only once.

Students can enroll in the Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management as a separate program or concurrently with another MSVU program. Both the diploma and degree may be taken concurrently. If taken concurrently, the Principles Governing the Awarding of Multiple Credentials will be in effect. If not earned concurrently, the University regulations regarding a second credential will be in effect. Students are advised to review 2.1.5 Holders of University Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates and 2.1.11 Principles Governing the Awarding of Multiple Credentials during program planning and completion.

Students cannot transfer into this program without specific permission from the Registrar.

The diploma may be completed through distance learning on a full-time or part-time basis.

Program Requirements

A Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management requires successful completion of the following 10.0 units plus one work experience term:

❏ BUSI 1112 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2202/THMT 2202 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2214 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2230 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2259 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2321 0.5 unit
❏ ECON 1101 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 1101 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 1116 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 1201 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 2205 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 2216 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 2221 0.5 unit
❏ THMT/BUSI 2307 0.5 unit
❏ THMT/BUSI 2430 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 3221* 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 3401 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 2299 Work Experience Term I (455 hours)
❏ 0.5 unit of Arts and/or Science electives
❏ 1.0 unit of electives selected from the following:
BUSI 3313 0.5 unit
THMT 3403 0.5 unit
and those Tourism electives listed below:
(prerequisites must be met)

*If, in any year, this course is not available, Tourism and Hospitality Management students may substitute BUSI 3320 for THMT 3221 with permission from the department Chair.

Tourism Electives:
BUSI 3314 0.5 unit
BUSI 3330 0.5 unit
BUSI/WOMS 4406 0.5 unit
THMT 2201 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 2225 0.5 unit
THMT 2244 0.5 unit
THMT 2301 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 3311 0.5 unit
THMT 3316 0.5 unit
THMT 3317 0.5 unit
THMT 3323 0.5 unit
THMT 3380 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 3402 0.5 unit
THMT 4407 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 4410 0.5 unit
THMT 4411 0.5 unit
THMT 4421 0.5 unit
THMT 4444 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 4446 0.5 unit
THMT 4490 0.5 unit
THMT 4491 0.5 unit

Students who wish to continue beyond the diploma may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management (Work Experience Route) degree program. The following 10.0 units would be required for completion of the degree:

❏ BUSI 2215 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 3313 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 4400 0.5 unit
❏ COMM 2211 0.5 unit
❏ ECON 1102 0.5 unit
❏ MATH 2208 0.5 unit or MATH 2500*
❏ THMT 3362 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 3403 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI/THMT 4430 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 4442 0.5 unit
❏ 0.5 unit of Humanities elective
❏ 2.0 units of Arts and/or Science electives
❏ 2.0 units of electives, 1.0 unit of which must be at the 4000 level selected from the following:

Tourism Electives
BUSI 3314 0.5 unit
BUSI/WOMS 4406 0.5 unit
THMT 2201 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 2225 0.5 unit
THMT 2244 0.5 unit
THMT 2301 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 3311 0.5 unit
THMT 3316 0.5 unit
THMT 3317 0.5 unit
THMT 3323 0.5 unit
THMT 3380 0.5 unit
THMT 3402 0.5 unit
THMT 4407 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 4410 0.5 unit
THMT 4411 0.5 unit
THMT 4421 0.5 unit
THMT 4444 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 4446 0.5 unit
THMT 4490 0.5 unit
THMT 4491 0.5 unit
(prerequisites must be met)

❏ 0.5 unit of electives

❏ THMT 3399 Work Experience Term II (455 hours)

*To register for MATH 2500, Students must successfully complete a mathematics placement test

Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management

Courses are offered on campus and online. Courses may be completed online on a full-time or part-time basis. Students should seek academic advising from the department to plan their program.

Admission Requirements

Please refer to 2.1.4 Admission Requirements and 2.1.6 Additional Admission Requirements.

Admission of Mature Students

Please read the 2.1.4.3 Mature Admissions Policy carefully. Mature students intending to apply to the program should complete the following 2.0 units to be considered: BUSI 1112, 0.5 unit of humanities elective and 1.0 unit of arts and science courses.

Transfer Students

Mount Saint Vincent University recognizes learning that applicants have acquired through institutes, corporate and/or on-the-job training programs and educational settings not normally eligible for transfer credit. Refer to section 2.2.4 Challenge for Credit and 2.2.5 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) for more information.

Mount Saint Vincent University has a number of formal transfer credit agreements with other institutions that allow students to transfer up to fifty percent of degree requirements into the Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management program. Please refer to section 2.2.2 Transfer Credits for information on transfer agreements.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management degree requires:

❏ successful completion of 20.0 units of coursework plus three co-operative education terms

❏ successful completion of 20.0 units of coursework plus two work experience terms for students admitted to the work experience term route

❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in 8.0 units of required coursework including the 4.0 units of THMT electives

❏ meet all requirements for the co-operative education program
Note: Co-operative education work term courses (THMT 1188, 2288 and 3388) and work experience terms (THMT 2299 and 3399) cannot be counted in the calculation of the GPA

❏ students may complete a 3.0 unit minor in any discipline with the exception of BUSI by completing the requirements for the minor as specified by the department. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units

Required Courses
❏ BUSI 1112 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2202/THMT 2202 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2214 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2215 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2230 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2259 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2321 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 3313 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 4400 0.5 unit
❏ COMM 2211 0.5 unit
❏ ECON 1101 0.5 unit
❏ ECON 1102 0.5 unit
❏ MATH 2208 0.5 unit or MATH 2500*
❏ THMT 1101 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 1116 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 1201 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 2205 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 2216 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 2221 0.5 unit
❏ THMT/BUSI 2307 0.5 unit
❏ THMT/BUSI 2430 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 3221** 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 3362 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 3401 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 3403 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI/THMT 4430 0.5 unit
❏ THMT 4442 0.5 unit

*To register for MATH 2500, Students must successfully complete a mathematics placement test

**If, in any year, this course is not available, Tourism and Hospitality Management students may substitute BUSI 3320 for THMT 3221 with permission from the department Chair.

and

for students in the Co-operative Education Program

❏ THMT 1188 Co-op Term I 1.0 unit

❏ THMT 2288 Co-op Term II 1.0 unit

❏ THMT 3388 Co-op Term III 1.0 unit

for students in the Work Experience Route

❏ THMT 2299 Work Experience Term I 455 hours

❏ THMT 3399 Work Experience Term II 455 hours

Electives

❏ 3.0 units of electives, 1.0 unit of which must be at the 4000 level, selected from any Tourism electives from the list below. (prerequisites must be met)

❏ 2.5 units of Arts and/or Science electives. Note: With the department Chair’s prior written approval, a student may replace no more than 0.5 unit of arts and science elective with 0.5 unit of professional elective.

❏ 0.5 unit of Humanities elective See core C – Humanities (Core Group List)

❏ 0.5 unit of elective

Tourism Electives:
BUSI 3314 0.5 unit
BUSI 3330 0.5 unit
BUSI/WOMS 4406 0.5 unit
THMT 2201 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 2225 0.5 unit
THMT 2244 0.5 unit
THMT 2301 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 3311 0.5 unit
THMT 3316 0.5 unit
THMT 3317 0.5 unit
THMT 3323 0.5 unit
THMT 3380 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 3402 0.5 unit
THMT 4407 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 4410 0.5 unit
THMT 4411 0.5 unit
THMT 4421 0.5 unit
THMT 4444 0.5 unit
THMT/BUSI 4446 0.5 unit
THMT 4490 0.5 unit
THMT 4491 0.5 unit

Professional Concentration in French

Tourism and Hospitality Management students have the opportunity to pursue a 3.0 unit concentration in French. Students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ 3.0 units of French language courses
Note: Students are encouraged to take the online placement test (languagelab@msvu.ca) when they begin registering for French courses at MSVU.

Professional Concentration in Spanish

Tourism and Hospitality Management students have the opportunity to pursue a 3.0 unit concentration in Spanish. Students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ SPAN 1101, 1102, 2201, 2202, 3301 and 3302

Students completing SPAN 2202 may write the internationally recognized Spanish examination prepared by the Spanish Ministry of Education and receive the Initial Certificate (Certificado Inicial). Students completing SPAN 3302 may write the Spanish examination prepared by the Spanish Ministry of Education and receive the Basic Diploma (Diploma Basico).

Co-operative Education Program

Mount Saint Vincent University offers a 23.0 unit degree in tourism and hospitality management with compulsory co-operative education. The Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management (Co-operative Education) degree is accredited by the Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada and was the first accredited tourism co-operative education degree in Canada.

Co-operative education involves a sequencing of normal academic terms and three co-op terms. Each co-op work term must be related to tourism and hospitality management, paid, full-time (at least 35 hours per week), and at least 13 weeks of continuous employment. Students complete the typical academic sequence for their first 5.0 units of study before beginning their first co-op term. The following schedule depicts the typical Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management (Co-operative Education) program.

Year Sept-Dec Jan-Apr May-Aug*

1 Academic Term 1 Academic Term 2 Co-op Term 1

2 Academic Term 3 Academic Term 4 Co-op Term 2

3 Academic Term 5 Academic Term 6 Co-op Term 3

4 Academic Term 7 Academic Term 8

*Co-op terms may finish as late as mid-October. Students returning in October should seek academic advising to enrol in condensed courses.

By integrating academic study with three co-op terms, students will have an opportunity to determine career goals; gain practical knowledge and experience; develop confidence, maturity and human relations skills; apply academic material to practical working situations; generate employment contacts and provide financial assistance to meet educational expenses.

Students must consider that the co-op terms may be outside of Nova Scotia, and some relocation could be required at the students’ expense. Students must finish their program on an academic term, not on a co-op term.

Program Standards

Before the first co-op work term, students must meet these prerequisites:

a 2.0 CGPA at the end of the academic term prior to the first job search process*
normally completion of 5.0 units prior to the first work term
successful completion of THMT 1101

*Students who do not meet the 2.0 CGPA requirements for co-operative education but have more than 7.5 units of transfer credits, or grades from courses completed more than five years ago, may request an individual review of their transcripts by the department Chair who may approve admission.

Once you have accepted a co-op term, there are five possible grades for co-op terms:

P Pass. Student continues academic study.

NCR No credit, repeat. Normally, a student may receive only one NCR grade and remain in the degree program.

F Fail. A failing grade in a co-op term results in dismissal from the program.

W Student withdraws from the co-op program prior to accepting a co-op position or is unable to complete the work term due to unforeseen circumstances as approved by the academic department and/or the Co-op & WIL Centre.

F* Failure due to an academic offence. A student who engages in dishonest activity related to the work term, either before, during, or after the work term may be charged with an academic offence, which could result in a grade of F* for the work term. A failing grade in a co-op term results in dismissal from the program.

For additional information, visit at msvu.ca/co-op.

Work Experience Route

The work experience route is only for students who have university or approved hospitality program transfer credits and/or significant industry-related work experience. Part-time students and thosestudying at a distance, and students pursuing the degree via the certificate or diploma must complete the work experience route rather than the co-operative education route. Full-time students who are admitted to the BTHM program with a minimum of 7.5 units of transfer credits or full-time students with at least two years of full-time industry experience as determined by the department, will enter the work experience route.

The work experience route allows students to build on previous academic or work experience while maintaining greater flexibility in academic scheduling. Each work experience contains a block of industry-related work experience. Students must complete a project/report undertaken in the context of the specific work environment of that work experience. Students must complete two work experience term of 455 hours each. Work Experience Term I should be completed after 10.0 units of academic credit, and Work Experience Term II should be completed after 15.0 units of academic credit.

Students who complete the work experience route will graduate with a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management (Work Experience Route).

Course numbers and hours for each level of work experience terms are:

THMT 2299 Work Experience Term I 455 hours

THMT 3399 Work Experience Term II 455 hours

The five possible grades for work experience are the same as for co-op terms. For further information, contact the Co-op & WIL Centre.

Notes:

Work experience terms and co-op terms may not be interchanged.
Students obtaining more than one NCR grade on a work experience term will be dismissed from the Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management program.
Students in the Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management degree program may receive PLA, challenge, or transfer a maximum of one work experience term.

Honours Degree

Students wishing to complete an honours degree must make application through the department Chair after successful completion of 12.5 units of the BTHM program. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have successfully completed MATH 2208 or MATH 2500 and THMT/BUSI 4430. Admissions to the honours program must be approved by the Honours Committee of the Department of Business Administration and Tourism Hospitality Management. Acceptance is contingent upon the agreement of a faculty member to supervise.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management Honours degree requires:

❏ successful completion of 20.0 units of coursework plus three co-operative education terms

❏ successful completion of 20.0 units of coursework plus two work experience term for students admitted to the work experience term route

❏ a minimum of 12.5 and a maximum of 14.0 units in THMT and BUSI, including THMT 4499

❏ THMT 4499

❏ 3.0 units of electives from core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) with a minimum of 0.5 unit from each core group:

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics
Core B – Social Sciences
Core C – Humanities

❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10.0 units of the required honours courses

❏ achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis

❏ obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken

❏ Note: Co-operative education work term courses (THMT 1188, 2288 and 3388) and work experience term courses (THMT 2299 and 3399) cannot be counted in the calculation of the GPA.

Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better in 10.0 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.

Honours Certificate

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management degree may apply to do an honours certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the honours degree listed above and meet the university regulations regarding honours certificates.

Obtaining Credit for Previous Professional Study

For information on obtaining credit for previous professional study, please refer sections 2.2.4 Challenge for Credit and 2.2.5 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).

Academic Note: This web-based calendar information is applicable for the 2025-2026 academic year which runs from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026.

For information on previous years, please consult the University Academic Calendars web page.