MS-STH – Master of Science in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality

First in the Field
Be part of the nation’s first interdisciplinary Master of Science in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality. We believe sustaining environments, businesses, and social and cultural identities requires an interdisciplinary approach and perspective. The MS-STH program draws upon emerging sustainability sciences ranging from the physical to the social to address complex sustainable tourism issues. Science and education are critical partners in the sustainable, long-term management of tourism, and this program provides the foundation for this new approach to sustainable management.

Information for out-of-state residents.

Quality Faculty

The graduate Hospitality Leadership faculty at ECU is one of the most diverse faculties within any hospitality program in the country. They not only have extraordinary academic credentials but also experience working in foodservice, lodging, tourism, and event & club management. The program was recognized as “one of the 5 best places in the world to pursue a degree in sustainable tourism” by BBC-Travel.

The School of Hospitality Leadership was established as a program in 1987, became a department in 2007 and a School in 2011. It is the largest School of its kind in the University of North Carolina system and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. The School has been consistently ranked in the top ten online hospitality programs in the United States.

And as a member of PirateNation, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with our accomplished alumni and friends of the program!

Incredible Value

Earn your MS-STH for less than $15,000! Since the program is delivered online, you will have lower student fees than on-campus students. See our tuition page for more information. We were ranked #15 in the 2020 Most Affordable Online Master’s Hospitality Management Degrees.

 Over $300,000 in COB graduate student scholarships is awarded each year. And more than $550,000 is awarded annually for graduate assistantships.

Leadership Development

The goal of the Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality program is to develop you to be a leader in sustainable tourism and hospitality operations and organizations across the region, nation, and world. The program provides a strong foundation for career advancement, future doctoral studies, and senior level positions within many and varied public, private, and nonprofit tourism entities. Career opportunities abound in lodging, resorts, food service, convention and meeting and events, clubs, conference centers and more!

The degree is completely self-contained, requiring no prerequisite business experience or course work. Your classmates bring a variety of perspectives and experiences to class discussions and projects, which makes your learning even more diverse and rich.

Flexible Course Scheduling

The MS-STH program is offered 100% online. Because there are no defined cohorts, students can determine their pace through the program that fits best with their other commitments. Some students pursue the program full-time and are finished in one academic year while others take classes on a part-time basis and take about 2 years to complete the program.

Student Support

The School of Hospitality Leadership is housed in ECU’s College of Business. As a MS-STH student, you have full access to the services and programs offered by the College of Business (COB), including our Career Center, our Communications Center, and our annual Business Student Leadership Conference. We provide additional, dedicated support to extend student success and are well-prepared to address the needs our online graduate students.